Pregnant Women May Not Need Daily Iron Supplements

Posted on June 18, 2013 by admin

There are a ton of things to worry about when you’re expecting, but remembering to take an iron pill every single day doesn’t need to be one of them: Taking an iron-folic acid supplement just twice a week—instead of daily—leads to an equally healthy birth weight, growth rate, and possibly even improved cognitive development, suggests a new study published in the journal PLOS Medicine.

Researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia asked more than 1,000 pregnant women in Vietnam to take either daily iron-folic acid supplements, twice-weekly iron-folic acid supplements, or twice-weekly iron-folic acid supplements plus micronutrients. They then measured the baby’s birth weight, how much he or she had grown at six months, and his or her cognitive development at the same time.

While birth weights and growth rates were similar across all groups, cognitive development scores were actually higher for the infants whose mothers took the supplements twice a week. Plus, the women who took the supplements twice a week were more likely to take them consistently than those who took them daily.

Iron is key for getting enough oxygen to both you and your baby, and this can affect fetal development, says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine. Plus, not having enough iron in your blood can make you feel more fatigued, which is a big bummer since pregnancy is already pretty tiring.

That said, the supply of iron in your blood doesn’t fluctuate much from day to day, says Minkin, and the results of this study suggest that cutting back to twice-weekly supplements may not have much impact on your overall iron blood count—or, apparently, on the health of your child.

And as for folic acid? While slashing your intake of the nutrient may not have had any impact on the outcomes measured in the study, Minkin strongly suggests continuing to take supplements for it daily since getting the recommended .4 milligrams each day helps protect your child against neural defects like spina bifida.

One important thing to remember: How much iron you need while you’re pregnant can vary from woman to woman, says Minkin, and can also depend on whether or not you were iron-deficient going into the pregnancy. So whether you’re already pregnant or trying to be, it’s best to talk to your doctor to find out just how much iron you need to be taking—whether it’s from daily supplements or a less frequent dosage.

Photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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The Surprising Thing That Makes You a Better Driver

Posted on June 18, 2013 by admin

You know that talking on a Bluetooth headset, texting, and touching up your mascara mid-commute are all off-limits, but there is one thing you don’t have to fret about doing behind the wheel: cranking up the radio. Listening to music while driving doesn’t pose a dangerous distraction, according to a new study. On the contrary, participants in the study often drove even better and focused more intently on the road when the radio was playing in the background.

Researchers from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands actually suspected that listening to the radio would make driving more hazardous, so they tested the effects of music on experienced drivers by conducting two studies: The first placed fifteen participants into driving simulators while they watched a video of someone else driving and listened to the radio (but didn’t actually “drive” themselves). At the end of a 40-minute session, researchers asked participants to recall what they had heard on the radio. They found that, overall, participants remembered little of what they’d heard, indicating that they focused much more on the road than they did on the music and often tuned it out.

The second study tested the same people while they actually drove in the simulators. Participants got to choose the type of music they listened to and drove through both low- and high-risk traffic situations. As a control, researchers also had these participants drive through the exact same traffic simulations without background music.

By comparing the drivers’ ability to focus on the road in both situations, researchers found that participants who listened to music while driving in high-risk situations effectively tuned it out to focus more carefully on driving safely. And interestingly, participants who listened to music while driving in low-risk situations actually focused even more intently on the road and drove better than they did when they didn’t have the radio on.

Study author Linda Steg, PhD, professor of environmental psychology at the University of Groningen, says that because low-complexity driving situations—think long, winding roads—can be very boring, music helps improve your performance by sharpening your focus and keeping you alert.

So should you be blasting Beyoncé every time you turn on your engine? While researchers found nothing to suggest that high-tempo music would cause problems, cranking up the volume might not be the smartest strategy in stressful driving situations, says Steg.

“People almost automatically turn it off when the situation becomes too complex,” she says, based on anecdotal observations. Participants in the study didn’t have this option, but they were able to mentally block out the music anyway.

Not all noise is created equal, though. Steg cautions against listening to talk radio while driving—and of course “listening” to a cell phone call isn’t the same as listening to music. Since these require more attention than music does, you’re less likely to devote your full attention to the road—and more likely to get into an accident. Ditto changing the station or CD while on the move.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Don’t Let Social Media Wreck Your Relationship

Posted on June 18, 2013 by admin

You might want to lay off of social media—for your relationship’s sake. People who use Facebook more than once a day are more likely to report relationship conflicts arising from social media, according to a new study in the Journal of Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking. And even worse—those conflicts had a significant correlation with negative relationship outcomes, like cheating, breaking up, or getting divorced.

