Are Latex-Free Condoms Really Latex-Free?

Soon, you might have a harder time finding a box of condoms marked “latex-free:” The FDA recently announced new recommendations suggesting that products no longer be labeled “latex-free.” Why? Right now there is no known test to prove that items contain absolutely no latex proteins—even the kind from natural rubber latex, which is what some people are allergic to. Because the term “latex-free” might lead consumers to think that products have been subjected to some kind of testing to verify the claim, the FDA feels it could be misleading. That said, companies know when they are using natural rubber latex to make their products—and they have to label that explicitly on the box.

Don’t freak out just yet if you or your dude has a latex allergy. The products themselves aren’t changing, so if you’ve been using “non-latex” condoms without a hitch, you don’t need to worry. Products like condoms or rubber gloves that do contain natural latex (the type that causes reactions) have always been required to say so on their labels, says Morgan Liscinsky from the FDA Office of Media Affairs. But here’s where it gets tricky: If a product doesn’t contain natural rubber latex, the manufacturer can pretty much put whatever they want (including “latex-free” or “non-latex”) on the packaging. These terms could technically be untrue, though; the products may still contain synthetic latex proteins or parts of the natural rubber latex that don’t cause allergic reactions.

So why is the FDA cracking down on labeling semantics? “We’re just making it more scientifically accurate,” says Liscinsky. Keep in mind that these new guidelines are merely a suggestion for manufacturers. Items that keep the term “latex-free” on their packaging might still contain some latex proteins—just not the kind that is going to give anyone dry or itchy skin. To be 100 percent safe, though, check your favorite brand of non-latex condoms to make sure the label doesn’t say that it’s made with natural rubber latex.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More from Women’s Health:
Are Condoms Really So Terrible?
Beyond Condoms
The Best Condoms For  Your Pleasure

Lose up to 15 lbs in just six weeks with The 8-Hour Diet. Buy the book!

javahut healthy feed

Why You Really Need to Stop Ranting

Next time you’re seething, take a deep breath… and step away from the keyboard. Online venting is all the rage right now (see: forums designed specifically for complaining, like JustRage.com and NotAlwaysRight.com). Too bad that both reading rant sites and posting on them can bring on negative mood shifts, according to researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

To get a better understanding of people’s mindsets when they visit rant sites (on which people can anonymously vent about any topic they’d like) researchers conducted two studies. For the first one, they surveyed 32 users about their anger, their visitation habits, why they read other people’s rants, and how ranting made them feel. “We found that people tend to rant because it makes them feel relaxed right after they do it,” says Ryan C. Martin, PhD, the lead author of the study and chair of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Psychology department.

For the second study, 91 undergraduate students read other people’s rants and explained how they felt afterward. They then wrote their own rants and reported back again. No surprise, the participants felt sadder after reading the rants. After writing them, they also felt less happy—as well as angrier.

Here’s the thing about ranting: Despite the initial sense of relief you get afterward, separate research shows that venting causes more anger and aggression in the long-term. In fact, anything done with the intent of blowing off steam—whether it’s writing a passive-aggressive email or mentally venting during a run—is counterproductive. Why? It prolongs the amount of time you spend focusing on negative feelings, says Martin.

Here’s what you can do instead of going on a complaining bender: Brainstorm possible moves that would actually address what has you so upset, suggests Raymond Chip Tafrate, PhD, a clinical psychologist and author of Anger Management for Everyone: Seven Proven Ways to Control Anger and Live a Happier Life. For example, if you come home to find your roommate has left a pile of dishes in the sink—again—you could call up your sister to gripe. Or you could knock on your roommate’s door and ask if she’d mind washing the pots and pans so you can use them to make dinner. “Anger can be a useful thing,” says Tafrate. “It can energize you to take action.”

photo: Brand X Pictures/Thinkstock

More From Women’s Health:
Fight Right
How to Deal With Road Rage
Positive Anger

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

 

 

javahut healthy feed

Are Condoms Really So Terrible?

