Sexual healing

The "sex glow." Carrie Bradshaw and her Sex and the City trio may be the champions of detecting it, getting it and keeping it, but you don't need a closetful of Prada to appreciate the rosy radiance that follows a pleasant sexual encounter. The fact is, sex leaves its mark, not just on the mind but on the body as well. Researchers have begun to explore its effects on almost every part of the body, from the brain to the heart to the immune system.

Studies are showing that arousal and an active sex life may lead to a longer life, better heart health, an improved ability to ward off pain, a more robust immune system and even protection against certain cancers, not to mention lower rates of depression. (Full story)

Why aren't you losing weight?

It’s frustrating: You watch what you eat, rarely binge, don’t snack late at night… but still you’re not losing weight. And even when you do lose weight, it often seems to creep back on. While you’re probably on the right path, you may accidentally be making some common weight loss missteps. So what are you doing wrong? Perhaps you’re falling into these seven diet traps...

Every year thousands of people swear to themselves, “I’m going to lose weight by summer.” You didn't quite reach your goals last year, so you're tackling the same resolution again this year. Will you find the holy grail of weight loss? Or will your skinny jeans stay tucked in the back of your closet all year? (Full story)

Sex etiquette 101

We tend to think about good manners in terms of holding open doors, saying “Please” and “Thank you,” using the right fork in a fancy restaurant, chewing with our mouths closed. But manners matter in bed too – even when we’re behaving like animals. Read on for 10 common sexual scenarios and the proper etiquette for dealing with them…

“Etiquette is about treating people considerately, respectfully and honestly,” explains Peter Post, a director of the Emily Post Institute and author of Essential Manners For Couples: From Snoring and Sex to Finances and Fighting Fair – What Works, What Doesn’t and Why (Collins, 2005). “The most important thing we can do is to be considerate and respectful of our partner. And that is why etiquette matters in the bedroom.” (Full story)

What is healthy sex?

Sexual energy is a powerful, very natural force in our lives. But like any natural force we encounter -- be it wind, sun, rain, or our own laughter -- our sexual energy has the potential to be channeled and experienced in either destructive or life-affirming ways.

Healthy sex involves the conscious, positive expression of our sexual energy in ways that enhance self-esteem, physical health, and emotional relationship. It is mutually beneficial and harms no one. (Full story)

Dynamic sex: Unlocking the Secret to Love

Premarital sex can detract from a strong relationship and a dynamic sex life. All too often, premarital sex ends up a self-seeking, self-gratifying experience. After intercourse, one partner might be saying "I love you" while the other is thinking "I love it."

Very often premarital sex occurs in the absence of total and permanent commitment. This can bring insecurity into the relationship. Both short- and long-range problems can result, especially with the breakdown in trust. For instance, while the couple is unmarried, there can always be the nagging thought, "If s/he's done it with me, whom else have they slept with?" After they marry, one might think, "If that person was willing to break a standard with me before we married, how do I know they won't now that we are married?" Doubt and suspicion can chip away at their relationship. (Full story)

Secrets to a healthy sex life

Cynthia Watson, M.D., author of Love Potions: A Guide to Aphrodisiacs and Sexual Pleasures, agrees that a healthy sex life and overall good health are intrinsically linked. "Sex makes you relax, relieves stress, connects you intimately with another person, and produces endorphins, the body's natural pain relievers. Plus, I believe sex helps the immune system function better."

