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Syph Soars

Thursday, March 11, 2010

The World Health Organization has reported a link between economic wealth and the prevalence of syphilis. A health official reported a ten-fold increase in syphilis cases in China over the past decade. The rise was attributed to migrant workers, flocking to the cities, with more money to spend on prostitutes.

Labels: Sex

Tales From The Womb

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Your level of masculinity may be linked to phthalates (commonly found in plastic food wrappers) your mother was exposed to while you were still in the womb,according to a study by the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York. Boys with fetal exposure to phthalates were less likely to engage in play fighting or playing with toy guns and more likely to choose neutral games like sports or quizzes.

Meanwhile, exposure to too much estrogen as an unborn baby could result in reproductive abnormalities as an adult. Experiments on rats showed that exposure to ethyl estradiol (the main estrogen in birth control pills) increased the likelihood of penis deformity and low fertility. Higher doses are as dangerous for baby boys as DES - a drug banned in the US as a contraceptive in the 1970s.

Labels: Sex

Expand Your Options, Shrink Your Gut

Thursday, February 18, 2010

WATCH WHAT YOU EAT, SURE - BUT DON'T WATCH RERUNS. A BORING DIET IS HARD TO STICK WITH. "THERE IS NO ONE SET OF FOODS YOU MUST ALWAYS CHOOSE FROM IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR ABS SHOW," SAYS NUTRITIONIST ALAN ARAGON, M.S.

WHY
Like broccoli, this leafy vegetable has a crunch - and less than half the calories and carbohydrates of its cruciferous cousin.

HOW TO PREPARE IT
Separate, wash, and dry the leaves of one head of baby bak choy. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil on medium high. Saute the leaves with a thinly sliced garlic clove for about 5 minutes or until tender.

WHY
This sweet Asian fruit is a better source of vitamin C than your average apple.

HOW TO PREPARE IT
The most common persimmons are always deep orange and should be very soft when ripe. To eat one, cut it in half and spoon out the goods. Served chilled, it's a tasty dessert.

WHY
Pound for pound, goat has less than half the calories of porterhouse steak, and a few more grams of protein.

HOW TO PREPARE IT
Try it barbecued kebab-style, finished with a squeeze of lemon and some chopped rosemary. Or slow-roast a bone-in cut for a hearty meal.

WHY
Buckwheat may have more disease-fighting antioxidants than oats, barley, or wheat germ, according to a 2008 Turkish study.

HOW TO PREPARE IT
For two new ways to start your day, try a buckwheat pancake mix or an organic creamy
buckwheat cereal.

WHY
This Dutch cheese is semifirm, unlike the semisoft Muenster, and has more protein, fewer calories, and a richer, nuttier flavor.

HOW TO PREPARE IT
Cube the Edam and eat it with a fresh pear. Better yet, try it in a grilled-cheese sandwich with apple slices and stone-ground mustard.

Labels: Sex

Is She The One?

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Think you've found someone for life? Put her under this relationship microscope to find out for sure. It might very well save your heart and your bank account from cracking.

Take a closer look at her for some eye-opening relationship facts.

1 IS SHE SELF-CENTERED?
While you don't expect to be waited on hand and foot, studies conducted by the University of Texas found her generosity of spirit is directly responsible for your happiness. After monitoring thousands of couples they discovered that women are responsible for 'maintenance behaviors' -selfless acts like taking charge of the household chores, organizing intimate dinners and starting 'coupley' rituals, which will directly influence how happy you will be in the relationship in years to come.

THE TEST: DINNER FOR TWO
Once you're settled keep an eye on her rather than looking around the restaurant. This is a great opportunity to assess whether she's into you or not. "Women tend to be 'people pleasers' so signs that she doesn't care about your wellbeing are a real warning," says Dr. Ian Kerner, author of She Comes First.

FAIL- She leans over and grabs food off your plate without offering a bite of hers in return. "This 'space invading' signals a 'what's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine' attitude," warns Dr. Van Epp.

PASS - She doesn't dominate the conversation: "Keepers ask more questions, speak for shorter periods and use 'hedges' -words which show consideration for your feelings, such as 'perhaps' or 'maybe," says Dr. Scott Haltzman, psychiatrist and author of The Secrets of Happily Married Men. "If she's using these words, she's interested in making a connection with you."

