Health Highlights: Dec. 30, 2021

N95 masks: A must with Omicron, but fakes abound. An expert on the manufacture of COVID-protective gear is your guide to spotting counterfeit masks and finding one that fits and protects. Read more

Weight loss your resolution? Experts talk over fad diets. Intermittent fasting, keto regimens and Whole30 plans: All are hot right now, but are they safe and do they actually work? Read more

J & J's booster may give strong protection against Omicron. The first real-world study of the booster, conducted in South Africa during an Omicron surge, finds that a second Johnson & Johnson shot gave recipients 85% protection against being hospitalized with COVID-19. Read more

Taste for dark chocolate, black coffee may lie in genes. If you like your coffee black or chocolate bitter, it could be that your grandpa or your great-aunt did, too, with new research showing DNA at the root of such cravings. Read more