Our Body and Its Secrets

Sunlight is Good for Your Sperm

2011-06-06T19:10:00.000-07:00

A study on 340 men found that vitamin D, produced by the body when exposed to sunlight, improves thequality of sperm.

They swim better towards the egg, have greater speed and more penetrative.

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen tested the sperm quality of 300 randomly selected men and conducted a further analysis on samples from 40 men in the laboratory.

At the same time, levels of vitamin D in their blood were measured. Nearly half have inadequate number-related to a lack exposure to natural sunlight.

Sunlight is the main source of vitamin D which helps regulate levels of calcium and phosphorous to generate healthy bones.

Besides that, the number of healthy sperm in men with inadequate vitamin D is lower than those with normal levels. The ability to absorb calcium is also inhibited.

The findings, which are published in the Human Reproduction journal, supports previous research linking vitamin D with sperm production and may explain why many couples seem to get pregnant while on vacation.

Researchers found nearly half of the participants have an inadequate number of vitamin D, below 50 nmol / l. Optimal levels recommended by most experts is at least 75 nmol / l.

Chemical process needed to fertilize eggs, known as the acrosome reaction is also inhibited. Tests conducted in the laboratory also produced similar findings.

“Vitamin D levels are positively related to sperm motility, which indicates the role of vitamin D in human sperm function,” said Dr. Martin Blomberg Jensen, according to the DailyMail.

Source;

http://medicmagic.net/sunlight-is-good-for-your-sperm.html

Couples Argue 2455 Times a Year

2011-06-06T19:08:00.000-07:00

An insurance company in England found an interesting evidence about the main cause that triggers couples in the world to argue.

A survey of 3,000 people, consisting of married or dating couples, concluded that on average each couple argues as much as 2,455 times a year.

“Or an average of 7 times a day,” according to The Sun this weekend.

Every couple argues an average of 112 times because of a misunderstanding. For example, one does not listen to what their partner says.

A total of 109 quarrel is because one of them is impulsive. And economic factors led to an quarrels as much as 108 times.

Another factor that causes arguments are a lazy nature of each partner. Laziness is accounted for as much as 105 times of quarrel.

Snoring also donate 102 quarrel. As for food, sex, children and dissent each contributes 92, 88, 88 and 80 arguments in a year.

The lack of attention even triggers an argument. For example, a one who forgets to say ‘I love you’ contribute as much as 69 times.

So are these arguments normal? A spokesman who’s name does not want to be mentioned by The Sun said the number of small fights as much as 2,455 times per year is normal. “Small fights every day is a sign of a normal relationship,” he said.

Source:

http://medicmagic.net/couples-argue-2455-times-a-year.html

How Porn Stars Prevent Sexual Diseases

2011-06-06T19:06:00.000-07:00

Transmission of venereal disease or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are very vulnerable to happen on a porn star who often change partners and most do not perform safe sex. How do porn stars prevent the transmission of sexual diseases?

Two porn star Dylan Ryan and Danny Wylde had just started working together for the making of a film in Los Angeles. Previously they did a private meetings that was a little awkward. In a small conversation for an hour they tried to get to know each other.

“When I work with new partners, I am a little nervous because I do not know if they would like me, interested or not interested in me. It’s sort of a first date situation,” Ryan said.

There is some anxiety from a porn star when they get new colleagues. One thing that usually worries them is getting a sexually transmitted disease from their new colleagues, so both have been tested for STDs at least once a month.

“Before you ‘work’, you should see the test results of others. Or sometimes on the location (filming), before beginning they have to show the results of the tests on paper,” said Wylde.

“The STDs (sexually transmitted disease) test is a good idea for anyone who have sex with a new partner, even if you are not a porn star. I think it really works,” said Dr. Craig Strafford, director of clinical research at the Holzer Clinic in Gallipolis, Ohio, according to CNN.

According Sixto Pacheco, president and CEO of Talent Testing Service, which performs the STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) tests for adult movie stars, porn stars are routinely tested for HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea.

In addition, some players chose to test additional panels such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis.

Ryan and Wylde said they had a routine STD test (STDs) when working together. Ryan said that in eight years as an adult movie star, who has about five professional sexual partners in a month, he had never suffered from sexually transmitted diseases.

Ryan admitted when interacting sexually with men outside of work she always uses condoms. But unlike Ryan, Wylde says about once a year he has to see the doctor with a case of chlamydia or gonorrhea.

Although the STD testing is not easy, this will lower the risk of STD infection. Combining the use of condoms and regular STD testing will be better.

HIV testing is included as very complicated, because it probably will show a negative result when samples were taken too soon after a person has HIV.

This is because most people do not produce enough antibodies to be detected until about one month after infection. Some people take three months or more to be able to detect antibodies.

“I think of this (STD testing) all the time. This is the biggest risk in this industry and I think this is one thing that gives me comfort. Small comfort is that the people who worked with me have very strong and safer sex practices, because what they do is to live, “explains Ryan.

While Wylde said that he is not too worried about contracting HIV because he only had sex with women (heterosexual), but he knew that he still has at least a small risk.

“There are risks in many jobs, such as professional athletes also have risks. When starting a new relationship, many people want to know what diseases they have to test. This is a very common question, both men and women,” said Strafford.

Both the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the American Social Health Association has a list of sexually transmitted diseases that should be tested if someone has sex for the first time.

But after discussions with various PMS experts, here are some list of sexually transmitted disease tests that many doctors recommends:

1. Chlamydia

Usually testing is done with urine samples. Chlamydia is a STD caused by bacteria. Complications are rare, but in women can cause chronic pelvic pain, infertility and ectopic pregnancy. The disease can be easily treated and cured with antibiotics.

2. Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea testing is also done with a urine test. Some men have no symptoms of gonorrhea, but there are some who experience symptoms such as pain when urinating or unpleasant smell of the penis.

Antibiotics can treat the disease, but if left untreated gonorrhea can cause infertility in men and women and can be life threatening if it spreads to the blood or joints.

3. Syphilis

Diagnosis of syphilis is done by a blood test. The disease is easily treated in its early stages, but if left untreated it can cause blindness or even death.

4. Hepatitis A and B

“Men who have sex with men (homosexuals) should talk with their doctors to get tests for hepatitis A and B, and also should be vaccinated against the disease,” said Dr. Hunter Handsfield, a professor of clinical medicine at the University of Washington Center for AIDS and STDs.

5. HIV

People can be HIV positive during the past few weeks or months before results of blood tests showed positive results.

Source:

http://medicmagic.net/how-porn-stars-prevent-sexual-diseases.html

Cellphones Can Lower Male Fertility

2011-06-06T19:03:00.001-07:00

Men who like talking on a cellphone should reduce their habit. A number of researchers from Queen’s University, Canada, found that cellphone use can reduce sperm quality.

The research team found that the electromagnetic waves emitted by cellphones have complex relationships with male hormones. “Our findings are a bit confusing. We hope to find different results,” said Dr. Rany Shamoul, the research team leader, according to Daily Mail.

The researchers found that men who use cellphones have higher levels of circulating testosterone. Surprisingly, they also have lower levels of pelutein hormone (luteinizing hormone / LH). This hormone is a reproductive hormone released by the pituitary gland in the brain. This hormone associated with male fertility.

According to the study, the electromagnetic waves emitted by cellphones is believed to have two effects on male hormone levels and fertility. This study mentioned that the electronic waves can increase the number of cells in the testes which produce testosterone. However, it also can reduce levels of reproductive hormones released by the pituitary gland.

Dr. Shamloul agreed that the research is a bit confusing. He concluded the need for deeper research about the influence of electromagnetic waves to the fertility of men.

This study appeared after two months earlier, in the UK cellphone users are advised by the government to send text messages or use “hands free” rather than calling. According to the British Health Department that would reduce the users from exposure to radiation emitted by cellphones.