2 DOES SHE HAVE PATIENCE?
The University of Texas study shows empathy and patience are vital for long-lasting unions. "If she doesn't have these traits, once the honeymoon period is over and she sees the 'real you' -foibles and all, she'll be out the door," says Kerner. Taking the dog, the car and your Wii with her.

THE TEST: HIT THE SHOPS
Take her to the supermarket and see how she reacts to other stressed out shoppers. "How she treats others is an indicator of her true nature," says Van Epp. "If she can't empathize with strangers, expect her to treat you with similar disdain later."

FAIL- If the corner of her mouth curls up slightly, it's a sign of contempt according to Dr. Paul Ekman, professor of psychology at the University of California Medical School.

PASS- She's mimicking the slac-jawed checkout girl's expression, and she's not just making fun of them; studies by the Universite Paris found that we mimic the facial expressions of people we empathize with when we talk.

Labels: Sex

Is She Open To A Fling?

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Researchers at Florida State University asked women about their sexual openness, and then videotaped them alone with a man - plus a Rubik's cube as a project. They found that some cues were good predictors of openness, some were not, and some were misleading.

GOOD CUES (can indicate openness) Widening eyes/ raising eyebrows / Glancing at the man / Paying little attention to the Rubik's cube

BAD CUES (not related to openness) Tilting her head / Open posture / Touching her hair / Hand gestures / Touching the man

MISLEADING CUES (don't indicate openness, though they're believed to) Smiling / Laughing / Proximity to the man / Attractiveness / Provocative dress

Labels: Sex

Pretty As A Flower

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Consider aiming a compliment below the belt. Women who have a positive attitude about their genitals reach orgasm more easily during oral sex than women who don't feel so hot about them, reports a new study in the International Journal of Sexual Health. Women who think their vulvas are attractive "probably find it easier to orgasm because they're able to relax, let go, and enjoy sex without worrying about how their genitals look, taste, or smell,"says study author Debby Herbenick, Ph.D., the Men's Health Sex Professor.

Labels: Sex

Is She Really Just A Friend?

Thursday, January 21, 2010

When it comes to friendships, the gender barrier has all but vanished. Here's how to keep everyone honest

DAVE'S BEEN MARRIED TO SANDRA FOR 6 YEARS. He's been friends with Hannah, an attractive, witty pal he met as a teenager, more than twice as long. The two chat weekly and have been known to close down more than a few bars together. Sandra's response? She rolls out the red carpet whenever Hannah's around. Then there's Lizzie and Joe, who grew close after meeting at work 3 years ago.

They're each happily married to someone else, but the spouses aren't exactly buying the whole just-friends thing. Rather than playing the tyrannical husband telling his wife who she can and can't see, Lizzie's man has instituted a "don't ask, don't tell" policy. "I feel like a reluctant mistress, sneaking around to see Joe only when my husband's out of town," Lizzie says. "That happens every week, which is convenient for the friendship." From coed rec leagues to office cubicles, the friendship gender barrier is all but gone. Not surprisingly, though, the chumminess may not always be on the up-and-up. A recent University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire study reveals that men in relationships struggle with feelings about their female friends. "We found that the more the men were romantically attracted to their friends, the less satisfied they became with their primary relationships," says study author April Bleske-Rechek, Ph.D. In fact, 15 percent of relationships result from "mate poaching," another study shows.

The problem may reside in our desperate attempts to disregard temptation. When you convince yourself that you'd never cheat, you feel free to share more and go deeper. "People think they aren't violating the basic code of being sexually faithful, so they don't put up the same defenses," says Ronald Potter-Efron, Ph.D., coauthor of The Emotional Affair. "They want to preserve the idealized connection with an opposite-sex friend." But this can wreak havoc in your primary relationship, he says.

So is your friend worth it? And what if your partner has an office buddy? We asked the experts how to make sure a few opposite-sex friendships don't ruin your love life.

Labels: Sex

How Picky Are You?

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Both men and women are more likely to accept a romantic invitation if the offer comes from someone who is good-looking, research confirms. In one study, men and women were asked if they'd consider invitations from people of varying levels of attractiveness.

(Description of person doing the inviting, followed by the percentages of study subjects who'd consider the invitation.)

Labels: Sex

Grape Sex

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Wine is more than a social lubricant. Research from the University of Florence found that women who drink one to two glasses of red wine a day have higher sexual desire and better lubrication than teetotalers and less-frequent drinkers. The polyphenols from the grapes may improve the function of her blood vessels, increasing bloodflow to her nether regions, says study author Nicola Mondaini, M.D. Stop at two glasses; a third may make you both doze instead of pounce.