Keep this in mind the next time you hear a guy say that sex is better without a condom: Both men and women enjoy sex just as much with condoms as they do without, according to a new study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.

To gather the between-the-sheets details, researchers looked at data from the 2009 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior. What they found: Basically, both men and women rated sex in general pretty high (no surprise there), and their sexual pleasure ratings were also consistently high.

That said, wearing a condom might make a difference when it comes to arousal—to a guy, at least. Men reported being more aroused when they had sex without using condoms or lube than men who used a condom and no lube. But that may not necessarily be because of the condom itself, according to Michael Reece, PhD, MPH, of the School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, and co-author of the study. “Arousal can be inhibited and affected by certain situations, but it can also have to do with who your partner was, issues with alcohol and drugs, and other physiological and psychological issues,” he says.

One of these issues? The long-held belief that condoms make men lose an erection. “We’ve had generation after generation of men that have been told that sex with a condom doesn’t feel as good as sex without, and in survey after survey you pick up that social myth,” says Reece. Until now, that is: “People say that sex with a condom is just as good as sex without a condom—that throws everything that men grew up learning out the window,” he says.

The bottom line: You probably can’t blame the condom for whether or not you’re turned on when you’re getting it on, according to Reece. In fact, many condoms, because of new, pleasure-enhancing innovations, might actually make sex better for both parties. Today’s condoms are made with special features, like enhanced textures or a coating of premium lubes, both of which could add some serious spine-tingling benefits to your next sack session.

Hit up the condom aisle to check out 5 of our favorite condom recommendations:

Trojan® Her Pleasure™ Ecstasy™
This condom boasts the best of both worlds: It’s coated with lube—both inside and out, and has special ridges that’ll rub you just the right way. And, according to the manufacturer, this rubber’s barely-there design “lets you feel the pleasure, not the condom!” ($ 10 for 10, drugstore.com)

Durex Performax
The inside tip of a Performax rubber is coated with a body heat-activated lube that contains Benzocaine, which reduces skin sensitivity (yes, it’s the same stuff you’d put on a bug bite). With a slightly numbed penis, your guy is less likely to hit his peak before you do. ($ 9 for 12, drugstore.com)

Kimono Micro Thin Aqua Lube
It’s not as barely-there as lambskin gets, but a Kimono is the next best thing for couples who want a condom with STD protection and minimal material between their privates. According to the manufacturer, this baby is 20 percent thinner than competitors’ “thin” models but still strong enough to pass vigorous testing. ($ 13 for 12, drugstore.com)

Durex Pleasuremax Tingling
Certain situations make a better-tasting condom a godsend, and this jimmy jacket’s spearmint flavor is as refreshing as a dab of Colgate. Even if taste isn’t an issue, this one’s worth buying for its pleasant scent and strategically placed ribs and studs. ($ 11 for 12, drugstore.com)

Naturalamb Trojan®
With its powder-fresh aroma, you’d never guess this condom is made from natural animal membranes. (Does PETA know about this?) The latex-free condom is so thin and flexible, it feels like a second skin—which is pretty much what it is. It’s best for committed couples, since it offers no protection against STDs. ($ 30 for 12, drugstore.com)

Additional reporting by Women’s Health editors

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More from WH:
The Average Woman on Sex
3 Ways to Protect Yourself Against STDs
Sleep Like This, Dream About Sex
The New Rules of Lifting for WomenTransform your body forever with The New Rules of Lifting for Women, a breakthrough fitness and diet plan for women. Order now!

javahut healthy feed

Do You Really Need an Annual Checkup?

Ever leave your yearly physical feeling like you got absolutely nothing out of the exam? It makes you wonder: What’s the point of an annual checkup anyway?

A group of Danish researchers wondered the same thing, leading them to the conclusion that there is little benefit to routine exams on healthy people.