Source:

http://medicmagic.net/cellphones-can-lower-male-fertility.html

Sleep Deprivation Lowers Men Sexual Desire

2011-06-06T18:30:00.000-07:00

Sleep deprivation turns out to significantly lower testosterone levels in the body of men. As a result, sexual desire is decreased. This is concluded in a research by a team from the University of Chicago, USA.

Reduced levels of testosterone hormone have a major impact, especially in young men – including reduced libido and poor reproductive system. Not only related to sexual health problems, it also affects the formation of muscle mass and bone density to be less than maximum.

Low levels of testosterone are also associated with metabolic syndrome, namely a group of metabolic risk factors that increase the likelihood of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. The study’s findings add weight to evidence that sleep deprivation has long-term effect on hormone levels.

The research team found that man who slept less than five hours in one day for a week or more have very low testosterone levels. This is much lower when compared with men who gets enough sleep. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), found that significantly reduced levels of a hormone also makes a person look 15 years older.

“Low testosterone levels is associated with reduced health and physical strength, which also may occur due to lack of sleep,” said Professor Eve Van Cauter, lead researcher, according to Telegraph.

Professor Van Cauter has studied the effects of sleep deprivation for over 10 years. In his research, he involved 10 young men with an average age of 24 years old, have a healthy body and undergo a rigorous test.

The tests are conducted to determine the endocrine and psychiatric disorders and sleep problems. They were asked to spend three nights in the sleeping laboratory for more than 10 hours. Then, during the eight subsequent nights they slept less than 5 hours.

The researchers then took blood samples every 15 to 30 minutes for 24 hours on the last day, from 10 hours of sleep phase and the last day of the phase of sleep five hours. They were also asked to describe their feelings.

The study found that testosterone levels are significantly reduced after one week of sleep deprivation. Men who experience a decrease in testosterone levels also express their feelings became less calm.

Source:

http://medicmagic.net/sleep-deprivation-lowers-men-sexual-desire.html

8 Ways To Overcome Bad Breath

2011-04-26T00:45:00.000-07:00

Bad breath is a serious problem for some people. Bad breath that is prolonged of course will give a negative image to someone.

Bad breath can be caused by several things including diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, liver, and digestive disorders.

If you want to remove bad odor from your mouth? There are eight tips you could follow, according to ABCNews.

1. Dental Treatment

The easiest way to prevent bad breath is good oral care. Cavities, tooth decay and gum disease, can be a cause of bad breath, says Sally Cram, from the Association of American Dental Association.

Brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day to remove plaque and bacteria on the teeth and gums. Make sure you visit the dentist twice a year for professional inspection and handling.

2. Clean your tongue

The surface of the tongue is the main place for harmful bacteria to multiply. Here, these bacteria can cause halitosis (bad breath problem.) Most people ignore this part while brushing teeth.

Clean the tongue using a toothbrush, do the brushing from back to front side of the tongue, says Cram.

3. Eat sugar-free foods

Chewing gum or breath freshener is choice to overcome the problem of bad breath. But if you eat there ones with sugar content it will add to the problem. Bacteria in the mouth absorb sugar which will cause very disturbing bad breath, says Cram.

So keep eating sugar-free foods. That way you can apply a diet while reducing bad breath.

4. Keep your mouth moist

Saliva contains an enzyme protector to help kill bad bacteria which causes bad breath. A dry mouth will stimulate the salivary glands and keep your mouth moist.

5. Improve your Diet

Low-carbohydrate diets and high protein can cause bad breath, according to the analysis of The Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine. The key to this diet is fat-burning or known as ketosis – when the body burns fat as fuel replacing the carbohydrates missing.

When combustion occurs, chemicals called ketones accumulate in the body and then released when you breathe. That’s when you release the odor. These metabolic problems is in the abdomen rather than the mouth. There is not much you can do except fix your diet.

6. Drink tea

Drinking tea does not only soothe your soul. According to findings at the American Society for Microbiology in their annual meeting them, drinking tea can help relieve hilotosis.

Research at The University of Illinois at Chicago, declared that polypenols, a substance found in black and green tea, can prevent bacterial growth and production of odor-causing compounds.

7. Try natural herbs

Cardamom, a natural herb that is often found in Indian cuisine, is known to contain antibacterial ingredients. Cardamom has long been trusted as a natural breath freshener. Cineole, the highest content found in Cardamom, is a strong antiseptic to kill bacteria and reduce bad breath.

As an alternative, chew some cardamom seeds instead of candy, gum, or fennel seeds. Also try other herbal medicines which are also known as natural ingredients to overcome bad breath.

8. Visit the doctor

If you have already performed maintenance above but still also have problems of bad breath, you better call your dentist immediately.

A chronic problem of bad breath could be early symptoms of various other health problems such as diabetes, chronic sinus infections, and liver and kidney disorders. -- www.medicmagic.net

Sleeping Without Underwear is Better for Health

2011-03-11T01:47:00.000-08:00

Sleeping is a very important process for the body. Ii is not only about taking a rest, but there are improvement processes in all organs of the body while human sleep. What people should know is that they are advised not to wear any underwear when they are sleeping. Why? because by releasing underwear while we are sleeping, we will give the body a chance to ‘breath’ during the repairing process when we sleep.

During a sleep, your body will rests its muscles. But there are other important processes which happens to the body when we sleep. During sleep the body is repaired and detoxified (remove toxins). Sleep also gives an opportunity for the immune system to produce immunity hormones (immune system).

Because of the important processes which occurs while we are sleeping, it is advised that people should use a loose-fitting clothing or remove clothing while sleeping, so it can accelerate the performance of the body in the repair process.

For women, is is advised not to wear a bra while sleeping. Scientist Sydney Singer and his wife Soma Grismaijer in 1991, wrote a book ‘Dressed To Kill: The Link Between Breast Cancer and Bras’, the book states that women who wants to avoid breast cancer should wear a bra in the shortest time as possible and preferably less than 12 hours per day.

“The best time to rest breast without a bra is during sleep. Do not sleep with a bra,” said Sydney Singer, according to chetday.

According to Sydney Singer, use a bra for too long can increase the temperature of breast tissue and women who wear bras have higher levels of prolactin hormones (hormone that functions to stimulate the milk glands). Both of these can affect the formation of breast cancer.

Besides that, using bra to often or wearing bras that are too tight are dangerous to health because it can also restrict the flow of lymph in the breast. Normally, lymph fluid washes waste material and other toxins, and also remove them from the breast.

As for men, they should use a loose underwear or should not wear any at all. This is to give opportunity for the testes (testicles) to reduce its temperature which will maintain the quality of the sperm.

Male reproductive organs are outside the body, so it is influenced by the condition and clothing around it. If a man wears tight pants or underwear for too long, it will increase the temperature around the reproductive organ and will certainly affect sperm production.

Testis can not function properly unless the temperature is colder than other body parts. If the testicular temperature is raised to 98 degrees F (36.67 degrees C), it will stop producing sperm.

When production is interrupted, then the negative impact could last for months. It can lower sperm count, cause sperms to die and affect the morphology of the sperm itself.

Besides that, sleep without wearing underwear allows air to be evenly distributed, so that body heat can be properly distributed.

This will smooth the body’s circulatory system. It is estimated that sleeping with underwear on can restrict air flow in the skin and interfere with the evaporation of perspiration, especially in intimate parts of both women and men.

Souce: www.medicmagic.net

Detox to Get Rid of Acne

2011-03-11T01:44:00.000-08:00

Acne can be very annoying, especially for woman who always want a smooth skin. Although it is not life threatening, acne are avoided because it is very disturbing for appearance and even for comfort.

To get rid of acne many steps are done in order to get smooth skin back, but the sometimes medications to treat acne can cause side effects. That is why some people prefer to choose detox as it is considered as the safest way to get rid of acne.