Watson notes that besides the physiological explanations, the mind/body connection is important as well. "Basically, sexual pleasure is good for your health. It's relaxing; it alleviates stress. We all know that stress is a factor in heart disease, and it can also impair white cell function, part of the immune system's ability to fight off sickness. Anything you can do to combat stress is good for you. Likewise, when you're happier, you have less of a chance for developing disease." (Full story)

A healthy sex life: 10 reasons to make love

Evidence points to the many health benefits of an active sex life. Sex Made Easy, an article published in Men's Health Magazine, gives 10 healthy reasons to hop into bed -- a reminder that making love is good for both body and soul.
1. Exercise.
2. Heavy Breathing.
3. Strong Bones and Muscles.
4. Lowered Cholesterol.
5. Pain Relief.
6. DHEA -- Without Supplements.
7. Prostate Protection.
8. Stress Relief.
9. Love Will Keep Us Together.
10. Hormones -- Naturally. (Full story)

Detox your sex life

For some of us, regular sex is as necessary as breathing; others don't mind an occasional dry spell. Where you fall on the nookie spectrum has a lot to do with just how passionate you are about making whoopee. (Full story)

Understand your body

Your body is quite amazing. Treat it well and it will reward you with great performance, health and well-being, and a shape that turns heads. (Full story)

A daily dose of five essential exercises

The five Tibetans are an exercise “extra” to boost your fitness progress. They’re a great way to start the day, and they fit nicely with your exercise program. You’ll love the results. To go directly to the exercise descriptions and directions, click here.

Healthy foods that promote deep sleep

If you are following sound advice on how to get a good night's sleep, but are still having trouble sleeping soundly, you may want to try eating a bedtime snack that combines a concentrated dietary source of tryptophan with a healthy carbohydrate-rich food.

Here is a list of some healthy foods that are naturally rich in tryptophan:

Beans
Whole grains, including rice
Lentils
Chickpeas
Hazelnuts
Peanuts
Eggs
Sunflower seeds
Sesame seeds
Miso (fermented soy beans)
Unsweetened soy milk
Raw dairy products (if you can tolerate dairy)
(Full story)

Celebrity diet & workout secrets - Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson has been quoted in the media as having an ongoing battle with an eating disorder. Many young women have issues with eating disorders because if the influence of the media. The more a person is pressured to emulate the mainstream image, the more the desire to be thin is adopted, and with it an increased risk for the development of body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders. (Full story)

10 celebrity health secrets for 10 days

What are your wishes this year? No matter what you wish, you can achieve it. The only thing that you need for that is your health. So, health should be the first wish for everyone. Do you want to become healthier this year? By making just one change a day – and taking a cue from celebrities – get on your way to a healthy 2008!

1. Drink more water
2. Eat mini meals
3. Ban booze
4. Go veggie
5. Go fish
6. Drink green tea
7. Snack sugar-free
8. Add vinegar
9. Try Budokon
10. Refresh at the spa (Full story)

Your Top 10 Weight-Loss Questions – Answered!

1. Have a plan. Since the goal here is to go from what you currently weigh to what you want to weigh, like a road trip, you must map your course and have a plan. Simply cutting back and hoping for results doesn’t work very well. Choose a structured plan that takes you where you want to go. (Full story)

Revealed! Secret to losing 85 pounds

Full story

Wonders of water

High cholesterol levels are an indicator of early drought management by the body. Cholesterol is a clay-like material that is poured in the gaps of some cell membranes to safeguard them against losing their vital water content to the osmotically more powerful blood circulating in their vicinity. Cholesterol, apart from being used to manufacture nerve cell membranes and hormones, is also used as a "shield" against water taxation of other vital cells that would normally exchange water through their cell membranes. (Full story)

Make your walking workout more fun

If you have been walking as a part of your workout routine for a while, you may start to get a little bored after a while, especially if you are walking the same route every day, or use a treadmill. Before you know it, you get bored with your walking workout and stop. The key to keep walking and working out is to make it more fun and mix things up. Here are some great tips to make your walking workout more fun. (Full story)

Is walking the best exercise?

One thing up front. I personally believe, based on experience and study, that walking has to be one of the finest exercises around. Whether you are interested in health, fitness, weight loss, or aging, there's not too many things that have such a beneficial effect as walking.

In fact, before we try to humble and belittle walking as an exercise, let's be noble and try to point out some of its good points.

