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to your Address Book or Safe List. Learn how here. | July 3, 2011 | |  |  | Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Personal Lubricants But Were Embarrassed to Ask | | | Blood Pressure "Switch" Found on Human Body... | | | The 80/20 Rule of Stress-Free Eating | | | Tumors Dried Up and Gone in 2 Months | | | Zinc Really Does Fight Colds | | | |  |  | |  | |
 | | Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Personal Lubricants But Were Embarrassed to Ask When vaginal dryness started making sex uncomfortable, a 50-something friend decided to try a personal lubricant. But at the drugstore, she felt overwhelmed by the number and variety of products available—and too embarrassed to consult the pharmacist about which "lube" was best. My friend then asked me for info, so I called Irwin Goldstein, MD, coauthor of When Sex Hurts: A Woman’s Guide to Banishing Sexual Pain. Dr. Goldstein told me that many midlife women (and seniors, too) are delighted to discover how much enjoyment a little extra moisture provides. Personal lubricants can make sex more comfortable when... - Vaginal dryness results from menopause... use of certain medications, such as antihistamines, antidepressants or chemotherapy drugs... or stress (which raises adrenaline levels, in turn reducing blood flow to the internal organs and also reducing lubrication).
- Intercourse lasts a long time (as it often may, considering that older men typically take longer to climax).
- Using condoms. (Unless you are in a long-term monogamous relationship, condoms are advisable—even when pregnancy is no longer a concern—to protect against sexually transmitted diseases.)
What’s available? The four basic types of products are... - Natural oils—such as canola, corn, grapeseed, olive or peanut oil.
- Water-based lubricants—such as Astroglide Liquid, Hydra-Smooth, ID Glide, K-Y Jelly, Liquid Silk and Probe.
- Petroleum-based lubricants—such as baby oil, mineral oil, petroleum jelly and the Yes brand.
- Silicone-based lubricants—such as Astroglide X Premium Silicone Personal Lubricant, Eros Bodyglide, Passion Premium and Wet Platinum.
Which type should you try? It depends on what is most important to you, Dr. Goldstein said. If you want a product that... - Is inexpensive—choose natural oils or water-based products.
- Lasts a long time without being reapplied—choose silicone-based... avoid water-based products.
- Carries no risk of staining sheets—choose water-based products.
- Has no taste—choose petroleum-based products... and, of course, avoid products with added flavors.
- Will not degrade latex condoms, diaphragms or sex toys—choose natural oil or water-based... avoid petroleum-based products.
- Washes off easily with plain water—choose water-based... avoid natural oils, petroleum-based or silicone-based products.
Why read the fine print? Most lubricant ingredients are what the FDA calls GRAS—"generally recognized as safe"—for consumers. Still, certain ingredients can cause problems for certain people, Dr. Goldstein noted, so check labels before you buy. If you... - Are prone to vaginal yeast infections—avoid glycerin, a thickener... and look for a product labeled "pH neutral."
- Often experience allergic skin reactions—avoid propylene glycol (an emulsifier) and methylparaben (an antifungal preservative).
If you or your partner experience irritation or develop a rash after using a lubricant, stop using that product. Talk to your doctor about the need for treatment and ask for advice on products better suited to your needs. What about those "warm" or "tingling" products? Dr. Goldstein pointed out that some personal lubricants include capsaicin, menthol and/or other ingredients designed to create a warm or tingling sensation on the skin. Such sensations enhance pleasure and intensify orgasm for some people... but other people find them irritating. The only way to tell how such a lubricant might feel to you is to give it a try. Source: Irwin Goldstein, MD, is director of sexual medicine at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego... a clinical professor of surgery at the University of California, San Diego... editor in chief of The Journal of Sexual Medicine... and coauthor of When Sex Hurts: A Woman’s Guide to Banishing Sexual Pain (Da Capo Lifelong). www.SexualMed.org
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 | | The 80/20 Rule of Stress-Free Eating
Q: When I get stressed, I tend to load up on junk food and then feel guilty. But when I deprive myself, I feel resentful—and that adds to my stress, perpetuating the cycle. What will help?