Researchers surveyed 205 Facebook users about how often they use the site, if they’ve had Facebook-related conflicts with a current or former partner, and if these conflicts ever led to cheating or breaking up. On average, people were using Facebook daily, so the researchers looked at any users who logged on more often than that. The result: People who spent more time on the site had more Facebook-related conflicts and negative relationship outcomes. One noteworthy finding: these results only held for couples in relationships of three years or less—so it may be the case that Facebook use is most threatening for less-matured bonds.

“Previous research has shown that the more a person in a romantic relationship uses Facebook, the more likely they are to monitor their partner’s Facebook activity more stringently, which can lead to feelings of jealousy,” says lead study author Russell Clayton, doctoral candidate at the University of Missouri. “Also, our study found that excessive Facebook users are more likely to connect or reconnect with other Facebook users, including previous partners, which may lead to emotional and physical cheating.”

But you don’t need to deactivate your account to have a healthy relationship. Follow these rules to make sure social media habits aren’t sabotaging your bond:

Rule #1: Avoid the premature relationship-status change
Relationship experts agree that the worst social media faux pas is becoming “Facebook official” before you’re actually official. “You need to have that conversation before you change it,” says Wendy Walsh, PhD, author of The 30-Day Love Detox. You should also hold off on posting about a date or sharing photos of you two together before you’ve become a couple. “When a relationship is in its fragile dating stage, it’s very important to have privacy. Intimacy needs privacy to grow,” says Walsh.

Rule: #2: Stop mindlessly browsing
In this study, just logging more time on Facebook was linked with more conflict. So it’s smart to limit your daily posting and tweeting—especially if you’re often sneaking a peak at your newsfeed while you’re together. Even if you’re just mindlessly scrolling through your feed while watching TV with your partner, it can give off the impression that they’re not as important to you, says Christie Hartman, PhD, author of Find the Love of Your Life Online. “Be aware of what you’re paying attention to,” says Hartman. “If they start complaining or showing annoyance, it’s a sign that you’ve gone too far.”

Rule #3: Log off when you’re upset
If you just had a fight or you’re going through a rough patch, step away from the computer (or your phone). Since your newsfeed can be filled with everything from humblebragging couples to photos of your (fitter than ever) ex, it can be filled with landmines that make you feel bad about your relationship—or worse. “It’s really easy to log on and imagine that there might be a bigger, better deal out there,” says Walsh. Plus, you may end up shooting off a passive-aggressive rant that you’ll later regret, says Hartman.

Rule #4: Friend exes with caution
One of the riskiest features of Facebook is that it makes it super easy to connect and communicate with an ex or old crush, which is why the common debate—can exes stay friends?—is only amplified online.

While you probably don’t want to make a point of friending an ex after you’ve started dating a new person, it’s important to tread carefully even if one or both of you are already friends with your exes. Stay cautious about your interactions with them, says Walsh. Her suggestion for staying on your toes: “Imagine that someone has the ability to cut and paste whatever you type and post it publicly.” The bottom line: Don’t be fooled by a false sense of privacy online.

Rule #5: Brag a little bit
Don’t worry: Not all social media habits are relationship kryptonite. In fact, couples who regularly post profile pictures with their partners and share things about their relationship online are also more likely to feel happier about their bonds, according to a new study in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science. Hartman says that a little bragging online is totally healthy for your relationship: “It shows that you aren’t on Facebook ignoring your partner—you’re including them.” So feel free to tweet about your boyfriend’s awesome promotion or Instagram the flowers he surprised you with. Just don’t go overboard, warns Hartman, or it won’t seem sincere.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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How Your Second Pregnancy Is Different from Your First

Posted on June 17, 2013 by admin

Can’t wait to give your baby a little brother or sister to play with? You’re not alone: One-third of pregnancies in the U.S. happen within 18 months of a previous birth, according to a new study from the Guttmacher Institute in New York. And planning a pregnancy quickly after your first one is even more common in women over the age of 30, according to the findings.