Study authors analyzed information from 183,000 people who were randomly assigned to either receive a routine health check—involving screening tests, a physical exam, or advice about lifestyle changes—or not receive one.

Results showed patients who received routine health checks were just as likely to die over a nine-year period compared with those who did not receive health checks.

But don’t cancel your annual exam just yet. “It’s more than just a trip to the doctor,” says Robert Wergin, MD, a practicing family physician in Milford, Nebraska, and member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians—who is not affiliated with the study. “It’s about establishing a relationship with someone who cares about, and can help you with, your health.” You may not need to see a doctor when you’re healthy, but when you come down with a nasty bug or mysterious ache, you’ll be glad to have someone with a knowledge of your medical history to turn to. Your relationship with your primary care physician, if well established, can provide peace of mind when you’re not feeling your best. “We’re like an extension of your own family,” Wergin adds. “We’re always there for you.”

Not to mention, your doctor recommends medications and lifestyle changes with the sole purpose of preventing you from getting sick in the first place. “Why wait until the event, whether it’s a heart attack or diabetes, to do the intervention?” Wergin asks.

At the end of the day, the amount of times you visit your primary care physician is a matter of personal need and choice, Wergin says. But when you do visit the doc, make the most of your appointment by following these guidelines.

Write down your questions ahead of time
You need a grocery list to help you remember the bok choy for your stir-fry, why not make a reminder note to ask about your neck pain? Primary care physicians “cover your whole health,” Wergin says, so no questions are off limits. From irregular moles to troublesome periods, primary care docs provide you with answers or point you in the right direction.

Discuss age-related milestones
As you age, your health concerns change. Not sure what to ask your doctor? Here is what you should be concerned with in your…20s, 30s, and 40s.

Stay organized with a health journal
When was your last pap smear? How long have you been on the pill? A health journal helps you keep track of this information and more, “keeping your health in the forefront of your mind,” Wergin says. Here is what you should include in your journal:

*Dates of any medical tests
*Illness or injury
*Hospitalizations
*Surgeries
*Allergies
*Medicines, vitamins or supplements that you are taking and how often you take them
*Diseases or illness in your immediate family

photo: Digital Vision/Thinkstock

More from WH:
3 Ways to Have a Better Doctor’s Visit
Online Doctor’s Visits: Would You Try It?
How to Know if You Have a Bad Doctor

NEW Abs Diet Cookbook Fuel your workout with The New Abs Diet Cookbook!

javahut healthy feed

Does Chocolate Really Make You Smarter?

Solid, drizzled, or baked into a tasty dessert, chocolate is a proven heart-healthy indulgence—in moderation, of course. But could the sweet stuff actually make you smarter? An article published in the “Occasional Notes” section of The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that it’s possible. The researcher, Franz H. Messerli, MD, Director of Clinical Hypertension at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, wrote that countries that consumed the most chocolate per capita also produced more Nobel Prize winners. Therefore, he says, chocolate makes you smarter!

But before you go cocoa-crazy, know that this “note” only finds a correlation between chocolate eating and Nobel Prize winning, and that it isn’t a peer-reviewed study—or scientifically verified. In fact, it’s almost certainly complete bunk. Goes to show: You can’t believe everything you read. Sorry, choco-holics.

It’s not all bad news, though. See, chocolate has a ton of legitimately scientifically verified health benefits.

“It’s a life stimulant,” says Maja Zaric, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and a Women’s Health advisor. “It’ll bring out the best of you.”

To be specific: Cocoa, the active substance in chocolate, contains theobromine, which increases heart rate and can increase brain function, focus, and concentration; bioflavonoids—disease-fighting antioxidants; and phosphorus, which can improve pulmonary function, according to Zaric. But, keep in mind that it also contains a large amount of saturated fat, so a few cubes of dark chocolate every day is all you need to reap these benefits, she says. Aim for no more than 7 ounces of chocolate for a week. Also: The key to maximizing these health benefits is to chow down on chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa.

