PopSugar

Introducing FitSugar's Health Guide!

PopSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 05:45:00 -0700

Great News! FitSugar has added an exciting new feature to help you stay on top of all your everyday health issues. Introducing the FitSugar Health Guide! Knowledge is power, and we now have plenty of health information to keep you in the know about your body and heath-related news.

Not only can you find health headlines on our new Health Guide, but overviews of popular prescription drugs as well. If you have a question about a medical or wellness problem, the health topic guide has you covered from asthma to zinc oxide overdose. There's also an entire section of helpful interactive tools, including a Nutritional Needs index and a Calories Burned calculator - all the tools to help you stay healthy and fit.

You can find the Health Guide here. Check it out and let us know what you think!

Introducing FitSugar's Health Guide!

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:00:00 -0700

FitSugar's motto is "healthy happy you," so we have just added a great new feature to emphasize your health - the Health Guide, of course. Knowledge is power, and we now have plenty of health information to keep you in the know about your body and heath-related news.

Not only can you find health headlines on our new Health Guide, but overviews of popular prescription drugs as well. If you have a question about a medical or wellness problem, the health topic guide has you covered from asthma to zinc oxide overdose. There's an entire section of helpful interactive tools, including a Nutritional Needs index and a Calories Burned calculator - all the tools to help you stay healthy and fit.

You can find the Health Guide here:

Have fun and let me know what you think about our new addition in the comments section below.

Fit Gift Guide: Health Nut

FitSugar — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 03:00:00 -0800

The gift-giving holidays are just around the corner and to spare you some of the last-minute shopping stress the Sugar sites are creating ever-helpful gift guides.

We all have a gal pal that is a complete and utter health nut (FitSugar looks sheepish). You know that friend that only eats organic food and has tried her hand at making her own soy milk. Check out my gift ideas for the health nut in your life.

I think Health Magazine is a gift that keeps on giving. Full of informative and entertaining articles as well as fitness tips and recipes, there is something for every mood on the pages of this mag.
Nothing tastes like homemade yogurt, so give the gift of DIY yogurt. It is simple to use and only take 10 hours at the most. Then you can enjoy one of the foods recommended to women to eat everyday. You know this fact because your health nut friend told you.
Keep her in fruits and nuts and organic ones at that! You can have seasonal organic fruit, paired with an organic nut, delivered directly to her door.

Health Magazine Subscription ($12)

Yogurt Maker by William-Sonoma ($49.95)

GoFruit Organic Fruit and Nuts Club: Six Months ($186)

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 10:15:00 -0700

The worst part about college for me was the ~~classes~~ ~~dorm food~~ fact that whenever something went wrong with my health I didn't have my mom, who is a nurse, to tend to my every need. The slightest drip of my nose sent me in a crying frenzy.

Since there truly are so many things that can go on with a girl who's off to college for the first time (or seventh year), it never hurts to educate yourself (if you're that girl) or anyone else (if she's your daughter, sister, niece, etc.) on the health of a young woman. For this reason, I definitely wish I had The Doctor's Complete College Girls' Health Guide: From Sex to Drugs to the Freshman Fifteen ($11.25) when I was in school because it covers everything from dealing with the common cold, to navigating the college health center, to getting a tattoo.

While the book is definitely written for college girls, it would be a handy addition to the bookshelves of anyone from high-school girls to mothers- even fathers who want to know what the heck is going on with their daughters.

Fit Gift Guide: Health Nut

FitSugar — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 03:30:00 -0800

For those lovely ladies in your life who you lovingly call heath nuts, I've found a few gifts that will make those gals go, well, nuts. As a health nut myself, I would be psyched to find any of these items packed in pretty recycled paper for the holidays.

MixMyGranola: Choose your health nut's favorite mix-ins to create a personalized granola mix, or buy one of the pre-mixed options. The granola is organic and many of the mix-ins are organic, too. Throw in some extra love by giving a gift certificate along with the bag you gave, so they'll have a refill to look forward to after they've gobbled up their first mix. Perfect for the health nut who already has everything.
Dial-A-Slice Apple Divider: This handy tool makes snacking on crunchy apples a cinch and produces either 16 thin slices or eight thick ones.
Omron HJ-720ITC Pocket Pedometer: This cool gadget differs from some of the other pedometers out there because it doesn't have to be clipped to a belt, and can be conveniently placed into a bag or pocket. It measures steps, aerobic steps and minutes, calories, and distance, and saves the data for seven days.

International Men's Health Week: June 11-17, 2007

FitSugar — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 12:30:00 -0700

Did you know that men are likely to die, on average, nearly six years earlier than women -- and they have higher mortality rates for many of the leading causes of death in America, including heart disease, accidents, suicide, chronic liver disease, and cancer?