But just because you’ve been pregnant before doesn’t mean you know exactly what you’re in for. In fact, your second pregnancy will likely be a little different from your first, says Shari Brasner, MD, assistant clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive science at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Brasner shares a few things you should expect during a round-two pregnancy:

You could deal with nutrition issues
The biggest concern during a second pregnancy, nutritionally speaking, is that you might be more iron deficient, says Brasner. Pregnancy in general puts a big strain on the iron stores in your blood, and many women go into their first pregnancy iron deficient, she says. This, combined with the fact that your body’s already been weakened by your first pregnancy and maybe hasn’t had time to fully recover, could be why you lack the nutrient even more while carrying your second child, says Brasner. Luckily, that’s pretty easy to remedy since iron supplements (which you might want to take a couple of times a week, depending on your needs) are widely available.

You might be prone to more complications
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Mayo Clinic both suggest that the optimal time to wait between births is at least 18 months. Why? Research shows pre-term birth, low birth weight, and even growth restriction are three of the things you might have to worry about if you’re having your second child very soon after your first, says Brasner, because your body hasn’t had enough time to recover from the physical and nutritional burden of your first pregnancy.

You can experience certain symptoms sooner
Pregnancy-related woes like back pain, varicose veins, and hemorrhoids that typically occur during the third trimester can strike earlier—not to mention more dramatically, says Brasner. Why? Basically, your first pregnancy weakens your muscoskeletar structure and your vessel walls, which makes it easier for these symptoms to resurface. The good news: Any potential morning sickness and cravings shouldn’t be worse than they were the first time around.

You may feel bigger
Many women feel like they’re getting bigger, faster during their second pregnancy, but that’s really a subjective thing since your measurements will most likely follow the same pattern as the first time, says Brasner. However, keep in mind that if you’ve held onto some of the extra pounds you gained from the first pregnancy, then you’ll of course be bigger the second time around.

You’ll likely be exhausted
While waiting for baby number two to arrive, you might find yourself low on energy—but it’s usually not a health concern, says Brasner. Usually, feeling like you’re dragging is just because you’re already a mom and dealing with things that you didn’t have to deal with the first time around—like taking care of a young, high-energy child.

…But you should also feel more relaxed
If you headed to your doctor’s appointments with a long list of questions and concerns during your first pregnancy, chances are you’ll be way more blasé the second time around. The simple reason for the change: Already having had a child builds up your confidence, so there isn’t that fear of the unknown.

Photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Get This: Girl Meets World Is Definitely Happening

Posted on June 17, 2013 by admin

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

Disney just announced that Girl Meets World—the redux of Boy Meets World focusing on Cory and Topanga’s daughter—is definitely happening. It’s set to premiere next summer! [Vulture]

Urban Outfitters will no longer sell products that look like prescription drug bottles. [TIME]

Good news for brides-to-be: Zac Posen is launching a line of gowns for David’s Bridal that will be available in February. [Refinery29]

There’s a scary-low number of people becoming primary care doctors, according to a new study—particularly in rural areas. [UPI.com]

Bon Appetit‘s latest issue suggests that grilling and being a CEO are “guy things.” We definitely beg to differ. [Huffington Post]

There are fewer than 200,000 stay-at-home dads in the U.S., according to a new Census report. [UPI.com]

Comedian Patton Oswald has decided that, contrary to his previous stance on the subject, rape jokes actually aren’t OK, let alone funny. You think? [Vulture]

This man got a tattoo of his wife on his bald spot. That’s…sort of cute, but mostly just strange. [BBC]

The latest theory about why men die younger than women? Because they’re so “fragile.” Hmmm. [NPR]

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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More Couples Are Bringing Toys to Bed

Posted on June 17, 2013 by admin

If you think sex toys are just for single ladies or bondage-loving Fifty Shades fans, think again: The majority of women are up for bringing sex toys to bed, according to a recent poll of Women’s Health readers.

In fact, in the survey, 75 percent of respondents said they’ve used one with a partner, and 60 percent say they’ve used one with the person they’re seeing now (or were with most recently). Even more women are up for giving one a try: Eighty-four percent said they’re open to the idea of using a sex toy as a couple.

If your sex life is feeling a little routine lately, bringing a toy to bed can help add a little something-something to your sex life, says Ian Kerner, PhD, sex therapist and author of She Comes First (consequently, he says he’s been seeing more and more couples experimenting with sex toys lately). “Whenever you introduce novelty into the bedroom, it stimulates dopamine activity—that plays a big role in sexual arousal and sexual excitement.”