Many factors from the environment as well as from the food eaten daily are the most common triggers of acne. Chemical toxins which are inhaled or ingested can interfere with metabolism, eventually leading to the appearance of acne.

Therefore the most reasonable way to deal with acne which is triggered by pollution and unhealthy eating patterns is to remove the toxins through detoxification or detox. It is quite easy because it can be done simply by modifying your diet to be healthier.

Well, according to buzzle, here is a guide to do acne detox, as presented by biotechnology expert from India, Saptakee Sengupta.

Diet menu which is recommended

1. Start your day with a fiber-rich breakfast menu to clean up the excess fat and cholesterol. Select lemon juice and warm water for the beverage, add a little honey if necessary.

2. Do not forget to consume fresh fruit every day, especially grapes, lemon and cantaloupes.

3. Meet the needs of antioxidants from fruit juices without sugar. Some fruits which are recommended to be made juice are acai berry, cranberry and blueberry.

4. Vegetables are a source of vitamins and minerals that should not be missed. To complete your lunch, make salad of spinach, carrots, broccoli, cucumber, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, red cabbage and sour yoghurt.

5. For a maximum detoxification, drinking bitter juice that consists of a mixture of fresh pumpkin, beet, carrots, tomatoes and turnips.

6. Prepare healthy snacks before bed, use fruits such as apples, watermelon, peaches, plums, avocado and apricots.

Foods which you must avoid

1. Sweat foods and drinks should be avoided because it contains simple sugars which can aggravate acne.

2. For those who have an allergy to seafood, avoid shrimps, squid, marine fish and others.

3. Reduce, or if possible avoid foods that are processed, preserved, and contain artificial ingredients, such as Mono Sodium Glutamate (MSG).

4. Avoid using vegetable oil as much as possible, replace with olive oil if necessary.

5. Flour-based foods such as wheat and bread could aggravate acne.

6. Limit butter, eggs and dairy products like ice cream, cheese and others.

7. Eat less meat, especially beef, eat more vegetables.

Source: www.medicmagic.net

Social Networking Sites Increases Disease Risks

2011-03-11T01:39:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of social networking sites these days. In order to facilitate relationships between people, sites like Facebook and Twitter had become a daily ‘must visit’ site.

In fact, many people spend all day in front of the computer or busy with their smartphones only to spend time on these sites. But whats quite surprising is that these sites do not only give you pleasure, but can also increase risks of diseases in you body.

“Sending a message through sites like this rather than meeting face to face can cause side effects that are very big in the body’s biological changes,” said Dr Aric Sigman, a psychologist, according to DailyMail.

Increased isolation may alter the workings of genes and immune response to the feelings of anger, hormone levels and artery function. It also can impair mental health. In the journal he wrote, the Journal of the Institute of Biology, Dr. Sigman says that it can increase the risk of cancer, stroke, heart attack and dementia.

Social networking sites provide facilities that enable people to communicate with their friends without having to meet in person. In addition, they can upload photos, play games, and write status updates. Although designed to connect many people, these sites have an important role to make people addicted to be more isolated.

Researchers found that the amount of time people uses to meet face to face had reduced dramatically since the increased use of electronic medias in 1987. In fact, direct interaction can make hormones work better, for example the oxytocin ‘love’ hormones, which works to help the bond between couples. Imagine if the love is only sent through a message without seeing people directly, the work of these hormones would not be maximum, and could even occur changes in its production.

Of course there are differences between the actual presence with virtual presence. There will be changes in the function of several genes, including those that affect the immune system and response to stress, based on how many interactions take place.

With the growth of social networking sites, there is a change in people’s lifestyles. To save time, people prefer to meet virtually than face to face, education today even uses online systems that allows school-aged children not having to come out of their rooms to go to school.

“The electronic media also may reduce the ability of children, adolescents, and adults in social interaction, as long as they are isolated,” said Dr Sigman.

This can be seen clearly from the changes in lifestyle leading to a reduction of their time to interact during the last two decades. Parents spend less time for their children, like the cases in England. Habit of having dinner together reduces, while the number of people who choose to work online at home had increased.

“Social networking sites should help us improve the quality of life, but what happens is the opposite. They are not a tool to improve, but a tool to replace,” he said.

Source: www.medicmagic.net

Best Exercises For Pregnant Women

2011-02-15T05:36:00.000-08:00

Mild exercise during pregnancy is not only useful to provide extra energy to the body. But, will also make your mood better and keep the muscles remain tight. In addition, it also improves sleep quality and will certainly make the delivery easier. It even will help recovery after delivery.

This is based on a study by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). But of course you do not need a heavy exercise. A mild, safe, effective, and low difficulty exercise is enough, according to Modernmom.

Best Exercises

Walking is a very useful exercise, besides relieving stress, this type of exercise is also good for your bones and joints.

Swimming is also good. This exercise is recommended by obstetricians for pregnant women, even in pregnancies with problems or absolute contra indications. Usually pregnant women have problems with weight and her knees, because it supports the body weight of the fetus and herself.

Well, swimming is a non-weight bearing activities. In swimming, the body feels lighter and pregnant women do not feel any burden because it is supported by the water.

Cycling is also very good, provided with an appropriate and comfortable level of difficulty and pace.

Exercises to consider

Consider practicing yoga, dancing, or comfortable aerobics. Choose the exercise class designed for pregnant women.

Whatever exercise you choose, remember to keep your heart rate below 140 beats per minute. This is the advice of the American Pregnancy Association. During training, you are also advised to consume plenty of water and avoid excessive heat.

What you need to notice

Avoid exercises that are too dangerous for the mother, such as scuba diving, skiing, horse riding, and all physical sports. Other challenging activity, such as running, badminton, and weightlifting, also not recommended for pregnant women. This exercise would be more suitable done before you get pregnant.

After your first trimester, you should avoid exercises that involve lying on the floor. This will reduce blood flow to your body and your baby. And when you stand up, you may feel dizzy.

How long should you train?

American College of Obstetricians Gynecologists recommend exercise for pregnant women should simply be done for 30 minutes, several times a week.

But if you are still unsure what exercises is right for you, you better consult a gynecologist about the most appropriate type of exercise during pregnancy.www.medicmagic.net

Health Benefits of Wine for Women

2011-02-15T05:24:00.000-08:00

There are many ways to have a slim body. Not only through regular exercise, a proportionate body can also can be obtained by drinking wine regularly.

A research was done on 20 thousand women in a Boston hospital. More than 13 years, those who consume wine regularly were able to maintain their ideal body portion compared with women who do not drink wine.

Besides its benefit to making the body slim, there are many other health benefits of wine, according to Betty Confidential.

Because of its benefits, in 1991, red wine sales in France jumped sharply, as reported in French Paradox program which was broadcast for 60 Minutes.

Now, the benefits of wine is widespread across the world. Well, here are some more benefits of drinking wine for women.

• Small chances of having kidney stone problems

• Reduce the risk of stroke

• A study states that women who consume wine in moderation tend to have a long life

• Drinking wine can reduce the likelihood of upper digestive tract cancers

• Anti-oxidants in wine can reduce the risk of cancer

• wine drinkers have a lower chance of developing diabetes

Summary results of this study is based on a research gathered by a wine shop in New Jersey.

Hot Chocolate Drink is Healthier than Chocolate Candy

2011-02-15T05:21:00.000-08:00

Besides flowers, a gift most often given to the loved ones on Valentine’s day is chocolate. It is better to choose chocolate powder, because a hot chocolate drink is more healthier for the heart than a chocolate candy bar.

“In relation to heart health, drinking hot chocolate is as good as a glass of wine, which is reducing the risk of heart attack,” said Lona Sandon, a diet expert at the University of Texas, according to HealthNewsDigest.

Chocolate powder, especially the ones processed from dark chocolate has the highest flavanol content than any other form of chocolate. Flavanol compound is one which has the effect of protecting the heart from damage.