This is why June 11th marks the start of the International Men's Health Week to honor the importance of men's health and wellness. As women, the idea around men's health can sometimes seem foreign but it is important to be in the know when it comes to the health of any man in your life.

A book I highly recommend around this subject is From Boys to Men: A Woman's Guide to the Health of Husbands, Partners, Sons, Fathers, and Brothers ($16.00) by M.D. Emily Senay and Rob Waters. As the women in men's lives -- mothers, wives, girlfriends, sisters, and daughters -- we are traditionally in charge of managing their health concerns. From Boys to Men is a fabulous resource designed to arm women with much-needed information about men's health issues and to help them educate their male loved ones on how to take care of themselves. Filled with expert medical advice, personal anecdotes, and a healthy dose of humor, From Boys to Men should resonate with you if you have a man in your life (dad, brother, husband, son, etc). I can honestly say this book is my bible to men's health, especially since I primarily grew up around women. Buy it from SimonSays.com.

Celeb Style: Alicia Silverstone

FabSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:00:22 -0700

Alicia will always have a special place in my heart. "Ugh, as if!" And her Clueless and Aerosmith video babe heyday is not over. She has been quietly advocating veganism and healthy living for years. Her book, The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet, sounds like a smart read for anyone looking to turn their health habits around. And, just look at her - she looks great! She pulls off this dramatic crinkled skirt and cool blazer combo, and her nude mesh shoes are by vegan-friendly designer Stella McCartney, of course. One for the stylish vegan team.

Rag & Bone - $575.00	Kain Scoop Neck Tank - $77.00
Glam Gathered Bubble Skirt - $98.00	Pour la victoire Aaliyah Nude Heels - $274.00
Meira T Gold Disc and Dangling Diamonds Necklace - $563.00	Gold Disc Necklace - $39.00
Square Stone Cocktail Ring - $14.00	Stella McCartney Oversized Perforated Clutch - $735.00

Check out CelebStyle for many more celebrity looks!

Hump Day: I'm Curious but Nervous About Back Door Action

TresSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Welcome to Hump Day, TrèsSugar's sex advice column. Are you confused about sex? Do you have trouble having an orgasm? Is there something you'd like to try but you're worried it's too weird? Send your questions to TrèsSugar, and our friend Dr. Charlie Glickman from Good Vibrations will offer his sound advice!

Today's Question:

“I’m curious about having anal sex with my boyfriend, but I’ve had unpleasant experiences in the past. Any tips?” To hear what Dr. Glickman has to say, read more

I’ve noticed an increase in questions about anal play over the last few years, and while I think it’s great that more people are discovering new ways to experience pleasure, anal play isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Many people don’t enjoy it at all and unfortunately, some guys have a tendency to pressure their partners into doing it. Quite a few women report that their boyfriends have seen so much anal in porn that they’re convinced that every woman wants it. But sex in porn is like a car chase in an action movie. There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes that you don’t see in order to create the illusion that shows up on the screen; in the case of anal sex - lots of lube and warming up.

For some women, anal play (note: not just anal sex) heightens their orgasms. First, the anus is very sensitive and packed with nerve endings. Second, its muscles are connected to the rest of the pelvic muscles and contract along with the vagina during orgasm. Third, there are people who enjoy the experience of doing something naughty or taboo.

So now that we have that taken care of, there are three ingredients to hot anal play: relaxation, lubrication, and communication. Let’s take them one at a time.

Relaxation: the anus is made up of two rings of muscles and they’re under both voluntary and involuntary control. With practice, you can learn to increase how much control you have over your ability to relax. And ironically, if you’re nervous about anal play hurting or not being fun, it can make the anus get tighter, which makes it more likely to be unpleasant.

The best way to get started is to go slowly and start small. Try a little external pleasure with a finger or a slim vibrator. If you’re concerned about keeping things clean, slip on a glove. Experiment with tightening the anus and bearing down - you’ll be able to feel it contract and relax.

If you want to try penetration, go slowly and use lots of lube (either water-based or silicone-based, which doesn't dry out as easily but is harder to clean off). You’ll probably enjoy it more if you’re also doing something that you enjoy such as using a vibrator. Lots of women report that anal play on its own isn’t nearly as much fun as when it’s an add-on.

Communication: the anus is a delicate part of the body and it’s easy to get too rough with it. It’s super-important to be able to tell your partner when things are uncomfortable, if you need more lube, or if you want to try something else. For that matter, it’s important to be able to say something if you’re not enjoying it, or if you’re experiencing any pain. And if your partner is pressuring you to do something that you don’t want to do, that’s a big red flag!

Important safety tips: any toys that you use for anal play need to be smooth, have a base, and ideally made of easy-to-clean silicone. Since the anus is so much more delicate than the vagina, it’s easy for toys with bumps and ridges to cause discomfort. (If you have a porous rubber toy or you’re not sure if it's made of silicone, cover it with a condom.) And NEVER put anything that has been used anally inside the vagina - that’s a great way to give yourself an unpleasant infection. Lastly, if your toy doesn’t have a base, there’s a chance that it could go all the way in and not come back out. That can mean a trip to the emergency room.