A: Try eating according to the 80/20 rule. Each day make sure that 80% of your calories come from healthful foods... and allow the other 20% to come from foods you crave, even if they are less healthful. You can’t go too far wrong with this approach. Because you won’t have any reason to feel guilty or resentful, you’ll be less prone to stress-induced eating—so instead of craving a whole bag of chips, for instance, you may well find yourself satisfied with just a few. Another reason this works: When stress is rampant, women tend to skip meals and then binge for a quick shot of energy. But by sticking to the 80/20 guideline, you are more likely to eat three healthy squares per day plus a few small treats. This helps moderate your blood sugar levels, thus reducing hunger and promoting more effortless weight control. That, in turn, reduces stress—a distinct benefit, given that concerns about weight and the accompanying negative self-talk are at the top of the stress list for many women. Source: Alice Domar, PhD, is an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School and a senior staff psychologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, both in Boston. She is the executive director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health in Waltham, Massachusetts, and author of numerous books, including Be Happy Without Being Perfect (Crown). Her research focuses on the relationship between stress and women’s health conditions. www.DomarCenter.com
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 | | Tumors Dried Up and Gone in 2 Months "Within two months, every tumor had shrunk, dried up and fallen off," said Tom to Dr. Gary Null about the miraculous disappearance of his rapidly spreading cancer. Tom had already gone through surgery once for skin cancer on his forehead. Unfortunately, his skin cancer was melanoma. Just 10 days after the operation, the cancer was back with a vengeance. It reappeared on his forehead, and quickly spread to his arm, upper body and chest. Four doctors all agreed: There was nothing they could do to cure this cancer. They all still wanted to operate. But Tom wanted to live—not just get sliced up. | |
Read on...  | |  | | |
| | | Zinc Really Does Fight Colds Still skeptical about claims that certain supplements can combat colds? New evidence: Researchers analyzed 15 clinical trials involving a total of 1,360 participants of all age groups, comparing the effectiveness of zinc (in various forms and dosages) to a placebo for preventing or treating the common cold. Results: People who took zinc for at least five consecutive days beginning within 24 hours of getting the sniffles experienced significantly less severe symptoms... and they were only about half as likely as placebo users to still have cold symptoms after seven days. Also: Participants who took zinc daily for at least five months reduced their chances of catching a cold by about one-third, compared with placebo users. Theory: Zinc is thought to work by inhibiting replication of the rhinovirus responsible for most colds. Reported side effects of zinc lozenges (but not syrup or tablets) included mild nausea and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. More study is needed to confirm zinc’s benefits and determine the optimal dosage, researchers noted. In the meantime: You can talk to your doctor about taking zinc supplements when you have a cold... or starting now to prepare for the upcoming cold season. The safe upper limit for adults is set at 40 mg of zinc per day. Also discuss naturally zinc-rich foods, such as barley, buckwheat, bulgur and oat bran... black-eyed peas, chickpeas, kidney beans and lentils... crabs, oysters and poultry... and pine nuts. Source: Meenu Singh, MD, is a professor in the department of pediatrics at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, India, and leader of an analysis of 15 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials on zinc’s effect on cold symptoms.
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 |  | |  Tamara Eberlein, the editor of HealthyWoman from Bottom Line, has been a health journalist for nearly three decades. An award-winning author or coauthor of four books, she is committed to helping other women in midlife and beyond live healthy, fulfilling lives. Her latest book is the updated, third edition of When You’re Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads (HarperCollins). She is also the "chief health adviser" to her husband of 26 years and three college-age children. | |  | | Bottom Line Publications | 281 Tresser Boulevard, 8th Floor | Stamford, CT 06901
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Feelings of pleasure Oak enhance and intensify orgasm for some people . But other people find them irritating. The only way to find out how these oils may feel for you is give it a try.
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