As a general, all-purpose exercise, walking IS one of the best. (Full story)

Celebrity diet and fitness secrets

Ever wonder how celebrities like Jennifer Aniston stay in such great shape? They do it with the help of a workout regimen and a healthy eating plan. The good news is that with these diet and exercise tips, you'll be well on your way to your own great shape! (Full story)

10 celebrity health secrets for 10 days

What are your wishes this year? No matter what you wish, you can achieve it. The only thing that you need for that is your health. So, health should be the first wish for everyone. Do you want to become healthier this year? By making just one change a day – and taking a cue from celebrities – get on your way to a healthy 2008! (Full story)

Celebrity endorsements next marketing spin for fiber?

With half of America's consumers unclear on the health benefits of dietary fiber, a new survey reveals that celebrity endorsements may be the way forward for food manufacturers to promote their high-fiber products.

The research, published this week by the National Fiber Council (NFC), reveals that consumers are most likely to learn about fiber through the media, yet few people are aware which foods are good sources of this. (Full story)

Celebrity diet 'safe and effective'

The controversial Atkins diet, favoured by many celebrities, may be as safe and effective as low-calorie weight-loss plans, researchers say.

People on the Atkins diet are allowed unlimited amounts of proteins and fats but have to restrict their carbohydrate intake. (Full story)

Related:
Atkins Homepage
Atkins Diet Information
Atkins Nutritional Approach
Atkins Facts - Atkins "Nightmare" Diet

4 dangerous weight loss methods

Most of us know that shedding pounds the right way should be a gradual process and takes a lifetime commitment to health. But most of us don’t have the patience, and as a result, some people take extreme measures to become thin too quickly and too dangerously. While extreme dieters may lose weight, they can also lose their life. Stay away from four dangerous weight loss methods. (Full story)

8 weeks to a brand new body

Jorge Cruise outlines a revolutionary fitness program for busy people who want results but don’t want to live in the gym. Cruise’s motto? Burn fat, not time!

Cruise’s 12-Second Sequence program shows you how to achieve maximum results in the least amount of time – shrinking your waistline and boosting your metabolism by 20% with just two workouts a week for eight weeks.

Cruise’s secret? Work out smarter, not more. (Full story)

Health benefits of honey

The health benefits of honey - like all foods - depend on the quality of the honey. But in this case, the situation is even more extreme, because the pollen that collects on the bees' legs as they move from plant to plant is only as healthful and as diverse as those plants. In addition, the processing of honey often removes many of the phytonutrients found in raw honey as it exists in the hive.

Raw honey, for example, contains small amounts of the same resins found in propolis. Propolis, sometimes called "bee glue," is actually a complex mixture of resins and other substances that honeybees use to seal the hive and make it safe from bacteria and other micro-organisms. Honeybees make propolis by combining plant resins with their own secretions.

However, substances like road tar have also been found in propolis. Bee keepers sometimes use special screens around the inside of the hive boxes to trap propolis, since bees will spread this substance around the honeycomb and seal cracks with the anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal resins. The resins found in propolis only represent a small part of the phytonutrients found in propolis and honey, however.

Other phytonutrients found both in honey and propolis have been shown to posssess cancer-preventing and anti-tumor properties. These substances include caffeic acid methyl caffeate, phenylethyl caffeate, and phenylethyl dimethylcaffeate. Researchers have discovered that these substances prevent colon cancer in animals by shutting down activity of two enzymes, phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C and lipoxygenase. When raw honey is extensively processed and heated, the benefits of these phytonutrients are largely eliminated. (Full story)

Honey as a dressing for wounds, burns, and ulcers

The use of honey as a wound dressing material, an ancient remedy that has been rediscovered, is becoming of increasing interest as more reports of its effectiveness are published. The clinical observations recorded are that infection is rapidly cleared, inflammation, swelling and pain are quickly reduced, odour is reduced, sloughing of necrotic tissue is induced, granulation and epithelialisation are hastened, and healing occurs rapidly with minimal scarring.

