Daily Dose: March 29, 2013

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Lots of  companies have started instituting  happy hours, craft days, yoga sessions, video game breaks, and more in the name of workplace creativity. Permission to play Draw Something at the office, granted! [CNN]

A new study shows that firefighters who work out are half as likely to suffer from a non-exercise-related injury, including those sustained in the line of duty. The calendar-worthy physique is just an added bonus . [Mutual Aid]

All signs point to a more female-friendly pope: The newly elected Pope Francis broke liturgical rules yesterday to wash the feet of two young women in a detention center in Rome. [NBC News]

In horrifying news, an Oklahoma doctor may have exposed more than 7,000 patients to HIV and hepatitis by using rusty tools and following unsanitary practices. You know when dentists try to tell you that visiting them isn’t so bad? Yeah, about that… [NPR]

In countries with male-centric cultures, gender discrimination starts before birth: Women who are pregnant with girls are less likely to receive adequate prenatal care, according to a new study. [Medical Daily]

After years of no one clamoring for their return, former boy band 98 Degrees reunited to produce a new song called “Microphone,” which is a thinly veiled metaphor for a penis. [The Daily Beast]

“Chinplants” are now the fastest growing cosmetic surgery procedure, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Is there any body part plastic surgeons won’t augment?  [The Orange County Register]

A Princeton University mom (and alumnus) wrote an open letter in the university’s student paper encouraging all female students to find a husband before they graduate. How encouraging. [The Cut]

A new study finds that just 14 percent of men in the U.S. have ever paid for sex (and only one percent solicited prostitutes in 2010). Yay? [Huffington Post]

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Daily Dose: March 28, 2013

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The FDA just approved a new oral drug called Tecfidera to help treat multiple sclerosis. [LA Times] 

A new study from Japan found that more women get screened for breast and cervical cancers when they don’t have to fork over co-pays. Good thing these are now gratis under the ACA. Read Women’s Health’s interview with the Department of Health and Human Services to find out what else is covered by the reform.  [Reuters]

Several libraries in Tuscon, AZ, now staff registered nurses to help visitors with health concerns—no library card required. [TODAY]

Adults text in traffic more than teens, according to the results of a new AT&T survey. Busted! [USA Today]

A high school biology teacher in Dietrich, ID, is being reprimanded for using the word “vagina” during his lesson on the reproductive system. His superiors are also unhappy that he was teaching about birth control and genital herpes. Um, is there a way to adequately explain sexual health without mentioning vaginas, birth control, and herpes?  [MagicValley.com]

Working out brings on fewer benefits if you’re suffering from depression, according to a new study. Well that’s depressing. [LiveScience]

Doctors have discovered a way to identify obese people using a standard breath test. In related news, a scale also works. [TIME]

Some brand-new bacon-themed products just hit the market: There’s now sunscreen that smells like bacon and condoms that look and taste like it. Fingers crossed this is just a misguided April Fool’s Day joke. [Orlando Weekly]

Making money by fat-shaming Kim Kardashian—who is pregnant, not fat, by the way—is not cool, tabloids. Not cool. [The Daily Beast]

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Daily Dose: March 27, 2013

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Mindfulness training can improve your memory and help you do better on tests. Want to be more mindful? Check out these tips. [Medical Daily]

A Veronica Mars movie is happening, thanks to a crazy-successful Kickstarter campaign that raised $ 2 million in one day. Get excited by reading this interview with Veronica Mars star and former Women’s Health cover girl Kristen Bell. [Fast Company]

New prostate cancer tests promise to cut down on the number of false positives, which could save tens of thousands of men each year from unnecessary biopsies and radiation treatments—not to mention unnecessary grief. [NYT]

As if going through IVF treatments weren’t trying enough, a new study suggests that IVF babies may face a higher risk of neurological problems. [TIME]

Boston College is trying to stop a student group from passing out 1,000 to 1,5000 condoms a semester. Apparently safe sex doesn’t mesh with the whole Catholic college thing. [Boston Globe]

Jon Hamm isn’t too comfortable with all press his package is getting. In a Rolling Stone interview, he asked everyone to please stop talking about his penis. Sorry, Hamm, not going to happen. [The Daily Beast]

Researchers say that junk food isn’t actually as addictive in the same way nicotine and other drugs are. Try telling that to someone attempting to eat just a single French fry. [TODAY]

Mattel has partnered with a production company to create an UNO game show—and the toy makers aren’t sure if episodes will be a half hour or an hour long yet. Sixty minutes of watching strangers drop “reverse” and “wild” cards? #badidea [Vulture]

You can drink rye whiskey made from the same recipe that George Washington used back in the day—for $ 95 a bottle. And one expert says the stuff isn’t even any good. [Newser]

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Daily Dose: March 26, 2013

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Researchers have finally discovered how to get songs out of your head: Reading an interesting book, having an engaging conversation, or doing an anagram (where you try to rearrange the letters in a phrase to create new words) should do the trick. “Harlem Shake,” it’s been real. [Toronto Star]

President Obama just announced that he’ll be making Julia Pierson the first female secret service director. [Washington Post]