If you’re looking for more info, here are some great places to start. For books, I'd recommend Anal Pleasure & Health and The Ultimate Guide To Anal Sex For Women. For DVDs, Tristan Taormino's Expert Guide to Anal Sex and Anal Massage For Lovers are great.

I hope that helps! Email the folks at TrèsSugar if you have more sex questions. I’d love to hear from you.

Lil Links: School Shopping on a Budget

babysugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:00:12 -0700

School shopping on the cheap - Health
It's a girl for David Boreanaz - Celebrity Baby Blog
Mom style guide - Cookie
Breaking the junk food habit - CafeMom
Seriously? A pole-dancing doll - ParentDish
Romeo Beckham's birthday dinner - Celebrity Baby Scoop
What kind of mom are you? - Parenting
Elmo helps fight swine flu - The Mommy File
Pregnancy later in life - Fit Pregnancy

Hump Day: Is My Cold Sore Contagious?

TresSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Welcome to Hump Day, TrèsSugar's sex advice column! Are you confused about sex? Do you have trouble having an orgasm? Is there something you'd like to try but you're worried it's too weird? Send your questions to TrèsSugar, and our friend Dr. Charlie Glickman from Good Vibrations will offer his sound advice!

Today's Question:

“I know that cold sores are the same virus as herpes. Is it a bad idea to go down on my boy when I have one? Is it transmissible that way?” To hear what Dr. Glickman has to say, read more.

Dr. Glickman's Answer:

YES!!!

There are two types of herpes virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Oral herpes is usually HSV-1 and it’s estimated that 80 percent of the population has been exposed to it. Genital herpes is usually HSV-2 and it’s estimated that 25 percent of women and 12 percent of men have it. However, genital herpes can be caused by either version of the virus, so going down on someone when you have a cold sore (another name for a herpes outbreak) can spread it. To make things a bit more complicated, only about 1/3 of the people who have genital herpes are aware of it - either they’ve never had an outbreak or the outbreak was very mild. (See herpes.com for more info.)

Part of what makes herpes tricky is that it can be transmitted even when you don’t have a visible outbreak. The virus lives in your nervous system and every so often, it’ll come to the surface. It’s especially likely to happen when you’re sick or have been stressed for a while. There’s evidence that the virus starts shedding from the skin (and is therefore potentially contagious) before any visible symptoms. It’s a low risk, but it’s a possibility. To make matters worse, if the site of the shedding isn’t covered by a condom, it can be spread even when you’re practicing safer sex.

While herpes can be uncomfortable, it doesn’t represent nearly as much risk as other sexually transmissible infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papilloma virus (HPV), or HIV. Having said that, there’s evidence that HSV-2 makes HIV transmission more likely. See this article for more information about how that works.

It’s also worth mentioning that I’ve seen a lot of people get really upset about STIs when they don’t get nearly as upset about any other health issue. I’ve also seen a lot of people who have all sorts of judgment about STIs but think nothing of going to work and sharing their flu germs (or worse)! STIs can be unpleasant, annoying, or life-threatening, but they don’t mean anything about the person who has them any more than chicken pox or measles do. Negative attitudes about STIs are a holdover from before we invented antibiotics and when diseases such as syphilis were seen as the wages of sin. But now we know that they’re just germs and we don’t need to shame people for having them. (Not that I’m saying that you’re doing that, but I wanted to mention it.)

The best thing that we can all do is to get tested for STIs regularly, even if you’ve never had a symptom. Lots of people have STIs and don’t know it. Check your local Planned Parenthood or other agency for information, although I recommend going with anonymous testing in order to ensure your privacy.

And safer sex is always a good choice. It’s easy to do, with a little practice. Using a lubricant can make safer sex more enjoyable since latex tends to have a bit more friction than skin. Try a silicone-based brand if you’re prone to yeast infections. Water-based brands are a bit easier to clean up since they rinse away.

If you or your partner don’t like the way condoms feel, try a different brand. The Japanese-process condoms such as Maxx and Skinless Skin are more sheer than other types. Or you could give Skyn a whirl. It’s made from polyisoprene, rather than latex, so it’s very sheer and both people will get more sensation.

Given that you have oral herpes, you might want to talk with your boyfriend about using condoms for oral sex. If you go that route, change the condom before having intercourse. That will make sure that you don’t spread the herpes virus to your vulva or vagina. It’ll also reduce the risk of your condom breaking; teeth can cause small abrasions that weaken the condom.

For an excellent, sex-positive read on safer sex, check out The Hot Guide to Safer Sex . It’s full of helpful advice and great tips.