Get This: Grapefruits May Help Cure Cancer

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

Nanoparticles from grapefruits may help treat cancer, according to new research. [The Daily Meal]

Soon, high-tech medicine bottles might be able to help you remember to take your Rx as directed. [WSJ]

You’ve got to check out the Obama prom pictures that recently surfaced. [TIME]

New research finds that stressful days are also your not-hot days. [Fox News]

People on cholesterol-lowering statins may not reap the same benefits from exercise that people not on the medication do. [NYT]

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting three to six major hurricanes this season. [Yahoo News]

A disturbing new study suggests that you need to be an office bully to get ahead. [TIME]

If you’re looking for a new job, good news: Soulja Boy needs a social media intern. [Jezebel]

A dress with the face of Jason Alexander (aka George Costanza from Seinfeld) on it is surprisingly popular. [The Daily Beast]

Photo: iStockphoto/ThinkStock

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Men’s Cosmetic Sales Are Way Up

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If you asked your guy what BB cream is, would he know the answer? (Heck, do you know the answer?) A full 55 percent of men said they have used or would use BB cream or tinted moisturizer, according to just-released survey results from BirchBox. What’s more, 66 say they’d be up for trying concealer (if they haven’t already), and 28 percent said the same about nail polish.

Granted, it follows that guys who subscribe to BirchBox Man would be more pro-grooming products than the general male population. So Women’s Health decided to ask Men’s Health fans how they feel about cosmetics—and the responses were pretty fascinating:

Clearly, lots of dudes are on-board with man makeup—but are you? Take our poll to let us know how you feel about potentially sharing your beauty stash:

Would it bother you if your S.O. wore makeup?

  • Totally—anything more than moisturizer isn’t OK.
  • I’m actually kind of into it. I mean, Johnny Depp looks good in eyeliner, right?
  • If it looks natural, I guess it’s fine.

View Results

poll by twiigs.com
photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More From Women’s Health:
9 Things Your Guy Will Never Reveal
Relationship Advice: The Male Perspective
Stroke His Male Ego

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Calcium Supplements Linked to Lower Mortality Risk

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A few months ago, Women’s Health reported that excessive calcium consumption was linked to a higher risk of mortality. New research now provides more insight on the subject: In a study recently accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, researchers report that taking calcium supplements—up to 1,000 mg a day—is linked with lower mortality risk.

A research team from McGill University in Canada analyzed health data from more than 9,000 people that participated in the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study—though not all of the participants actually had osteoporosis. To get the skinny on calcium supplement consumption, researchers interviewed participants in person every five years and also asked them to fill out a yearly questionnaire about which medications and supplements they were taking.

The women who reported using calcium supplements—up to 1,000 mg per day—had about a 20 percent reduced risk of dying at some point during the 10-year study. Higher doses, however, led to inconclusive results.

That’s in line with research published a few months ago that found women with a calcium intake exceeding 1,400 mg per day increased their mortality risk by 100 percent, compared to those who kept their intake between 600 and 999 mg.

All of this evidence points to the fact that the RDA for calcium—1,000 mg per day for women between the ages of 19 and 50—is in fact the best amount to aim for, says David Goltzman, MD, of McGill University.

The latest research suggests that taking calcium supplements can be a safe way to up your intake—so long as you don’t exceed 1,000 mg per day from both supplements and dietary calcium.

That said, it’s always best not to rely on supplements to meet your nutritional needs. In fact, researchers found similar reductions in the risk of mortality when people increased their dietary calcium intake, as well.

“The most appropriate way to meet your calcium needs is through your diet,” says Goltzman. “If, however, you cannot meet your average daily requirement of calcium, there would be no harm—with respect to increased death—to consume calcium supplements up to 1,000 mg per day.”

These calcium-rich foods will help you get more of the nutrient—without having to resort to a supplement:

The ingredient: Milk or calcium-fortified soy milk
Calcium content: 299 mg per 8-ounce serving (30 percent DV)
Recipe idea: Greek-Style Frittata

Photo: Craig Cutler

The Ingredient: Plain, nonfat yogurt (note: Greek yogurt has less calcium)
Calcium content: 415 mg per 8-ounce serving (42 percent DV)
Recipe idea: Blueberry Yogurt Parfait

Photo: Catherine Sears

The Ingredient: White beans
Calcium content: 96 mg per ½-cup serving (9 percent DV)
Recipe idea: Tuscan Spinach Dumplings with White Beans

Photo: Quentin Bacon

The ingredient: Kale
Calcium content: 100 mg per 1-cup serving (10 percent DV)
Recipe idea: Kale and Cannellini Beans

Photo: Mitch Mandel

Plus, check out 9 other awesome kale recipes.