The antimicrobial properties of honey prevent microbial growth in the moist healing environment created. Unlike other topical antiseptics, honey causes no tissue damage: in animal studies it has been demonstrated histologically that it actually promotes the healing process. It has a direct nutrient effect as well as drawing lymph out to the cells by osmosis. (Full story)

How Catherine Zeta-Jones got her killer curves

When she’s not onscreen, Zeta-Jones performs a wide variety of cardiovascular activities, including swimming, and also practices yoga. By keeping her body challenged and constantly changing her exercise routine, she’s able to maintain her fit, womanly body and looks better than ever at her age. (Full story)

10 Hollywood feel-good secrets

Look younger! Boost energy! De-stress! Thousands of products promise to make you look and feel like a Hollywood star. So what do the celebrities actually use? As it turns out, many A-list beauties forgo expensive pills and potions for old-fashioned natural remedies. Here, 10 stars share their secrets for staying healthy – naturally... (Full story)

Celebrities without makeup, gosh!

Ever wonder what pictures of your favorite celebrities look like without all that makeup? The truth is that anyone, and I mean anyone, can look great with the help of a team of hair stylists and makeup artists.

Everyone from Jennifer Lopez and Diana Ross to Jessica Simpson and Courtney Love need a little help to maintain those pretty faces. Even Courtney Love and former supermodel Rachel Hunter made the list.

Just in case you were disillusioned into believing that the stars wake up looking camera ready, check out this TMZ gallery of celebrities looking au natural and less than pleased to be facing the paparazzi cameras.

Celebrity diet and fitness secrets

Ever wonder how celebrities like Jennifer Aniston stay in such great shape? They do it with the help of a workout regimen and a healthy eating plan. The good news is that with these diet and exercise tips, you'll be well on your way to your own great shape! (Full story)

Angie shared simple rules for a healthy life

Angie is successfully raising two young daughters, starring in a hot new TV show with an 80-hour workweek, and maintaining a solid marriage to Jason Sehorn. Not to mention that she's doing it all with a very healthy sense of humor to boot.

In an interview for the December 2007 issue of Shape Magazine, Angie shared her simple rules for living a healthy life. (Full story)

The celebrity trainer approach to a more perfect body

CNN recently spoke with five celebrity trainers, who, without hesitation, say their star clients have to work just as hard as anyone else to achieve their weight loss and fitness goals. The main difference between training a celebrity and training any other client, they say, is scheduling. (Full story)

8 celebrity diet and fitness secrets

Celebrities always look fabulous. Whether appearing in telecasting or moving-picture shows or strutting down the red rug during moving-picture show prime ministers and awardings, they never lay off to fascinate us with their larger than life presence. The truth is, it takes a great deal of endeavor to look the style they do, and since the fans are their paycheck, they cannot afford to slack off when it come ups to taking aid of their physical visual aspects. Their bread and butter largely depends on how they look. Aside from the dress, the hair and the composition, celebrities have to take good aid of their physical structures.

So it is no surprise that these stars have their own secrets when it come ups to exercisings, staying tantrum and looking gorgeous. Their wellness docket can run from extreme exercisings to well-planned meals. Who doesn't want to cognize their secrets in staying absolutely sexy? (Full story)

Celebrity Diets: Fad or Fat-Busting?

Flip through the pages of any popular magazine or just turn on the TV: You won’t have to look hard to find yet another celebrity’s weight-loss transformation. We’re obsessed with the quick-fix diet, hoping the secrets of celebrities can transform our figures, too. But how healthy are those Hollywood diets? And how realistic are they when you don’t have a personal chef or trainer? (Full story)

17 celebrity slim-down secrets

Celebrities aren’t so different from the rest of us when it comes to holiday feasting. They indulge in a few too many treats and the pounds creep on. So how do they get their sleek physiques back after New Year’s? (Full story)