Labels: Sex

Meeting Your Life Partner

Thursday, November 19, 2009

For those who've tried to get on the 'couples only' bandwagon, the most frequent means they've chosen is by improving their own attractiveness. This information, collected by dating agency Lunch Actually, shows that 52.7 percent of Malaysians perceive that boosting their attractiveness is the way to get a mate. The others are as follows :

Labels: Sex

Hit On Her At The Gym

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Women may say they don't want to be hit on at the gym. They may be wrong. The science says resistance exercise actually increases positive well-being in women making them feel more confident, less prone to psychological distress and feeling less fatigued overall. This little nugget derived from the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research may just work in your favor, the next time you see a woman putting down the lady weights. All you need is a smooth delivery to extend the invitation her way.

Labels: Sex

Her Online Influences

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Do you worry when your girlfriend or the missus decides to 'become a fan' of Chanel or Prada? Well, you can rest your unease because it seems 83 percent of women felt either neutral or negative towards the brands they come across. The results from marketing charts.com show that only 10 percent actively engaged with the brand by getting product information and downloading coupons. Up to 75 percent of the women surveyed said they were not influenced by brands in social network settings enough to make a purchase. That's all right, now if only they can get off our case about the naughty nurses and over-zealous cheerleaders.

Labels: Sex

What That I.M. Really Means

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Here's a relationship check: Analyze your instant messages. Your IM word choices can reflect relationship satisfaction, according to a study in Personal Relationships. Researchers analyzed 10 days' worth of IM conversations between 68 couples. The more the women used "I," the more satisfied both parties were. But the more the men used "me" or "you," the less happy both were. (The use of "we" indicated nothing about satisfaction.) Frequent use of "I" may be a signal that people are able to talk openly about themselves with their mates, says study author Richard Slatcher, Ph.D. "You" can indicate accusations, he says, and excessive sarcasm can also be a warning sign. To express satisfaction, use words like "happy," "excited," and "great."

Labels: Sex

Bored To Tears

Thursday, October 8, 2009

If you're wondering where your marriage is headed, here's a hint: Boredom at the 7-year mark is a sign of future dissatisfaction, reports a study in Psychological Science. A survey of 123 married couples found that those with higher levels of boredom at year 7 were more dissatisfied at year 16-whether or not there had been tensions or conflicts at year 7. "Feeling bored leads to changes in closeness with your partner, which leads to lower satisfaction," says study author Irene Tsapelas, Ph.D.(c). "Couples grow close by sharing novel and challenging experiences," she says. So seek out new activities you can do together, like rock climbing or foreign travel.

Labels: Sex

Not In The Office!

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Save that dirty joke for happy hour: Sex talk at work hurts employee morale, even among those who claim to enjoy it, say Canadian researchers. They surveyed more than 1,200 women and men about workplace sexual behaviors, from jokes to come-ons and touching, and asked about their psychological states and attitudes toward work. The more the employees were exposed to sexual behaviors, the less valued they felt at work and the lower their psychological well-being, explains study author Karl Aquino, Ph.D. Despite outward reactions, people may harbor negative feelings about sexual banter, and that can affect mood, he says

Labels: Sex

Oopsy Moments

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

So your tot caught you in the buff? Relax, he won't be scarred for life. An 18-year UCLA study found that 75 percent of kids ages 3 to 6 who've seen their parents naked had no residual trauma. But teaching modesty is important as children grow aware of their bodies, says Charles Wibbelsman, M.D., coauthor of The Teenage Body Book. That happens between ages 5 and 8 for boys and 4 and 6 for girls. At that point, cover up - your own anxious body language about being caught naked may undermine the message that the body is a positive thing, says Dr. Wibbelsman.

Labels: Sex

The Malaysian Male In The Dating Scene

Thursday, September 10, 2009

In a survey of single Malaysian men by dating agency Lunch Actually, it was discovered that the top reason given by men for their singlehood status was because they believed they had not met anyone they wanted to be involved with. They said however, that main reason it sucks being single was the loneliness. Generally, local men are more open in their dating preference, with 39% polled saying they would date an older woman and 70% saying it was okay to date a woman who earns more money compared to only 19% of women who said they would consider a male partner on a lower income-earning capacity. As befits the progression of our multi-ethnic status, 61% of men said they would consider dating a woman of a different racial group and 50% of women were also for the idea.