Sex toys can also come in handy if you have trouble crossing the finish line. “A large majority of women don’t orgasm consistently from intercourse alone,” says Kerner, “but when you add a sex toy or manual or oral stimulation—what I call ‘intercourse plus’— the statistics kind of flip on their heads.”

For a standard vibrator that couples can use together, Kerner recommends:

LELO Gigi, $ 109, LELO.com
The flattened tip is specially designed to focus in on the G-spot.

photo: LELO.com

Jimmyjane Form 6, $ 175, Jimmyjane.com
This one is double-sided —one end is perfect for surface vibrations, while the other is better for penetration.

photo: Jimmyjane.com

You can also use a smaller, clitoral vibrator. (A tip: “Incorporating a handheld, palm-sized vibrator into your hand while you’re manually or orally stimulating a man is really going to add to his pleasure,” says Kerner.) Two that Kerner suggests:

Jimmyjane Form 2, $ 145, Jimmyjane.com
The two “ears” are flexible, squeezable, and each powered by their own motor.

photo: Jimmyjane.com

Je Joue MiMi, $ 89, Amazon.com
This one is compact and smooth, so Je Joue suggests using it for an all-over body massage.

photo: Amazon.com

You might also consider springing for a toy that was designed specifically for partners to play with together. Some of the top-selling couple’s toys at Babeland:

We-Vibe 3, $ 139, Babeland.com
Fun fact: The We-Vibe has been Babeland’s best-selling vibrator ever since the first version launched five years ago. It’s designed for a woman to wear during sex (no hands required) so that both partners can feel the vibes.

photo: Courtesy of Babeland

Jimmyjane Hello Touch, $ 65, Babeland.com
One person wears the vibrating pods over his or her fingertips to really amp up hand-play.

photo: Courtesy of Babeland

Je Joue Mio, $ 99, Babeland.com
A vibrating penis ring adds extra pleasure for both parties during sex. (Use it to try for a “Wegasm”!)

photo: Courtesy of Babeland

top photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Short Walks After Meals Can Help Fend Off Diabetes

Posted on June 17, 2013 by admin

After dinner, you probably just want to kick off your shoes, curl up on the couch, and fire up your DVR—but here’s why you shouldn’t: Taking a 15-minute post-meal walk can help regulate your blood sugar level and reduce your risk of type-2 diabetes, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS).

In the study, 10 healthy seniors spent three 48-hour spans in a lab. During each session, participants ate the same foods and followed one of three exercise routines: They either walked at an easy-to-moderate pace on a treadmill for 15 minutes after each meal, walked 45 minutes in the morning, or walked 45 minutes in the afternoon. In each of the three scenarios, researchers continuously monitored participants’ blood sugar levels. What they found: The short post-meal walks were more effective at regulating blood sugar levels for up to 24 hours.

Why this is so key: Typically, your body can handle the normal blood sugar fluctuations that occur about 30 minutes after you eat: Your pancreas releases insulin, which sends the sugar to your liver, where it’s stored as fuel. But as you get older (or if you’re inactive throughout the day), your body doesn’t react as efficiently, which leads to prolonged high blood sugar levels, says lead study author Loretta DiPietro, PhD, MPH, chair of the department of exercise science at SPHHS. Over time, this can damage the walls of your cardiovascular system, heighten your risk of getting type 2 diabetes and heart disease, affect brain functioning, and even lead to blindness, she says.

Luckily, exercise triggers muscle contractions that work like insulin. Why are post-meal walks more effective than a single 45-minute stroll at another time? They jump-start this process exactly when your body needs it: When sugar enters the blood stream, says DiPietro.

Can’t swing a walk after every meal? Focus on moving more about 30 minutes after you eat your largest meal of the day or after you eat carbohydrate-rich dishes (like pasta or rice) or super-sweet foods (like donuts and sugary drinks). All of these cause your blood sugar to spike faster and hit higher levels, says DiPietro. Bonus: She says that walking can also help you sidestep that post-meal energy zap—so you’ll actually be able to stay awake when you do sit down to catch up on those DVR’d shows.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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3 Reasons to Give Blood

Posted on June 14, 2013 by admin

Man of Steel is out today, and OK: Superman is pretty impressive. But there’s an easy way for you to also be a superhero: by donating blood. Today is the 10^th anniversary of World Blood Donor Day, a global public health campaign created to thank blood donors and raise awareness about the importance of giving blood.