Other content of pure cocoa powder is an antioxidant that protects cells from damage, especially cells making the blood vessels leading to the heart. Healthy blood vessels will ensure smooth blood flow and is not easily clogged.

According to Sandon, various benefits will be reduced when the chocolate cocoa powder is processed into chocolate candy bars. The addition of sugar, milk and butter add calories, which indirectly is hazardous for the heart.

High calories can trigger obesity in people who rarely exercise. For people with diabetes, increased blood sugar due to excess calories can not be tolerated by the production of insulin that could endanger their health.

In addition, the structure of fat in milk and butter used in chocolate candy and chocolate bars can also be changed during processing so it becomes bad fats. The bad fats in the blood clot easily, and can lead to blockages and heart attacks.

Lack of Water is Dangerous for Your Blood

2011-02-09T04:52:00.000-08:00

If we consume less than 8 glasses, then our body will create a balance by taking water resources from one element of the body, including the blood. Lack of water is harmful for our blood. Because, the blood will be thick. As a result, the journey of blood as a means of transport of oxygen and nutrients is disturbed. Blood which is thicker will also pass through the kidney that functions as a filter or tool to filter toxins from the blood.

If you a kidney have to filter thick blood, it must work extra hard. It is not impossible that the kidney could be damaged and will later have hemodialysis. what about the brain?

The thick blood travel will also be hampered as it passes through the brain. In fact, brain cells are most wasteful, consuming food and oxygen carried by blood. Thus the function of brain cells is not running optimally and may even die quickly. These conditions will increasingly lead to stroke.

Brain and blood are two important organs that have moisture content over 80 percent. The brain has a component of water by 90 percent, while the blood component has 95 percent water. At least, we normally need two liters a day or 8 glasses a day. Here are nine benefits of water (mineral) for the body.

1. Streamlining the digestive system. Consuming adequate amounts of water every day will expedite the digestive system so that we will be avoided from digestive problems such as ulcers or constipation. Burning calories will also run efficiently.

2. Slow the growth of cancer-causing substances, prevent kidney stones and heart disease. Drinking water will give the body more energy.

3. If we lack of water, our body will absorb the water content in the skin so the skin becomes dry and wrinkled. Therefore, consuming plain water can protect the skin from the outside, as well as moisturize and heal the skin. To maintain the beauty (especially for woman), we should drink 8-10 glasses of water daily.

4. For fertility, water increases production of testosterone hormones in men and estrogen hormones in women. According to the findings of a thrombosis research institute in London, England, if someone always showers with cold water then their blood circulation will be more smoothly and their body feels fresh and fit. Bathing with cold water will increase production of white blood cells in the body and increase a person’s ability to attack viruses. Even a cold shower in the morning can increase testosterone production in men and estrogen in women. Which means fertility and sexual excitement will increase. Also improves skin tissue, healthier and stronger nails.

5. Water is also believed to be able to cure heart disease, rheumatism, skin damage, respiratory diseases, bowel, and female diseases, and much more. There are also pretty much alternative medications which uses water.

6. Hot water is not only used to treat various skin diseases, but also effective for treating paralysis such as stroke. Therefore, water can help strengthen back muscles, circulatory system and respiratory system. Effect of heat causes dilation of blood vessels, improving blood circulation and oxygen network, thereby preventing muscle stiffness, relieve pain. The content of ions, especially chlorine, magnesium, hydrogen and sulfate carbohydrates in hot water, helps dilation of blood vessels thus increasing blood circulation. Besides that, the water PH, can sterilize the skin.

7. Water gives relaxation effects. Try standing in the shower and feel the effects in the body. Shower water that falls into the body feels like a massage and is able to eliminate fatigue because it feels like a massage. A number of alternative medical experts say, that having contact with shower, a walk in the surrounding waterfalls, or rivers and parks with lots of fountains, will acquire the properties of ions negative. Negative ions which arise due to water droplets collide can relieve pain, neutralize toxins, combat disease and help to absorb and utilize oxygen. Negative ions in the blood stream will accelerate the delivery of oxygen to the cells and tissues.

8. For those who want to loose weight, drinking hot water before eating is one way to reduce the amount of food intake. Moreover water contains no calories, sugar, or fat. However it is best to drink water at medium temperature, not too hot, nor too cold.

9. The decreased amount of water in the body, will also decrease the organs function and will be more easily disturbed by bacteria, viruses, and others. However, the human body has a mechanism in maintaining the balance of water intake in the body. Water our bodies require approximately 2 – 2.5 liter (8-10 cups) per day. Total water demand is already including the water intake from food (such as soup, soto), syrup and others. In addition, water intake also obtained from the metabolism of food consumed and tissue metabolism in the body. www.medicmagic.net

Is Chocolate Really Healthier Than Fruits?

2011-02-09T04:46:00.000-08:00

Chocolate are often used as ‘medicine’ to eliminate stress and improve mood. Not only does it taste delicious, it is also known to have many health benefits.

Researchers at the Center for Health and Nutrition of Hershey declared that chocolate is worthy of the title ’super fruit’. From studies in laboratory, it is known that chocolate have many antioxidant.

The level of polyphenols and flavonoids in one gram of cocoa powder is more than the ones in fruits used to make juice.

Experts discover that cocoa beans (origin of chocolate) has extraordinary nutrition with macronutrient content, according to medindia.

The findings, which were published in the Chemical Journal, showed that dark chocolate and cocoa powder contain higher flavonoids and polyphenols than fruit juice.

Antioxidants are found in fruits such as grapes, strawberries and pomegranates, some types of juice, dark chocolate, green tea and red wine. Antioxidants are compounds that will fight cell damaging free radicals. When the body lacks antioxidants, it can cause health problems.

However, other experts assessed the phrase ’super fruit’ not true and is just created by chocolate makers as part of marketing. Because, there is no single type of food that contains all the essential nutrients. www.medicmagic.net

Smartphones Causes Early Wrinkles

2011-02-04T05:39:00.000-08:00

Having smartphones like Blackberry is fun for some people. With smartphones, the activity of exchanging e-mails, chatting, or surfing the internet can be done simultaneously, anytime and anywhere.

But think carefully before using this technology. Cosmetic doctor stated that smartphone users will get old faster characterized by premature wrinkles.

Wrinkle as a sign of one being old is usually experienced by someone in their middle age 30. However, younger women are now having wrinkles more quickly due to overuse of smartphones.

Dr Jean-Louis Sebagh says that staring at the phone screen which has a narrow area makes faces pucker between the eyebrows. This phenomenon is commonly found in people who uses BlackBerry, iPhone or other smartphones.

To fix this, taking ‘BlackBerry botox‘ shots is needed. “The way is by injecting light botox in the area between the eyebrows,” she said according to the Daily Mail.

The BlackBerry botox’ phenomenon is also seen in long lines at beauty therapist Nichola Joss. “Over the past 18 months, most of the patients claimed to have more wrinkles due to mini-screens.”

To overcome this, according to Joss, massage on the face area would eliminate the tension and reduce wrinkles on the face.

Besides the face, disorders suffered by users of smartphones is ‘BlackBerry thumb‘. This is a form of hands strain injury due to excessive typing using fingers repeatedly. In addition, there is also ‘computer vision syndrome’, which is dry eyes due to staring at a computer screen for a long time. www.medicmagic.net

Negative Effects of Too Much Masturbating

2011-02-04T02:07:00.000-08:00

Many men masturbate, and some are even addicted to it. But actually men should not masturbate excessively, because masturbation also have side effects if it is done to frequently.

There is no definite limit on how often a man can masturbate. Although it is influenced by many factors including age, there are some opinions that says ideal ejaculation is 2-3 times a week either through masturbation or sexual intercourse.