Labels: Sex

See The Signs

Thursday, September 3, 2009

FIND OUT IF SHE IS INTO YOU IN 2 SECONDS FLAT.

EYES
Looking into your eyes without breaking contact.

STROKING HER HAIR
Preening is a subconscious way of drawing attention to herself.

SOMETHING RED
Whatever it is - lipstick, scarf, ruby earrings or a dress, red says, "Look at me"

PUPILS
Dilated pupils are a sign of stimulation.

LIPS
Slightly parted lips means she's into you. Tight lips? Back off.

Labels: Sex

For Love, Not Money

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Here's one less thing to worry about in hard times: Women care more about mutual attraction and your dependability than your paycheck, say University of Iowa researchers. In a ranking of 18 potential mate characteristics, a man's financial prospects ranked 10th, behind emotional stability and desire for a home and family, among others. Dead last for men and women: chastity. In 1939, it ranked 10th.

Labels: Sex

Forearms And Foreplay

Thursday, August 13, 2009

A woman lightly strokes your bare arm-thrilling and intimate, right? It works on her, too: Forearms are packed with pleasure nerves that respond best to a touch traveling between 1 and 10 centimeters per second, scientists report in the journal Nature Neuroscience. These "C-tactile" nerve fibers (also found on the legs and face) send signals to the limbic system, an area of the brain associated with trust and affection, says study author Hakan Olausson, M.D. For best results-whether with your wife or a first date-gain her attention with a brief stroke, using the force of an artist's brush.

Labels: Sex

Crank Her Desire, Live Longer

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Here's another benefit to you spending those long hours with her at the mall (and occasionally holding on to her handbag). As it turns out, social bonding increases a woman's progesterone levels, which means they feel emotional closeness to you, and at the same time, reduces their stress. The University of Michigan study showed that women who underwent a period of bonding showed a greater willingness to risk their lives for their partner. You may want to be chivalrous and be there for her, but nothing wrong with her being there for you either.

Labels: Sex

Change, Please

Thursday, July 16, 2009

If you want your mate to change her behavior, be clear and reasonable, not goofy or mushy. Researchers in New Zealand who videotaped 61 couples found that straightforward communication is more likely to lead to long-term results. A direct approach may seem to backfire at first, but works in the long run. Being indirect (using humor, for instance) can downplay your feelings. "Relying on the soft approach will leave your girlfriend unaware of the nature and severity of the problem," says study author Nickola Overall, Ph.D., of the University of Auckland.

Labels: Sex

Circumcision And Std's

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Here's more evidence in favor of circumcision: Men without foreskins have lower rates of HPV and herpes, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine. A group of uncircumcised Ugandan men were enrolled in the study, and half were randomly selected to go under the knife. Two years later, the newly snipped men were 25 percent less likely to have contracted herpes and 36 percent less likely to have HPV. The reason is probably a combination of two factors, says study author Ronald Gray, M.D. "The underside of the foreskin has less of a protective layer of protein than regular skin, and there's a moist cavity under the foreskin that might harbor the viruses longer. Circumcision removes the vulnerable tissue as well as the moist environment."

Labels: Sex

What Her Past Says

Thursday, July 2, 2009

What was your wife like back in college? Women who have low intimacy levels in college may be more likely to divorce later in life, according to a study in Personal Relationships. When researchers at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst tracked down 167 people who had taken a psychological test 34 years earlier, they found the correlation-but only among women. Women tend to take a more active role than men in maintaining a couple's closeness, so a relationship in which the woman shows less intimacy may be more likely to falter, says study author Mark Weinberger, Ph.D.

Labels: Sex

Hot Women, Roving Eyes

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Attractive women often have high levels of estradiol, a hormone that drives the development of large breasts, round hips, and feminine features at puberty. (Hello, Scarlett) Trouble is, women with high estradiol levels are also more likely to dump a partner for a more desirable guy, according to a University of Texas study. In questionnaires, hot women indicated an inclination to keep looking for another longterm partner. Turns out it's the estradiol-not just an abundance of suitors-that calibrates the desire to trade up to another partner, says lead researcher Kristina Durante, Ph.D.(c). Watch your gorgeous girl for signs of distance. Though she's less likely to try a one-night stand, Durante says, she may become emotionally acquainted with another man to see if he is a better longterm option.