Vulture has issued a public request for more male nudity on Game of Thrones. Fingers crossed that HBO will listen and we’ll get to see a lot more of Jon Snow this season. [Vulture]

Social isolation may shorten your life, according to new research. Get thee to the bar, ASAP! [NPR]

Rules created to limit the number of hours medical interns can work—so they could get more sleep—appear to be backfiring: A new study shows that interns make 15 to 20 percent more errors now than they did before the regulations went into place. [TIME]

Research indicates that cold sores be linked to memory loss and other cognitive problems. Isn’t the embarrassment of a flare-up punishment enough? [NY Daily News]

Kosher for Passover cigarettes are now a thing. Just what we needed… [MSN Money]

Dubious new research claims that night owls are smarter than early risers—even though the morning people in the study got better grades. We call shenanigans. [Medical Daily]

Chili growers are competing to see who can produce the world’s hottest peppers. Is there really that big a market for painfully spicy produce? [WSJ]

photo: Lifesize/Thinkstock

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Daily Dose: March 25, 2013

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In news that will make you say awww, two pandas are traveling from China to the Toronto Zoo via FedEx today. Talk about a special delivery. [Fast Company]

The Gates Foundation really wants to help make sex safer: It’s offering $ 100,000 to someone who can design a better, more pleasurable condom that people will actually want to use. [NBC News]

Trying to get a straight answer about how much a medical procedure will cost can be like pulling teeth. Luckily, some new online tools make it easier to determine what a fair price is. [LA Times]

Johnson & Johnson has recalled more than 2 million blood glucose meters. The (very serious) problem: They don’t operate properly at extremely high glucose readings. [Reuters]

Going to the steam room after a tough workout could lower your dude’s sperm count, according to new research. [MyHealthNewsDaily.com]

Proof that your tax dollars are hard at work: The IRS spent about $ 60,000 on a Star Trek-inspired training video. Oh, and it’s just six minutes long. [LA Times]

A professional Kate Middleton impersonator in the U.K. has invested in a series of artificial baby bumps so she can continue to be the country’s “most realistic Kate Middleton lookalike.” [Yahoo! Shine]

Ford India says that, in retrospect, it was “distasteful” to create an ad with gagged and bound drawings of the Kardashians in the back of a Ford Figo compact car. You think? [USA Today]

A new study finds that hipsters really love PBR. Of course, the researchers could have just walked into a bar in Brooklyn to determine the same thing. [Fast Company]

photo: Ingram Publishing/Thinkstock

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Daily Dose: March 22, 2013

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According to a new report by two environmental groups, the book industry is becoming more eco-friendly. Thank you, e-books and paper made from recycled content, for making us feel less guilty about reading Fifty Shades of Grey[Yahoo! News]

Things no one has ever said: “I wish there were more cases of tuberculosis.” Thankfully, the number of TB cases in the U.S. has dipped below 10,000 for the first time since the government started keeping tabs on it in the 1950s. [NPR]

A group of advocates for deaf and blind people are suing to make web shopping more accessible to people with these disabilities. [WSJ]

Emergency surgeries performed during the weekend generally have worse outcomes than those done on weekdays, according to a new study. Too bad you can’t choose when to have emergency surgery. [NYT]

Women who are mistakenly diagnosed with cancer following a “false positive” on a mammogram can see a serious spike in stress—and it may last for up to three years, according to a new study. [US News and World Report]

Bummer: New moms can’t get a good night’s sleep—even after hearing strategies from nurses. [Science Daily]

Three male enhancement products that are advertised as being “herbal” actually contain prescription drug ingredients that can cause serious problems for men with heart disease. But the names “Rock-It Man,” “Libido Sexual Enhancer,” and “Stiff Days” sound so reputable…  [NBCNEWS.com]

Apparently, the whole Tiger Woods-Lindsey Vonn relationship may be an elaborate PR stunt to make Tiger come off as more sympathetic. Well that backfired. [NY Post]

Researchers say that men are less likely to cheat with their friends’ wives since, thanks to evolution, their minds now realize this isn’t a good idea. Men are so evolved. [Science Daily]

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Daily Dose: March 21, 2013

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Jessica Biel, Jason Bateman, and Josh Gad have joined Matt Damon’s “toilet strike,” swearing that they won’t use the restroom until everyone in the world has access to safe water and sanitation. Even though they’re (hopefully) joking, their PSA will crack you up and make you want to get involved in World Water Day tomorrow. [YouTube]

Is dropping pounds the key to world peace? A new diet support group is bringing Israeli and Palestinian women together to help them achieve their weight-loss goals. [NYT]

Researchers have found evidence that gene therapy may offer promising new ways to fight cancer. [WSJ]

Ryan Gosling is taking a break from acting because he says, “I’ve been doing it too much. I’ve lost perspective on what I’m doing.” Our perspective: That adorable stubble isn’t in nearly enough films.  [US Weekly]

Another teen is being harassed online after coming forward with sexual assault allegations. Luckily, the alleged offenders are being charged this time. [US News]