Want even more excuses to devour your favorite sweet? Click here for 9 health benefits of chocolate.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More from WH:
Decadent and Delicious Chocolate Recipes
The 12 Best Healthy Desserts
Eat Chocolate for Better Sex
Look Better Naked: Buy the book to learn how to look (and feel!) your very best.

 

javahut healthy feed

Does Coffee Really Make You Blind?

Here’s a shocking stat for coffee drinkers: Researchers studied close to 80,000 women and 40,000 men over a 20-year-period and found that those who drank three or more cups of Joe a day had a 66 percent greater chance of developing exfoliation glaucoma—a condition in which a dandruff-like powder forms in your eye, increases pressure in your eyeball, damages the optic nerve, and eventually causes blindness.

But don’t worry about skipping your daily trips to Starbucks just yet, says Andrew Iwach, M.D., executive director of the Glaucoma Center of San Francisco, and a clinical correspondent with the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

The study authors suspect that caffeinated coffee may raise levels of the amino acid homocysteine, which damages blood vessels and other eye structures. The truth of the matter: As the researchers state themselves, the study is observational; they didn’t assign some people to drink coffee and some to lay off. Therefore, it can’t prove coffee causes glaucoma—only that there might be a link between the two, says Iwach. (Heard those other myths about your favorite a.m. staple? Debunk them in The Truth About Coffee.)

Though the connection may be real, doctors are a long way from listing java as a risk factor for blindness. “There are a whole list of glaucoma risk factors that we look for when a patient comes in for an exam, and eventually this might be on that list,” Iwach says.

But for now, go ahead and order your venti Americano, and focus on factors that are proven to boost your odds for blindness: smoking, being hit in the eye, a family history of glaucoma, or taking corticosteroids, which are used to treat medical conditions like asthma, rashes, and tendon or joint problems.

Then take a moment to schedule a complete eye exam with an ophthalmologist. Begin with one in your 20s, even if you don’t think you have any risk factors. Your doc can assess your risk and check for physical signs of the disease, which often appear long before symptoms, says Iwach.

photo: Eyecandy Images/Thinkstock

More from WH:
When to See Your Eye Doctor
The Truth Behind Computer Vision
18 Self Checks Every Woman Should Do

The South Beach Wake-Up Call Heal your body with seven simple strategies for age-reversing, lifesaving weight loss and optimal health from The South Beach Diet Wake-Up Call: 7 Real-Life Strategies for Living Your Healthiest Life Ever. Buy the book today!

javahut healthy feed

Do You Really Need an Omega-3 Supplement?

Today’s headlines may make you reconsider your daily omega-3 supplement: In a review published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers analyzed 20 studies totaling nearly 69,000 people and found no association between people taking omega-3 supplements and decreased mortality from any cause, as well as cardiac death, sudden death, heart attack or stroke.

But don’t take the results at face value. It’s important to note that the group analyzed in the JAMA study are high-risk heart patients. Expecting fish oil to prevent future heart attacks or strokes in people already vulnerable to them is like expecting a Band-Aid to hold back a gushing wound.

Say you’re already overweight and have diabetes—both big risk factors for heart disease. An omega-3 supplement won’t help you much. “There is no way to take these results and assume they apply to healthy people. Of course fish oil is not a cure. If someone is already falling apart, omega-3s won’t put them back together,” says Alan Aragon, M.S., Men’s Health nutrition advisor.

What about generally healthy people? One study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that overweight adults taking fish oil improved their HDL cholesterol and artery function more than taking a placebo supplement. Even in healthy, young, normal weight adults, fish oil exerts certain heart-protective benefits—lower levels of triglycerides and higher “good” HDL cholesterol numbers, to name a few. (Don’t think you’re safe from a heart attack just because you’re lean. Read this: How Skinny People Have Fat Hearts.)