According to AskMen, too much masturbating can lead to excessive activity in parasympathetic nerves. The impact is the production of hormones and sex chemical compounds increased , including acetylcholine, dopamine and serotonin.

Chemical imbalances that occur due to too much masturbating can lead to various health problems, among others, are:

1. Impotence

Disturbances in the parasympathetic nerves can affect the brain’s ability to respond to sexual stimulation. As a result, a weaker erection ability, even within a particular severity, it can cause impotence sexual disorders.

2. Semen valve leakage

Erection is not he only thing affected by nerve damage, the ability of semen channel to open and close at the right time is also disrupted. As a result, the sperm and semen are not only released during erection.

3. Baldness

Another impact of hormone imbalance that occurs is hair loss. If not addressed, it will eventually lead to baldness.

4. Back and groin pain

Muscle contractions during orgasm can trigger muscle pain, especially in the back and groin. For those who do it with bare hands without lubrication, pain can also attack the penis.

5. Fatigue all day

Each time the body stiffened for an orgasm, men will lose quite a lot of energy because nearly all the muscles will experience contraction. As a result, if they experience it too often, men will lose enthusiasm and tend to feel tired during the day.

Introducing the 10 Craziest Diets in History

2011-01-30T04:20:00.000-08:00

by Amanda Chatel, mydaily

While history shows us that at one time more to love was indeed the mentality (think: the extremely voluptuous Venus of Willendorf, 30000-25000 BC), we, as a society have, over the years strayed from this thinking, especially during the month of January.

Sure, actresses like Christina Hendricks are helping, but then there's the all-new, pint-sized Jennifer Hudson, and of course we still have that Kate Moss concept of beauty lingering: "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels."

And nothing feels quite as good as hewing to your New Year's resolution -- which is likely the same one 9 out of 10 Americans swore to their full-length mirror they'd see through this calendar year.

But, just for one full-fat moment, let's celebrate the insanity! Because we've all gone on at least one ill-advised diet in our times, and we swear on our non-skinny jeans, there are just some things humans shouldn't do to slim down. In fact, we compiled a top 10 list of the craziest diets of all time.

1. The Vinegar Diet

When: 1820's to early Victorian Era.

While a lot of women of this era simply starved themselves to achieve the en vogue "frailty" look of the time, others opted for this diet that was made popular by the Romantic poet Lord Byron. Along with a talent for wooing both women and men with his sweet-nothings, Byron also suffered from severe bulimia and anorexia. To keep his weight practically skeletal in appearance, along with a tea and raw egg mixture, he also consumed mass amounts of water and vinegar which would result in vomiting and diarrhea. Yum, kissing a poet who constantly smells like vinegar sounds like a blast!

2. The Chewing Diet

When: Edwardian Era

In 1903, San Francisco art dealer, Horace Fletcher put his Chewing Diet on the map when he dropped 40 pounds from literally over-chewing his food. The idea is to chew each bite of your food AT LEAST 32 times. After each bite is chewed to the smallest miniscule possible, one must then tilt their head back and allow those former full bites to "trickle" down their throat. However, should any part of the bite still be too large to swallow at that time, it is supposed to then be spit out – classy, right? Yes, you're at a restaurant, and you're filling your white linen napkin with half-chewed food particles. Don't be surprised when suddenly your invitations to dinner parties start getting conveniently lost in the mail if you go this route.

3. The Tapeworm Diet.

When: Turn of the century

Why chew your food only to spit it out, when you can infect your body with a parasite? Once upon a time tapeworms were sold in a pill form so they could wreck havoc on their host's body all in the name of being thin. Once the tapeworms firmly attach themselves to your insides they proceed to suck up all the nutrients from whatever food is being consumed, resulting in not only being able to eat more and more, but continually lose weight. While a decent size tapeworm can lead to a weight loss between one and two pounds a week, it can also create massive internal infections as well as cysts on the brain, eyes and spinal chord if it's allowed to grow out of control. The only way to stop the tapeworm is to take an anti-biotic and eventually pass the wormy li'l devil. However, due to its possible lethal effects, The Tapeworm Diet, or rather the selling of the vermin for such purposes, is now illegal in the United States.

4. The Cigarette Diet

When: 1920's

Long before anti-smoking campaigns started, consumers were introduced to cigarettes as not only a way to look cool, but to suppress your appetite. Yes, it's a fact that cigarettes will kill your desire to eat a lot, but in 1925, Lucky Strike's magazine ads actually read: "Pass me a Lucky – I pass up the sweets," and "Light a Lucky and you'll never miss sweets that make you fat." Lung cancer from cigarettes was apparently a way long off at this point, because not only were they used to stay slim, but pregnant women were inhaling them as if it were going out of style.

5. The Slimming Soap Diet

When: 1930's

If smoking and tapeworms aren't cutting it, just shower more; at least you're not going to kill yourself by being overly clean, and you might even get more friends. In the 1930's, women were jumping on the slimming soap rage and swearing by the ability to wash away their fat. If only it were that easy, none of us would leave our showers ever. With products like "Fat-O-NO," and "La-Mar Reducing Soap" women couldn't get enough. However, the soap, despite their labels, was basically hand soaps without any proven scientific results. And when you take into consideration all that washing that was going on, it's no wonder women's skin didn't start falling off, chunks left and right, from being so obscenely dry from all that soap and water.

6. The Drinking Man's Diet

When: 1960's

Liver and kidneys be damned! Robert Cameron's diet, and book of the same name, was released in 1964 – obviously to lovers of the sauce the world over. The Drinking Man's Diet focused on weight loss via carbohydrate control while consuming gin and vodka in surplus, as they are low-carb substitutes to so many other things you could be consuming. So the next time your boss is ticked off because you come back from your three martini lunch with your speech mildly slurred, just politely explain that you're on strict diet that requires you to drink alcohol at every meal; but no worries, because once you reach your goal weight, you'll kick your drunk lunch days to the curb.

7. The Sleeping Beauty Diet

When: 1960's

Sleeping Beauty slept for a hundred years, but didn't age a bit; seems a bit far-fetched. She was also able to able to sleep all that time, and no one mentioned her weight after the fact; one would think she would have woken up looking for a donut and not a prince to save her. Perhaps Walt Disney's animated version wasn't the inspiration for The Sleeping Beauty Diet, but it was made popular with Jacqueline Susann's 1966 book, "Valley of the Dolls." While the three female characters in the book were popping "dolls" of all sorts, it was the has-been, overweight actress Neely O'Hara who resorted to the diet under a doctor's supervision. Basically, she was drugged to the hilt and slept for a week. If you're asleep, you can't eat; but if you're a sleep, you can't do a lot of other things, too.

8. The Prolinn (or The Last Chance Diet)

When: 1970's.

When one thinks of miracle liquids, it usually doesn't consist of ground animal remains, the likes of horns, hides, hooves, tendons, bones as well as other delicious slaughterhouse treats; or maybe it does. With all these goodies thrown together with artificial flavoring, coloring and the necessary enzymes to breakdown the, er, ingredients, Dr. Roger Linn stood by this invention of his, claiming that all one needed to lose weight was to drink this, um, stuff. The thought of this alone should make someone not want to eat ever again, so that in itself sounds like a better way to Thin Town than drinking cow hooves. But, hey, to each his own.

9. Breatharian Diet (or Air and Sunlight Diet)

When: 1980's.

Eating food is just silly and a waste of time when you're a Breatharian. Just skip breakfast and go straight outside and inhale deeply – feel full yet? Perhaps, you need a bigger gulp, and a few more at lunch, too. Breatharians believe that when human beings find the "purest sense of harmony" in the world their bodies no longer need food, sleep or water. Yes, not even water. Not to be a judgmental, but Breatharians sound like they're probably a cranky lot. Think about how you feel at 3pm on a Tuesday when you've skipped lunch and haven't slept since Sunday; not pretty.