According to a new analysis of recent studies, there’s insufficient evidence to recommend having one or two alcoholic drinks per day for health. Noooooo. [Reuters]

If commercials get you fired up to work out, you’re in luck: Ads might be coming to an elliptical near you. [MediaPost]

A new procedure promises to increase the size of a woman’s G-spot by injecting it with collagen. Because there’s nothing like a needle near your vagina to get you in the mood… [Fox News]

Esquire UK editor Alex Bilmes has admitted that the magazine uses pictures of “ornamental” women for male readers “in the same way we provide pictures of cool cars.” Since when does honesty make objectification of women OK? [Guardian]

photo: Todd Williamson/Invision for Water.org

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Daily Dose: March 20, 2013

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Whole Foods Markets, Trader Joe’s, and Aldi stores have all pledged to keep what would potentially be the first genetically modified fish available for public consumption off their shelves—even if the FDA approves it. (Women’s Health totally called that the frankenfish would be a serious issue, by the way.) [NYT]

Malala Yousufzai, the poor Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban for supporting education for women, returned to school yesterday. Welcome back! [USA TODAY]

Kate Spade’s new Saturday line just launched. Let the reasonably priced online shopping commence! And for  some guidance, check out our editors’ faves from the collection. [Washingtonian]

About 15 percent of people in the U.S. are “supertasters,” which means they experience flavors more intensely—and may have an aversion to veggies as a result. (We’re willing to bet that even supertasters won’t be able to resist these amazing vegetable-based recipes, though.) [WSJ]

Coke just announced plans to introduce a new “healthy” beverage called Fruitwater… not that it contains any fruit or fruit juice. [Newser]

In depressing (but not totally shocking) news, people say men stay sexy until an older age than women do. [Reuters]

A recent survey of brides outlines the “rules” for social media and weddings—and nearly half say it’s not cool to use a wedding idea that a friend has pinned. But isn’t sharing inspiration the entire point of Pinterest? [Social Times]

People who received an electrical current through their brains were better able to complete a creativity task. So if you need to boost your brainstorming abilities, now you know what to do… (Just kidding. Here’s a much safer way to get your creative juices flowing.)  [The Atlantic]

Some energy drink companies are now classifying their products as “beverages” rather than “dietary supplements”—but that doesn’t change the fact that they’re still bad for you (and in some cases, possibly deadly). [MyHealthNewsDaily.com]

photo: Stockbyte/Thinkstock

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March Madness for Cyclists

Whether or not you’re filling out a bracket right now, there’s another tournament that should be on your radar this month: Fly Madness. In honor of March Madness, the indoor cycling studio FlyWheel Sports is hosting a competition in which teams of two compete to see which pair can log the most miles every week for four weeks. The top teams in each round will advance, and at the end of four weeks, a winning team in each of the eight Flywheel regions will walk away with prizes like Flywheel swag (think: clothing and a gym bag), class packages, and—of course—bragging rights.

Flywheel locations in New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Charlotte, Florida (Miami Beach and Boca Raton), Chicago, Texas (Plano and Dallas), and Seattle are all participating in the tournament.

If you’re already an avid cyclist—or you just want some extra motivation to squeeze in more workouts in the next four weeks—grab a friend and call your local Flywheel to sign up your team. The final day to register is tomorrow, March 20. Visit Flywheel’s website for more details.

photo: Courtesy of Flywheel

More From Women’s Health:
Your Best Cardio Workout: Cycling
When Cycling Hurts Your Hoo-Ha
Losing Weight on the Cycling Bike

15 Min Belly, Butt & Thigh Workout
What’s the 15-Minute Fat Loss Secret? Find out here!

 

 

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Daily Dose: March 19, 2013

Check out the list of links that should be on your radar today:

Listening to uplifting concertos from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons may help increase mental capacity, according to a new study. Spotify, anyone? [Medical Xpress]

The bad news: In developing countries, 200 million fewer women are online than men. The good news: The United Nations Broadband Commission for Digital Development wants to make sure that women across the globe have equal access to the web by 2020. [Business Week]

More motivation to get to the gym: Athletes’ brains take in and respond to new information more quickly than non-athletes’ brains do, according to new research. [EurekAlert]

In a recent survey, more than 10 percent of the airline passengers with peanut or tree-nut allergies polled said they’ve had an allergic reaction while in flight. So why do some airlines still serve peanuts? [WebMD]

Swine flu just got scarier: About 2 percent of cases globally are now drug-resistant. [Bloomberg]

New research finds that constant job stress may increase your risk of getting Alzheimer’s. [Mail Online]

 

More than 17,600 men went to the ER for zipper-related genital injuries between 2002 and 2010, according to a new study. Really, guys? [The Atlantic]

Heidi Klum is the star of the new Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s commercials (which are basically burger porn). Really, Heidi? [The Cut]

Lululemon has stopped selling its popular black yoga pants because it says they were too sheer. If you own a pair, you can bring them in for a full refund or exchange—but unfortunately for people who’ve worn them to yoga already, some things can’t be unseen. [USA Today]

photo: Lifesize/Thinkstock

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