This study is one of the many meta-analyses that have come out on fish oil supplements recently, says Aragon. “Some review studies show that there is a positive benefit to fish oil, and others say that there’s insufficient evidence. Right now though, more studies than not are on the beneficial side of the fence,” he says. (Why the conflicting reports? Each review looked at different sets of data and studies.)

Other potential issues: The JAMA study doesn’t consider what type of omega-3 supplement these patients were taking. Some fish oil supplements go through processing that makes the omega-3s less absorbable to the body. Others contain contaminants (like mercury or PCBs), and that could make the supplements less effective, explains Aragon. (Find out whether your supplement label is lying.)

Bottom line? It’s best to get nutrients from whole food sources first. Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce inflammation, decrease triglycerides, and lower blood pressure. (Sick of salmon? Here are 3 Surprising Heart-Healthy Foods.)

If you don’t eat at least two 3.5-ounce servings of fish a week, then it’s a good idea to take a supplement of about one gram of EPA and DHA a day. For the record, Aragon takes fish oil daily. His pick: The Costco Kirkland Signature brand, since it contains the type of omega-3s readily absorbed by the body.  “Looking at the research as a whole, there’s a small heart protective effect from taking fish oil. And for me, that’s worth taking a supplement.” (Which pills should you pop every morning? Gulp down The Top 10 Supplements for Women.)

photo: Photographer Name/Collection Name/Thinkstock

More from WH:
Compare the Best Supplements for Heart Health
5 Steps to a Healthy Heart
Women and Heart Disease: How to Protect Your Ticker

Hormone Diet
The new “Hormone Secret” for Sure, Easy, Fat Loss!

javahut healthy feed

Is Organic Really Better?

 
organic foodA recent organic foods study out of Stanford University elicited news headlines like this: Organic Food No More Nutritious Than Non-Organic, Study Questions How Much Better Organic Food Is, and Stanford Scientists Cast Doubt on Advantages of Organic Meat and Produce. Those headlines alone may make you wonder, “Is organic really worth it?”

While the study, which was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, could sway some people to bypass the organic aisle during their next supermarket trip, critics of the study say it fails to address the huge public health perks associated with organic food. “The study highlighted the lack of nutritional differences between organic and conventional foods. We think this is a misleading framework for evaluating the benefits of organic foods,” explains Sonya Lunder, senior research analyst at Environmental Working Group, a consumer watchdog group focused on protecting human and environmental health. “The nutritional component is not the reason most consumers choose organic.”

See all of the nasty stuff you avoid when you choose organic…

1. Pesticides in the Food Chain
The facts: While not a main point of the Stanford study, researchers did conclude that organic food contained significantly lower levels of pesticide residues, something previous research suggests could help protect kids from autism and ADHD, among other ills. United States Department of Agriculture testing routinely finds pesticide residues considered unsafe for children on conventionally grown—not organic—produce samples, including apples, peaches, plums, pears, grapes, blueberries, strawberries, and raisins. “Parents don’t want their children to serve as human guinea pigs for chemical corporations,” says Charlotte Vallaeys, director of farm and food policy for The Cornucopia Institute, an organic watchdog group.

The organic advantage: Eating organic coincides with a massive drop in disease-causing pesticides in your body. “The enormous benefit of eating organic produce is that it reduces pesticide exposure by 90 percent. This has been proven in studies conducted at Harvard, the University of Washington, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” explains pediatrician Phil Landrigan, MD, professor and chair of Preventive Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. “Reduction of exposure to pesticides reduces risk of neurological injury and certain cancers. I advise my patients to choose organic whenever possible.”

2. Killer Superbug Infections
The facts: Antibiotic-resistant superbugs kill more than 90,000 people a year, with MRSA alone killing more people in American than AIDS. The overuse of antibiotics in farming helps spur the growth of these hard-to-kill and sometimes-fatal infections. Tests of supermarket meats routinely find superbug germs, meaning that improperly cooking the meat or failing to wipe off your countertop correctly could put you in a life-threatening situation.