10. The Cotton Ball Diet

When: Now-ish, it's said

It has long been rumored that models have been consuming water-soaked tissues to keep their weight down: all the taste and none of the calories. Oh, wait; none of the taste, none of the calories, AND you feel full. Along the same vein is The Cotton Ball Diet – and cotton balls are high in fiber! Not the kind of fiber you should want in your body, but fiber of some sort nonetheless. Unfortunately, most restaurants don't have cotton balls on their menus, so this is the type of behavior you'll have to engage in at home. Ideally, in a closet or under your bed, because if you can eat an entire bag of cotton balls and still be able to look yourself in the mirror, that's just indicative of a whole other world of issues.

Emotional Vampires: The 5 Most Common Types -- And How to Slay Them

2011-01-30T04:11:00.000-08:00

by Emily V. Gordon, mydaily.com

We all know them. They're the real-life Dementors who suck your energy without even trying. And they sometimes do it so artfully that you don't even realize it until after you've walked away. Commonly they're known as "emotional vampires."

Now Dr. Judith Orloff has written an entire book, "Emotional Freedom," teaching you how to free yourself from those who feed on normally-happy you. When she published a story on Huffington Post exploring the phenomenon, it became clear it was a topic that resonated deeply with a lot of people. We called her up to see what she could teach us.

Luckily she agreed to let us pick her brain about how these soul-suckers are created, how we can spot a emotional vampire at 10 paces and what emotional garlic we can wear in their presence.

(Our sincere regrets if you recognize anyone you know.)

MyDaily: To get everyone up to speed, what is an emotional vampire?

Dr. Orloff: As a psychiatrist, the biggest source of energy drain I see in my patients is their relationships. Emotional vampires are people who can drain your energy and suck you dry. They are the people who make your mood take a nosedive, who you feel sick or tired around -- you may even want to binge on comfort foods. Basically, it's a person who changes your mood for the worse just by being around.

What's the most common type of emotional vampire out there?

Of the five types -- Narcissistic, Victim, Controller, Constant talker, and Drama Queen -- I would say that the victim is the most common. That's the friend you have who keeps you on the phone for two hours complaining about everything, but she never seems to do anything about how miserable she is. You start avoiding her phone calls after a bit because she is exhausting, and you feel like there's nothing you can say about it.

That feeling that you can't do anything about an emotional vampire -- part of what I got out of the book is how we're not paying attention to the voice inside of us that says "this person is trouble" -- we're too afraid of being seen as impolite. What is that about?

A lot of people don't speak up for themselves because they are afraid of offending someone or being impolite.

I wrote the book because I wanted to give people strategies of how to deal with situations like this. It's just a skill that people aren't taught, but my hope is that if you can learn a few simple tools, you can deal with emotional vampires in a loving and sensitive way.

Do you have any tips of how we can protect ourselves from getting into relationships with emotional vampires?

First, you have to notice how your energy is when you're around the person. If you're on a date and everything seems to be going great, but you notice that you're exhausted, do not marry that guy.

Other than that, I ask people to sit down and think of their top five buttons, the top five things that set them off. Things like guilt trips, petty criticisms, anger -- everyone has buttons, and emotional vampires happen to be able to see these buttons more than other people, and they will push them. Once you know what sets you off, it can help you take the emotionality out of dealing with them, because that's key. It may take a while for you to be calm enough to respond, but at least you'll know when to go and calm yourself.

Once you have your head in the right place, what can you do?

I call it the "Warrior's Way" of dealing with people who want to push your buttons. Your tone of voice is critical -- you have to talk to an emotional vampire in a very matter-of-fact or compassionate manner, rather than trying to deal with them the way they are talking to you. You don't want to turn them off, because you have a goal -- you want to change their behavior. You have to stick to that goal. If you take the bait and get emotional, then nothing will change.

I recommend techniques like limit setting -- for instance, calmly telling a person who criticizes you that they hurt your feelings and you'd appreciate it if they didn't do it again. Get in and get out quickly, with a smile.

You do not want a dialogue. For a boss who is narcissistic, frame the things you want in terms of what they're going to get out of it.

If you want a vacation, saying, "Me taking off time here and returning here will benefit the company" will get results faster than "I'm exhausted and I need time off". For a drama queen coworker -- by the way, never ask a drama queen how they are doing! -- I recommend using "not interested" body language. Turning away from them, crossing your arms, and calmly explaining that you have work to do. It takes practice, but it's definitely worth it.

Have You Ever Had A Broken Heart?

2011-01-30T04:06:00.000-08:00

by Rich Santos, www.marieclaire.com

I used to think I've never had a broken heart, but upon further reflection I think my heart was broken once.

The strange thing is that my heart was not broken by a woman, but by my dad. When I was 8, my parents split up and he left the house for a while. He took a huge piece of me with him. At that point in my life, he was THE guy. I remember crying uncontrollably for a week or so, exhibiting behavioral problems in school, and having other problems develop.

Luckily, my parents got back together and they are still together today, and they seem happier than they've ever been (probably because they are not dealing with us kids).

People use the term "broken heart" loosely. I might quip that "it broke my heart" when the chicken skewer guy stopped coming around during the cocktail hour of a wedding. Or, it broke my heart when the Ravens lost that important game...OK, maybe the Ravens have broken my heart a few times for real.

In dating, people often think they've had their heart broken, or some people think they are heart breakers. But I think broken hearts are uncommon, and that's a good thing. I even know a handful of people who have never had their heart broken.

My little sister is a good example of this. She was too young to know what was going on when my parents split up, and she's never had anything happen to her that broke her heart. She seems to be more of a heart breaker.

I've listed some characteristics of an event that causes a broken heart below. Let mw know if you agree:

It Has To Be Sudden...And Almost Unbelievable

When my parents split up, I was introduced to something I never thought could happen. I wasn't prepared for it, and I was taken completely off guard. After we've been hurt enough times, we learn to expect bad things to happen and prepare ourselves emotionally for the bad things...even when things might be going well in a relationship.

The Person You Lose Must Be A Part Of You

There are people you date, and then there are people that are a part of you. The very special people you date are like family. When they are gone, a piece of you is gone. Losing my dad was like losing a huge part of my world, a foundation, and a support. Sometimes we dont' let people too close because we don't want to be dependent on them in case we lose them. I think Stevie Nicks said it best in Landslide:

"I've been afraid of changing because I built my life around you."

It Messes You Up In Other Parts of Your Life

Like I said above, I started having problems in other parts of my life when my dad left. When you break up with someone, you're bound to have problems in other parts of your life, but if your heart is broken you will suffer significant depression and other personal problems that you've never had will probably spring up.

Thinking About it Will Make You Sad Eternally

I'm not eternally sad, but I can cry on command if I think about those days when my dad was gone. I'm convinced actors/actresses use "broken heart" moments to cry. I believe a broken heart can be mended because as humans we are resilient. But just because something has scarred over doesn't mean you'll ever forget how that scar got there.

I don't mean to belittle other people's experiences. I'm actually trying to help put people's experiences in perspective. Losing some dude you dated for 6 months sucks, but it's nothing compared to losing your grandmother, or even your best friend.

I don't want anyone to have their heart broken, and luckily I don't think it happens to people too often...even though they think it has happened.

Don't let someone you've dated who ended up hurting you have that much significance in your life. Do they deserve it as much as your family and best friends? To me, someone has to be a complete part of you, worthy of all your trust, and best friend or family to be able to break your heart. I'd argue that it's pretty tough to have your heart broken in dating.

Do you agree with my thoughts above? Have you ever had your heart broken and, if so, by who and how?

Annoying Girlfriend Behavior: Talking Over the TV

2011-01-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

by Rich Santos, www.marieclaire.com

Sometimes a successful relationship is about how little you annoy each other as much as how attracted you are to one another.

Which is more accurate to say to your significant other: "I love you, because you're so great"? Or "I love you because you don't annoy me that much"?