Every two seconds a new person in the U.S. needs blood, according to the American Red Cross. Some of the most common reasons: surgery, trauma, cancer, anemia, and bleeding disorders, says Patricia Shi, MD, a hematologist at Montefiore Medical Center. And now is an especially good time to donate—while there’s always a need, blood collection organizations often have shortages in the summertime (as well as over the holidays), because regular donors are away, says Shi.

Becoming a blood donor is simple—and a transfusion can mean the difference between life and death for the recipient.

In honor of World Blood Donor Day, Women’s Health asked readers who’ve received blood transfusions to share their stories—in case you need more inspiration to sign up for an upcoming blood drive:

“When I was 27 years old, I was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. I underwent five months of intense chemotherapy, which made me feel incredibly lethargic and, since it lowered my platelet count, had side effects like uncontrolled gum bleeding (platelets are key for healthy clotting). Because my treatment was so tough on my body, I ended up having three separate blood transfusions throughout the five months I was in chemo. I can’t tell you how much better I would feel after a transfusion. Not only would my blood finally start clotting normally again—so something as simple as bleeding gums was no longer a major issue—but all my color would come back right away and suddenly I wasn’t exhausted anymore. I’m happy to say that I have been in remission for two and a half years and haven’t needed a transfusion since then!”
‑Alyson Achorn, Worcester, MA

“In 2009, when I was pregnant with my daughter, I was diagnosed with thrombocytopenia, or a low platelet count, during a routine complete blood count. While I was giving birth two months later, I had a really minor tear—nothing that would usually be a problem. But since platelets are necessary for clotting, I just kept bleeding and bleeding. My medical team spent an hour stabilizing me—I think they went through eight packets of sutures. The worst part was that since they were trying to control the bleeding, I wasn’t able to hold my baby until five hours after she was born. I didn’t even realize how crappy I felt until the next morning, when I had to have two units of blood transfused to replace what I’d lost—all of a sudden I felt so much better and had so much more energy.”
‑Sabrina Condon, Spokane, WA

“I got my first period two days before my 13th birthday—and it just wouldn’t stop. As the weeks went by, it got progressively heavier, and I got weaker. I thought this was normal, though, so I didn’t mention it to my parents. Then, after 11 weeks of this period, I woke up one day with unbearable cramps, too weak to stand up. My mom was frantic. At the hospital, she was told I had severe anemia. I received multiple blood transfusions and was surprisingly well enough to go home that same night—it was amazing how it transformed me from this pale, sick girl to healthy and lively in just hours! I received a prescription for birth control pills to keep my period regular from then on. Since I had no idea how to contact the donor, I’ve paid it forward by donating my own blood. Hopefully I’ve saved lives, as well.”
—Ingrid Ramirez, Milwaukee, WI

Want to learn more about becoming a blood donor? Visit RedCrossBlood.org for eligibility requirements and to find a blood drive near you.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Could You Give Up Mirrors?

Posted on June 14, 2013 by admin

Just how far would you go to nix insecurities about your looks? One body-image expert decided to avoid looking at her reflection for an entire year—and then chronicled the experience in a new memoir, Mirror, Mirror Off the Wall.

Kjerstin Gruys, who’s currently pursuing her PhD in sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles (with a focus on appearance and social inequalities, no less) realized she had a problem when, in the months leading up to her wedding in 2011, she started coming down with a crippling fixation on her appearance.

“It was right after I found my wedding dress that I started really obsessing over my body, to the point that it started affecting my sense of self-worth,” says Gruys. Having battled an eating disorder in high school, she recognized that dangerous territory and knew something had to give. “I thought to myself, ‘My purpose in life isn’t to nitpick my appearance all day—so what am I doing? If I removed all the mirrors from my life, I’d remove that temptation and could focus on things that actually matter.’”

And so her ban on mirrors began. The rules were simple: No checking herself out in mirrors, photographs, or reflective surfaces of any kind for an entire year. Not even on her wedding day.

“I basically had to relearn how to live life,” says Gruys. “You don’t think about it, but your reflection is everywhere. I had to learn how to get ready without seeing myself and to look away when I came across bathroom mirrors and store windows, for example.”