The organic advantage: Antibiotic-resistant superbug germs are far less likely to be found on organic meat because organic bans the use of antibiotics. You’re more than 30 percent less likely to come in contact with superbugs in the meat supply when you choose organic.

3. Poisonous Rain
The facts: More than 17,000 pesticide products are on the market, yet the Environmental Protection Agency has required testing for less than 1 percent of the chemicals currently used in commerce. Even tiny amounts of America’s most popular weed killer glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, can damage DNA and kill cells, and have been linked to infertility and certain cancers. Farmers spray so much glyphosate that it’s taken up into the air and returns to the soil in chemical-laced rain, according to U.S. Geological Service research.

The organic advantage: Organic bans the use of chemical pesticides, keeping them not just out of your food, but also your community’s water, air, and rain.

4. Human Sewage Sludge
The facts: It’s perfectly legal for nonorganic farmers to douse human sewage sludge taken from municipal water treatment plants to fertilize nonorganic fields. The sludge could contain whatever morgues, residences, and industrial parks decide to put down the drain. Scientists have detected shampoo chemicals in nonorganic tomatoes and hypothesize that sewage sludge is partly to blame.

The organic advantage: Organic certification bans the use of sewage sludge. Organic fertilizing methods rely more on regulated compost or cover crops—plants grown during the off season and tilled or crimped back onto the soil.

5. GMOs
The facts: Scientists have never studied the long-term health effects of eating genetically engineered material, but that hasn’t stopped nonorganic farmers from planting GMO crops since the 1990s. Most GMOs are manipulated to withstand high doses of chemical pesticides—some of which wind up inside of the food we eat. Currently, up to 90 percent of nonorganic processed foods contain GMO material.

The organic advantage: Preliminary research suggests GMOs could be causing digestive disease, accelerated aging, obesity, and a rise in food allergies. Organic explicitly bans the use of GMOs.

6. The Drugged Meat Market
The facts: About 80 percent of all antibiotics used in this country go to feed conventional livestock because it not only prevents disease, but helps fatten the animals up faster. North Carolina livestock alone ingest more antibiotics annually than the entire U.S. human population. USDA researchers routinely detect antibiotics in meat, and new science suggests that could be making humans gain weight, too.

The organic advantage: Organic bans the use of antibiotics. It also bans the use of feeding animal byproducts to livestock, and requires that farm animals eat food grown without pesticides and GMO seeds.

7. Freaky Food Additives
The facts: Conventional processed foods are little packaged science experiments, and your family members are guinea pigs. We could be paying a big price for flashy foods—certain food dyes are linked to brain cell damage and ADHD.

The organic advantage: Instead of using chemicals derived from petrochemicals, organic manufacturers often turn to natural colorants like beet juice.

8. Unstable Food Prices
The facts: The worst drought to hit America in a half decade is decimating U.S. crops, particularly corn, causing unstable food prices. Although chemically dependent GMO crops are advertised as being drought tolerant, researchers have found that adding chemicals to the soil actually makes it harder for plants to get through extended dry periods unscathed.

The organic advantage: Long-term experiments at the Rodale Institute, an organic research farm in Pennsylvania, found that, during normal weather, organic and conventional farming produce about the same amount of food [Editor’s note: Rodale is the publisher of Women’s Health]. But when weather starts to act up, organic wins out, producing 30 percent more in years of drought. That’s because organic soil is alive with beneficial bacteria, and the soil acts like a sponge to hold water in reserve during drought. (The healthy soil also helps prevent flooding.)

photo: Stockbyte/Thinkstock

 
More from WH:
The World of Genetically Modified Food
How To Decode Meat Labels
Your Gym’s Dirty Secrets
 
 
 
 

javahut healthy feed