My buddy said I'm making progress. I'm accepting that my future girlfriend will annoy me often, and that there is no such thing as a girl that's completely like a guy. And if there is, I won't ruin that friendship with sex.

Wait...am I saying that I only have sex with annoying girls? That's so messed up!

Here's an annoying thing that I must learn to live with in a long-term relationship: talking when the TV is on.

The other day guys in my office were watching SportsCenter's Top 10 plays in silence, except for a few quick words during the tiny lull between each play. Watching these plays with the guys was glorious, and my head was buzzing with the highlight/conversation rhythm.

Tragically a woman co-worker wandered in and started talking to me about something. I didn't really hear her, but my blood boiled slightly because she insisted on talking during this very important moment.

When she left, the guys and I discussed how women don't understand when to talk in relation to the TV. This was a clear example: there were 10 highlights. There was a count down of plays — she knew when it would be over. And it was clear I was with a pack of guys totally engrossed in the highlights, yet she talked like nothing was going on.

One of the guys said his girlfriend cuts in on his TV time with the "are you watching this," line. He's annoyed because he's obviously watching it, but she still asks as if that's going to give her a pass to cut in.

Another guy said: "the only time my wife talks to me is when I'm watching TV."

Keep in mind that most guys have logged hours watching TV with their buddies. It's almost impossible to understand how to fit in with this time as an outsider. In high school my buddies and I would lie there watching TV all weekend (reason 3,214 that we didn't get laid back then) honing our skills.

My senior of college, the TV in our house was on for 22 hours a day. It's not just a gender thing—lame outsider guys can come in and crash the party too, annoyingly talking at the wrong time, or saying stupid things.

One prerequisite I have for a future girlfriend is her ability to watch TV with me: make fun of dumb shows, and time her TV conversation well.

What do you think, is my complaint accurate? What are the little things that guys do that annoy you the most?

The New Science of Human Attraction

2011-01-20T02:03:00.001-08:00

By Justine van der Leun

Does being healthy make you prettier? Are mean people physically ugly? Are sweethearts worse at reading faces than cynics? Is it just a coincidence that your husband looks a whole lot like your dad?
Dr. David Perrett, professor of psychology at The University of St. Andrews in Scotland, studies the mysterious, complex human face at his unique Perception Lab, and he's compiled his fascinating findings into a new book, "In Your Face: the New Science of Human Attraction." Here he discusses his discoveries with AOL Health.

AOL Health: Is beauty really in the eye of the beholder? In other words, are our ideas of attractiveness based on our life experiences?

Dr. David Perrett: Femininity in female faces and symmetry are admired the world over. But otherwise, differences in opinions of attractiveness are profound and derive from multiple sources. There's a learning effect from the family. Within days and months of birth, infants learn about the sex, race and age of who is looking after them most. This affects preferences in infancy and probably throughout life. A girl who gets on well with her father will end up marrying a guy who looks to some extent like him. Likewise, heterosexual males tend to choose a partner like their mothers. Also, we copy admiration. Exposure given to celebrities these days persuades others to share the same tastes.

AOL Health: Does your face create your personality or vice versa?

DP: A bit of both. When people look at faces of baby boys or girls, if the individual looks more masculine, adults tend to ascribe independence and think the baby doesn't need as much care. If it looks more feminine, they give it more cuddles. I'm thinking that the face reinforces the personality, because if you're treated as independent, you may require a greater independence. Just like if you grow up bigger than your peers, they will treat you with deference, or if you put on a fancy dress, people react to you differently.

AOL Health: So your health is reflected in your face, and this influences others' perception of your attractiveness?

DP: A large number of the population are overweight, but even within the normal weight, there is change in health in those people who are not overweight but on the high end of normal. They are more likely to have high blood pressure and minor diseases like colds and flus. These are physical manifestations of health.

There is also a variety of facial color cues. For example, fresh blood reflects a good heart and strong lungs, so if you go pale, then you're likely to be sick. But even a subtle change in the color -- whether it's slightly bluish or a normal lighter red -- can signify the difference between having a good cardiovascular system or a poor one.

AOL Health: How does your diet affect your face?

DP: Plants have pigments that go into our skin, so the more fruits and vegetables we eat, the better our skin looks. Those same pigments help us deal with the stresses of everyday life and disease. The color of the skin is a good indicator of health. The structure of someone's face can tell us a lot about one's prognosis.

AOL Health: Can we really make our faces look better by eating lots of carrots and smiling, as your book suggests?

DP: Exercise changes the blood circulation and will help to stabilize our weight, and fruits and vegetables are good for our health. People can also alter their own attractiveness by how they react to others. We're all a little narcissistic, and if we interact with someone and that person keeps ignoring us, he won't seem so attractive. We'll work hard to expose ourselves to a pretty face -– but we're rewarded more if that pretty face is smiling and the person is attentive and reactive.

AOL Health: In your everyday life, can you switch off studying faces?

DP: To some extent, academics study the things they're not good at. I'm fairly useless in recognizing individuals, so it's especially interesting for me to explore the topic.

AOL Health: Is that because you're too nice? Your book notes that the sweeter the person, the more inept he is at reading faces.

DP: That was an emerging finding -- that our ability to judge personality depends on how warm or Machiavellian we are. People were asked to score themselves on a scale of warmhearted to calculating. Those on the colder end have better personality-reading skills.

AOL Health: Why?

DP: There are a couple possibilities. The majority of people have a warmhearted attitude, and they will overlook the mistakes of others because that's how the world can go round. Otherwise, society would be totally dysfunctional. Another possibility is that the more calculating people have experienced a tough early life, and they had to become more aware and cannier or they'd get ripped off. These are speculations, and they would be interesting to research more.-- www.aolhealth.com

5 Germy Mistakes You're Making Everyday

2011-01-19T00:15:00.000-08:00

You wash your hands frequently, do your best to avoid coughing strangers, and generally consider yourself to be a germ-avoiding pro. Still you may be surprised at five little things you're doing that may be leaving you susceptible to harmful bacteria and viruses.

1. Fruit peels: You buy lots of fruit to eat -- bonus points! But, when it comes to fruit you peel (think: bananas, oranges), do you ever wash them first? If you grab that banana, peel it, then handle the fruit as you eat it, you're potentially putting harmful bacteria right in your mouth. Think of all the people who handled that banana: the banana farmer in another part of the world, the guy at the grocery store who stocked the bunch, 19 customers who picked over it to get to the greener bunch they wanted, the checker at the market, the bagger -- and then you!

2. The handles/railings in your house: Did your roommate have a cold this week? Sure, you kept your distance and washed your hands frequently, but did you think to wipe down the stair rails and doorknobs? Using a little hot soapy water or a light bleach solution (like Clorox Anywhere Spray) on frequently touched surfaces can keep you extra protected.

3. Your shoes: Do you keep your shoes on in your house? Yes, this is a controversial issue -- those who like to keep their shoes on, thankyouverymuch, may take offense to rhetoric about removing shoes at the door. But, there has been a mounting amount of research in the past years indicating that what we track in on the bottom of our souls could be making us sick -- from chemicals lingering on sidewalks and roads to the microbes you picked up in the public restroom. In fact, some health experts consider taking shoes off in your home as a way that anyone can improve their health. Even the super-doc Dr. Mehmet Oz suggested this year that it was on his top-5 list of things he'd recommend people do. So take those shoes off, darlings!

4. Touching your face: We all do it -- a scratch here, a nose rub there. But every time we're touching our face (especially our nose, mouth and eyes), we're giving germs a free ride into our bods. Even if you can be a teensy bit more aware of when you touch your face throughout the day, you can reduce your germ exposure. No, don't be compulsive about it, but if you avoid rubbing your eyes now and then, you're doing your body a good service.