But during that year, Gruys describes feeling a sense of relief—even in the midst of wedding planning. “I had this calm, relaxed feeling of balance,” she says. “I knew my friends wouldn’t let me walk around with broccoli in my teeth, so I didn’t really have to think about my appearance at all. I was free to actually enjoy my wedding, live my life, and focus on my goals.”

And when the moment came to see her reflection for the first time in a year? “My friends and family covered a mirror with sticky notes that said all these positive things about me,” says Gruys. “As I peeled them off, I didn’t notice my body hang-ups. I saw color—rosy cheeks, white teeth, yellow hair—then I saw everyone sharing the moment with me, which was an incredible reminder of what really matters.”

A body-image expert herself, Gruys’ story proves that confidence crashes can happen to anyone—but with the right approach, you can squash them before they get out of hand. Next time you’re tempted to nitpick, Gruys suggests a few go-to moves:

Redefine the way you see your body
Make a list of your favorite and least favorite assets, and then assign each a positive adjective or description, suggests Gruys. For example, instead of looking down and just seeing hips, think of yours as sexy, swinging hips. “This exercise helps you see the body part’s function and value, even if it’s not your favorite,” she says

Make a weekend (naturally) mirror-free
A yearlong ban on checking out your reflection is pretty hardcore—but you can reap similar benefits by experimenting on a smaller scale, like by taking an au naturale camping trip with friends. “You know you won’t stumble upon a mirror out there, so you can feel that peace without stressing over avoiding your reflection,” says Gruys.

Set boundaries
If insecurities have you obsessing over a desire to lose a few pounds here or tone up there, you might find it difficult to abandon your fixation altogether—but you can at least establish some limits for it. “I’m a calorie counter, so I give myself license to crunch numbers when I’m in the grocery store, but not again once I’ve brought my food home,” says Gruys. “That way, I know I’m eating healthfully without having to dwell on the specifics every day.”

Make your pad a safe zone
Identify your mojo-busting triggers and remove them from your life, whether that means tossing those “skinny” jeans you haven’t worn in years or ditching junk food you can’t trust yourself around. “I’ve found that the key to having self control is purposefully arranging your environment so you don’t have to use it as often,” says Gruys. “There’s no sense in battling it every day for no reason.”

photo: BananaStock/Thinkstock

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Get This: Research Says You Should Call In Sick

Posted on June 14, 2013 by admin

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

A new study gives you added incentive to actually take those paid sick days when you’re feeling under the weather: It can help prevent flu outbreaks. [Salon]

Good news if you have exercise-induced asthma: Vitamin C could help alleviate your symptoms. [Deccan Chronicle]

Jennifer Aniston and the stylist behind her amazing Rachel cut are teaming up to create a new haircare line. Why did this take so long to happen? [Vanity Fair]

Most people think Father’s Day doesn’t get as much attention as Mother’s Day, according to a new survey. Show Dad some (last-minute) love by heading to the store for one of these awesome gifts. [USA Today]

In the latest scary health news, medical devices can (and do) become infected by malware. [Newser]

Fitness trackers may help motivate you to move, but they aren’t terribly accurate. [NYT]

TLC is hosting a “Watch ‘n Sniff” event with scent cards for the season premiere of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo on July 17. Because who doesn’t want to know exactly what sketti (noodles with ketchup and butter) and Glitzy (the family’s pet pig) smell like? [Jezebel]

A University California Davis researcher is claiming that there’s no truth to the notion of beer bellies. Sorry, but anecdotal evidence would suggest otherwise. [Medical Daily]

In another dubious study, evolutionary psychologists say men are the reason menopause exists (because they chased after younger women, so older women didn’t need to be fertile). Right… [io9]

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Athens Java Hut

Serving Jittery Joe's Coffee, Cecilia Villaveces, Cakes and Italian Gelato

Pregnant Women May Not Need Daily Iron Supplements

The Surprising Thing That Makes You a Better Driver

How Your Second Pregnancy Is Different from Your First

Get This: Girl Meets World Is Definitely Happening

More Couples Are Bringing Toys to Bed

Short Walks After Meals Can Help Fend Off Diabetes

3 Reasons to Give Blood

Could You Give Up Mirrors?

Get This: Research Says You Should Call In Sick