Labels: Sex

Easy, Big Guy

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Here's something you're doing right: Men are better at controlling their aggression if women are watching than when they're just with other guys. So keep it up, because women aren't impressed by men's face-to-face confrontations, says University of Minnesota marketing professor Vlad Griskevicius, Ph.D., the coauthor of a new study to appear in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. When researchers asked men what they'd do if another man spilled a drink on them and didn't apologize, the men said they'd be more likely to fight or yell in an all-male setting. That's an attempt to establish status, researchers say. With a potential mate around, however, "a man will be more inclined to back away from a fight because he doesn't want to be perceived as violent," Griskevicius says. Women are most impressed by a nonviolent resolution, such as a witty remark, he says.

Labels: Sex

She's Holding Out

Thursday, June 4, 2009

You meet. She flirts. She touches your arm. You're totally in, right? Maybe not. A woman tends to flirt while she's deciding whether or not she likes you, according to new research from Indiana University. When people watched videos of speeddating women, they misjudged-up to 80 percent of the time-signals that seemed encouraging. Her flirting isn't a tease, though. It's an evolution-driven effort to find out as much as possible about you before she shares her true intentions, says study author Skyler Place, Ph.D.(c). Baffled? Just give her what she wants: information.

Labels: Sex

Is She worth the Risk

Thursday, May 21, 2009

You know that guy at the craps table with the babes gathered round? He may not be thinking clearly. New research confirms that men take more chances when they're around hot women. Using a test involving blackjack and pictures of attractive women, researchers at Florida State found that arousal leads to bigger risk taking by men. It's part of an ancient mate-seeking strategy-showing off to impress girls, says study coauthor Michael Baker, Ph.D.(c). "Men should consider the potential costs and benefits of showing off."

Labels: Sex

Smells Like Love

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Her nose knows: According to a new study in Hormones and Behavior, a woman in love can recognize her boyfriend's scent, but can't sniff out T-shirts worn by her guy friends. One theory: Devoted women have elevated levels of the hormone oxytocin in their brains, which lowers their capacity to recognize opposite-sex friends through scent alone. So leave a shirt at her house. In a University of Pittsburgh survey, 47 percent of women said they sleep in their boyfriend's shirts because they find them comforting.

Labels: Sex

Being Too Rich And Too Thin

Thursday, May 7, 2009

It's still a gender-biased world, and the research shows as much. A Canadian study into 49,252 adults showed that women with a high occupational prestige tended to have lower BMI, but the same did not apply for men. In fact the opposite was true and BMI was higher for men in supervisory and management position than those in frontline sales and service. The report, carried in the journal Obesity, suggested that women in better occupations had higher exposure to health messages due to an increased educational level, but for men, a larger body size may convey physical dominance that is useful in these positions.

Labels: Sex

Getting to know you

Monday, January 19, 2009

It's never easy to understand our significant other but when there's a will, there is a way. Here at Men's Health we provide the way, you just have to be willing to do it.

Rev up her desire

Cubic inches matter. Loud car engines can activate a woman's sexual arousal., according to British researchers. Women who listened to the revving engines of Ferraris and other high-end cars showed elevated testosterone levels, indicating sexual excitement. The throaty roar causes a response in a woman's hypothalamus, triggering physiological arousal, says lead author, David Moxon, M. Sc. But don't redline a Civic - the noise of a four-cylinder car lowered women's testosterone levels.

No Holds Barred

It seems like the gloomy economy has also caused a reversal in single male's preference to women. A Canadian study in the New Scientist showed men preferred women who were characterized as benevolent, i.e. vulnerable, pure, or ideal for making the man feel completed as opposed to women who demonstrated characteristics such as; career-oriented, athletic, active in social causes and interested in partying. Rather odd, because you'd reckon having more income would make for a happier household.

Labels: Relationships, Sex

Good to Know

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The truth about beer goggles
British researchers gave drinks to heterosexual men and women (some received nonalcoholic placebos), then had them rate faces on a computer screen. No surprise here: The tipsy people tended to find the faces more attractive than the sober ones did.

More after the jump.

Headed for happiness
Men end up happier than women do later in life, though they start out unhappier, say University of Southern California researchers. The graph lines cross, on average, at age 48, as men start to feel better about family life and finances.