5. The water glass in the bathroom: When's the last time you sent it for a run in the dishwasher? How about now? Frequently used items like glasses -- especially when shared or left out on a countertop where droplets can accumulate from various sources -- can be a breeding ground for germs. Wash those glasses frequently, and don't share them! -- www.aolhealth.com

Study: Guys Like Girls Who Have Been Dumped

2011-01-19T00:11:00.000-08:00

by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

Men have always been drawn to a damsel in distress. A recent study may shed new light on why.

Researchers from Penn State University found that guys are more attracted to women who have been broken up with than to those who ended their last relationship.

Interestingly, women want the exact opposite: a man who has initiated the split, not one who has been dumped by his previous girlfriend.

So what is it about a wounded bird that makes many men come running, perhaps in the hopes of rescuing her? And why are girls bewitched by take-charge guys?

"A man taking a dominant role in his romantic relationships may be seen as more consistent with traditional gender roles," offered lead author and Penn State researcher Christine Stanik, according to msnbc.com. "A dominant woman may be less acceptable for this reason, or men may just view her as picky or demanding."

Perceived high standards might be part of the appeal for the women who ranked the breakup initiators more favorably, she added.

"A man's willingness to end an ongoing relationship in hopes of finding someone better might be interpreted by women as a sign of status," Stanik said.

Are we really still that old-fashioned? According to the findings published in Evolutionary Psychology, the answer may be yes.

For the study, Stanik and her colleagues had 198 heterosexual participants go to fake online dating sites and scan the profiles of fictitious people. The subjects -- 102 women and 96 men -- had to rate how interested they were in dating the made-up mates they read about. No photos were provided.

Among the tidbits offered to participants about each prospective partner were basic personality traits, trivial likes and dislikes (a partiality to ice cream, for example) and, ultimately, responses to the statement "My last relationship ended because ..."

The subjects were asked to periodically rank the desirability of the dating site "members" after being presented with new sets of information -- first after seeing the more innocuous details, then again after reading the breakup stories.

Some of the profiled people said they'd ended the relationship; some said they'd been dumped, and some declined to answer the question.

More specifically, the responses were: "My last partner was great, but I thought I could find someone closer to my ideal" (initiator); "I was in love with my last partner, but he/she dumped me" (rejected); or "The person who placed this ad chose not to respond to the question" (non-disclosing).

A turnoff across the board was a secretiveness about why things didn't work out, with a refusal to answer getting bad reviews from both men and women. (Women were more bothered by it than men, however.)

But the results about guys preferring jilted girls and girls preferring heartbreaker guys surprised the authors, who'd theorized that being rejected would be a sticking point for everyone across genders.

"We tested the hypothesis that finding out potential partners were rejected by their last partner would negatively affect participants' desire to pursue a romantic relationship with them," the authors wrote.

They found the gender-split results mysterious.

"These scenarios produced intriguing sex differences, such that men's ratings of women fell after learning she had rejected her last partner, but women's ratings of men increased after the same information was introduced," the researchers wrote.

It may not have been what they said, but how they said it that clinched their ratings, according to University of Pennsylvania psychiatrist Christos Ballas.

"It's not the fact that men were dumped that seems to be the turnoff," he told AOL Health. "It's the fact that the man publicly would announce it in this way: 'I was in love with this girl, but she dumped me.' It's terribly pathetic."

Men, he believes, aren't expected to talk that way, which might be why the make-believe ones in the profiles became less attractive to women when they did. When the tables were turned, though, "a guy almost expects a woman to say it in those words."

The reasons men gravitated toward the tossed-aside women are equally simple, according to Ballas.

"It's not that she seems more aggressive, which is the way the scientists make it sound," he said. "It's, 'My chances are better with the girl who doesn't dump guys.'"

-- www.http://www.aolhealth.com/

Are You a Facebook Narcissist?

2011-01-18T03:19:00.000-08:00

By Ayren Jackson-Cannady

If you've ever wondered if you were an egomaniac (not that you'd even wonder that if you actually were one), just ask yourself these three questions:

1) Do you obsessively update your status on Facebook?

2) Does your profile picture show you sticking out your lips, your chest and/or your butt?

3) Do you have more images of you by yourself than you with friends/family in your photo albums?

If you answered "yes" to all of these questions, then, congratulations -- you may be one of the many whose narcissistic tendencies are being magnified by social media, according to psychologists at York University in Toronto.

In a recent, totally unsurprising study, researchers found that narcissists use Facebook as a portal for obsessive self-promotion, calling it "a gateway for hundreds of shallow relationships and emotionally detached communication." The study noted that while while guys did most of their bragging in the "About Me" section, female Facebook narcissism tends to manifest as (sigh) posting lots and lots of photos of oneself.

Gals, take note: Sometimes a picture says a thousand words -- especially if that picture is of you in front of a mirror with a camera phone.-- www.lemondrop.com

4 Reasons We Grow Apart After a Breakup

2011-01-18T03:15:00.000-08:00

by Rich Santos

I recently had a bittersweet dream about a girl I was once close to. We were in the water and she had turned into a fish and I couldn't find her. I explained the dream to the girl and we both laughed, and I even admitted that I had a "feeling of profound sadness" when I couldn't find her (as the fish) in the water.

My dream reminded me that I still have feelings for this girl. I felt a sense of disappointment in myself and my stupid subconscious for harboring the "still caring" feelings. Then I did the dangerous "looking back" at old e-mails. It reminded me of the chaotic ups and downs we went through.

After waking up from my dream, which was beautiful and sensual in a tropical setting sort of way, I had mixed feelings of disappointment that things didn't work out, and confusion at why I had these once-dormant feelings suddenly reawakening. The frustrating irony of dating:

The closer two people get, the further apart they'll be when things turn sour.

I guess it's tough to catch lightning in a bottle: the elusive mutual breakup. When a relationship burns out and is void of passion, mutual breakups are possible. How else do you explain two people who are able to walk away without an explosion?

It takes a spark to create this explosion, and it stands to reason that the most passionate relationships end in fury and fire rather than slowly fading away. After passionate relationships, we often hurt each other, ripping the union apart in a process faster than it took to put together.

Here are reasons that we fall so far after we build ourselves so high:

Sex

It's almost impossible to simplify the results of sex, unless you're able to separate emotion from the physical act. It deepens the relationship and it adds a layer of intimacy that you only allow a handful of people in your life (of course "handful" is a relative term).

Once things go wrong, we are forced to question whether it was a good idea to have sex, and the pain of separation is more intense given the physical intimacy you shared.

Jealousy

Once you're done, the possibility of someone having what you had with that person hurts on every level in addition to sexually.

Pride

It's immature, but sometimes a false sense of superiority develops after you break up. We want them to know we are the stronger one and we are getting along just fine without them. You do your best to be "over" someone, even when you're not over them. You used to be in a relationship that was full of compromise, and after the relationship ends, no one is willing to compromise.

Risk

You cannot go back to an amicable relationship with that person because you run the risk of your attraction taking over again. "Reinventing" your feelings is nearly impossible, because of the disaster in your past; you don't want to give it a chance of happening all over again.

And even with blowup after blowup, this girl from my dream and I gave in to our attraction repeatedly. Finally, we just got away from each other, minimizing the chances for attraction to take over and thus minimizing the blowups whenever things came to a head.

When you care about a person passionately, that passion draws you together when things are good. When things go bad, that same passion creates the explosion, and causes a strange distance between you. The ironic thing about dating is that two people who once cared deeply for each other, shared a bed and merged lives, are torn far apart by the very intimacy that brought them together.

So, with each ending, that little box in our subconscious where we stash our "I still care about them" feelings gets a little fuller.

What are your thoughts on this "once so close, then so far apart" phenomenon? Do you stash your feelings away so that you can get away from a person for the good of both of you? Do you still have feelings for the guys with whom you've had mutual breakups, or passionate/fiery ones?-- www.marieclaire.com