Listen carefully
Men are 5.5 times more likely to suffer from hearing loss than women, say researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Men had higher rates of high-frequency hearing loss, which is occurring increasingly at younger ages, possibly from portable music players cranked up too loud.

Labels: Sex

Things you should know

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Its always good to better strengthen your relationship. Here are a few good tips to start off with.

She'll make you pay
Ever throw money around when a hot woman was watching? Men are more generous around attractive women, a new study confirms. Using a money-earning game, British researchers found that men contributed more winnings to charity when they were being watched by a beautiful woman than when they were playing alone or being watched by another man. Men may be showing off to potential mates or to make up for shortcomings, says the report in Evolutionary Psychology. Women's charitable impulses didn't change no matter who was watching.

Laugh her into bed
Go ahead, joke about yourself. Men who make fun of themselves are seen as sexy, according to a University of New Mexico study in which women listened to men tell self-deprecating jokes. "It makes you more approachable to women when you use humor to show a little weakness," says study coauthor Gil Greengross, a Ph.D. candidate in anthropology. But self-deprecating humor can highlight your faults, so deliver the punch line with confidence.

Feed spinach to your sperm
Researchers at the University of California found that a lack of folate may sabotage your sperm. Men who ate more of the B vitamin, which is critical for the healthy development of DNA, had up to 20 percent fewer sperm with the wrong number of chromosomes. Studies haven't proved that more folate will help, but it can't hurt to take a multivitamin to reach the recommended daily dose of 400 micrograms. Or eat more spinach: A 2-cup serving contains about 115 micrograms of folate.

Labels: Sex

Improve your relationship with these facts

Friday, November 21, 2008

Arm yourself with these knowledgeable tips. It doesn't hurt to know a little extra.

Ed portends cardiovascular events
Take heed the next time your flag flies at half mast. "Erectile dysfunction is a common predictor of cardiovascular disease," says sexual medicine director Dr Irwin Goldstein of the Alvarado Hospital of San Diego. "The five main contributors to dysfunction in the sexual organs are smoking, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia (an abnormal concentration of lipids) and obesity," he says. Instead of going on rhinoceros horn or bulls testicles, look up a doctor or urologist for a proper cure. You can also take the opportunity to run a personal health screening to ensure your other vitals are in order. No sense in going out half-cocked.

Talk, listen and repeat
Finally, a routine that won't kill passion. Sharing upbeat details about your day strengthens a relationship, say researchers at the University of Utah. Talking and listening "helps maintain emotional intimacy," says study coauthor Angela Hicks, Ph.D. The study also found that venting about stressful incidents didn't dampen a partner's mood.

Defuse the money argument
Discussions about money cause less tension if you focus on the money and not on issues of control. University of Minnesota researchers gave people the choice to work on a project as a team or solo. Those who were shown pictures of money beforehand were three times more likely to take on all the work themselves. The topic of money can trigger feelings of self-sufficiency that make people hesitant to allow loved ones to share responsibility, says lead author Kathleen Vohs, Ph.D. So when a financial decision arises, look at it from an economic perspective instead.

Labels: Sex

Her Secret

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

It's true what they say, attractive women are high-maintenance. By this, we mean that the more attractive the woman, the more she wants from her mate. Research from Evolutionary Psychology reports that the four main qualities which she wants are; good genes, resources, desire for children/good parenting skills, and loyalty and devotion. Obviously men possessing all four qualities are rare and in the research, women rated to be more physically attractive showed stronger preferences for almost all of the indicators. Somewhat oddly, these attractive women do not seem to prefer intelligent men. On the flip side, less attractive women had to lower their standards and get the best combination of characteristics they could get in the same man.

[HE vs. SHE]
IRON DEFICIENCY
After researchers at the University of Massachusetts had men and women perform two sets of 25 arm curls, they found that women experience more symptoms of muscle damage immediately after lifting weights. This excess damage actually inhibits muscle growth, which is one reason men have an easier time bulking up.
ADVANTAGE: MEN

ASHES, ASHES, WE ALL FALL DOWN
Before you try to hook up in a smoky bar, consider what might happen if you succeed: Inhaling second-hand smoke can sabotage your erections, according to a University of Texas study. When men were given a nicotine dose equivalent to 30 minutes of smoke exposure, their erections were 23 percent weaker than those of men spared the stimulant. The nicotine in the smoke can trigger hormones that keep the veins in your penis from constricting and holding blood, say the study authors.

SPREADING MISINFORMATION
What your M.D. doesn't know about STDs could hurt you. In a study in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections, a poll of 200 family doctors found they believed (wrongly) that a person has only a 45 percent chance of catching genital herpes from someone who isn't exhibiting symptoms. In fact, there's a 70 percent chance of infection when a partner's virus is hiding. So don't take everything your doc says as gospel, and use a condom when you're with a herpes infected partner. You'll cut your risk by almost a third, states a University of Washington study.

Labels: Sex

Your Love List

5 experiences every couple needs to have

These five ways that will push your relationship to new heights. Whip out your red pen and start crossing them off your to-do list.

1. INVENT OUR OWN MOVE
"Improvising shows you're secure enough with each other to experiment," says relationship author Susan Crain Bakos. You'll both feel like pioneers, creating self- confidence that will liberate the both of you.
Your assignment: Tweak your old favorites. By adding a variation or two to your tried and tested moves, you make the whole exercise new again. Even the most innocent move of kissing her on the cheek can be intensified by adding words whispered in her ears.

2. SQUEEZE IN TIME
Sneaking away from your daily chores can jolt stagnation, says Gloria Brame, Ph. D., author of Different Loving. And reminiscing about the stolen moment can still spark desire even years later.
Your assignment: On a weekend of tedious housework, grab your girl's hand, let her know how much you appreciate her. Give her a peck on the cheek when you are entertaining friends at a party. Or just a hug during half-time commercials.

3. MAKE A RESERVATION
When you're mired in a major life event like buying a house or even planning a vacation, the stress can be hurt your relationship says Debby Herbenick, Ph.D.
Your assignment: Tell her that you'll carry her over the threshold of the new house, or recreate the night of your wedding. Talk about your honeymoon and those nights spent together. That should plant some passion-packed memories for later.

4. TAKE A BREAK
The event can be stale when it's an assembly-line process - tab A, slot B, repeat. You need to rebuild the tension and the passion says relationship therapist Michele Weiner-Davis.
Your assignment: Plan a week of non-physical contact. (No wandering hands either). After 7 agonizing days, you will find that you have missed each other's touch and the contact after that would be more meaningful.

5. DESIGNATE A "YOU AND HER DAY"
Carving out a day of activity can make her love you more. "People complain about planning, but reserving this time will build anticipation," says Weiner-Davis.
Your assignment: Set aside one weekend day a month to lavish attention on each other. Play games, or give massages.

Labels: Sex

Shape Up For Sex

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Striking out at the bar? Join a running club. When it comes to choosing a man, women with athletic builds are less superficial than those with curvaceous figures, say Polish scientists. After a detailed survey, they determined that the broader a woman's hips were relative to her waist, the more importance she placed on a man's looks. "Curvier women have more estrogen and a greater maternal urge to find a partner who looks like he'll produce strong babies and provide for a family," says the study author, Boguslaw Pawlowski, Ph.D.

It's In Your Head
As if wilted wood isn't bad enough, erectile dysfunction may be an early sign of Parkinson's. Harvard researchers who tracked 32,000 men for 16 years found that those with ED were 3.8 times more likely to develop Parkinson's. According to the study authors, the disease alters brain circuits that control involuntary functions - like sexual arousal - years before the first hallmark tremors appear. To fight back, drink 2 cups of coffee a day. Scientists found that men who did so were less likely to develop the disease than those who skipped java.

Scent Science
Pass on the horse-drawn carriage ride. Stinky air makes you less attractive, say Northwestern University scientists. Women exposed to a faint foul odor rated faces as less likable than they did when in fresh air. Turns out, when women detect a stench, they associate it with the face of the person they're with. The good news: A waft of citrus spikes likability. So spritz on a fruit-laced cologne, like Lacoste Pour Homme (sephora.com).

Deciding The Sex Of Your Child
This may sound like an old wives' tale but in a study from the "Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences" they may well be true. 740 first- time mothers were asked to record their eating habits before and after becoming pregnant. Women who had been consuming the fewest calories prior to conception were more likely to have daughters (55% did) while women who had been consuming the most calories were more likely to have sons (56% did). The same study also showed that women who are at least one bowl of breakfast cereal a day were significantly more likely to conceive a son than women who ate a single bowl or less a week.

Labels: Sex