The ingredient: Almonds
Calcium content: 75 mg per 1-ounce serving (7 percent DV)
Recipe idea: Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Radicchio

Photo: Kang Kim
Photo: Liquidlibrary/Thinkstock

More from WH:
18 Self-Checks Every Woman Should Do
Is Calcium Dangerous?
The 18 Best Supplements for Women

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EWG Makes Sunscreen Recommendations

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Have you made your first drugstore run of the season to stock up on sunscreen? If not, you’re in for a surprise: All products claiming to shield your skin from the sun—lotions, sprays, makeup, even lip balms—must now follow new labeling rules mandated by the FDA. Banned are fuzzy buzzwords such as “sunblock” and “sweatproof” in favor of more accurate, research-backed terms that give consumers a clear sense of how well the product protects against UV-induced skin damage and skin cancer.

On the heels of the new rules comes an annual report from the Environmental Working Group that lists the top sunscreens of 2013. Released this week by the advocacy organization, the report recommends more than 100 products out of thousands currently available on store shelves. To get the EWG’s seal of approval, sunscreens had to offer solid sun protection not exceeding SPF values above “50+”(which the FDA warns can give a false sense of security and offer poor UVA protection relative to the high SPF). They also had to contain the fewest possible ingredients with toxicity concerns, such as retinyl palmitate (an ingredient that become more toxic or harmful when exposed to sunlight) and oxybenzone (a hormone disruptor).

The EWG also chose not to endorse sprays or powders since some sunscreen ingredients, such as titanium dioxide, have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Carcinogens as possibly carcinogenic if inhaled (the risk of inhaling sunscreen goes up, of course, if you’re using a sunscreen spray or powder). EWG representatives say the organization also chose to exclude powders and sprays because the FDA has expressed concerns about how well these filter UV rays.

For the record, any sunscreen product that doesn’t meet the EWG’s criteria (including sprays and powders) has not been deemed unsafe by the FDA, says Andrea Fischer, an FDA spokesperson. She confirmed that all sunscreens marketed in the U.S. must meet FDA guidelines.

A few examples of sunscreens recommended by the EWG:

  • Absolutely Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30
  • Alba Botanica Natural Very Emollient Mineral Sunscreen, Fragrance Free, SPF 30
  • Aveeno Baby Natural Protection Face Stick, SPF 50
  • Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30
  • Coppertone Sensitive Skin Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
  • Kiss My Face Natural Mineral Sunscreen with Hydresia, SPF 40

Check out the full list from the EWG, then read up on which terms you should look for on the next bottle you buy:

 

Broad spectrum
Manufacturers used to be able to put these two words—which mean a product protects against both UVA and UVB rays—on any bottle they wanted, without having to prove it. Now, it can only show up on sunscreens that pass a test.

Water-resistant
No sunscreen is truly waterproof or sweatproof—so manufacturers can no longer use these words on the bottle. In its place is “water resistant,” meaning that the product starts to wash away after either 40 minutes or 80 minutes. The time limit will be noted on the label, so consumers know when they need to apply more (although you should reapply every two hours even if you’re not in the water, says Albert M. Lefkovits, associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine).

Sun protection factor
Surprise: An SPF of 60 barely blocks any more UV rays than an SPF of 30 (they protect against 95 and 98 percent, respectively). Since the difference is so small, the FDA has now banned SPFs above 50+ to avoid misleading the public. Another change: Now sunscreens with SPF 15 and under come with a warning since they protect you from sunburn, but not premature skin aging or skin cancer.

Drug facts
You’re used to seeing this on the back of any container of over-the-counter meds. Now, it’s on your sunscreen too. It contains a list of the product’s active ingredients, warnings about potential dangers or interactions, and basic directions.

Sun protection measures
To remind consumers that sunscreen isn’t foolproof, all broad-spectrum products with an SPF of at least 15 will now advise that wearing long sleeves, a hat, sunglasses, and staying out of the midday sun, when UV rays are strongest, will also cut back on your skin damage odds.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More From Women’s Health:
The Cost of Skipping Sun Safety
6 Scary Sunscreen Ingredients and 6 Safe Products
6 Smart, Sexy SPF Tips

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Get This: Exercising Is On the Rise

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

Being a couch potato is so 2006: More people in the U.S. are getting active, according to a new CDC report. [MyHealthNewsDaily.com]

Microsoft announced the details on its new Xbox One system coming out later this year…and it sounds kind of awesome. [NPR]

New research shows that chamomile tea contains a chemical that may help fight cancer. [Daily Mail]

E-cigarettes may be popular, but they’re not actually that great at helping people quit smoking, according to a recent study. [Huffington Post]

New research confirms that feet are really gross. Like, covered in fungi gross. [UPI.com]

Insomniacs aren’t just sleep-deprived: They’re also more likely to be depressed. [Medical Daily]

Since same-sex marriages aren’t recognized in Texas—and there’s a “morality clause” that prohibits divorcees from having a romantic partner spend the night while their kids are home—a judge recently said a lesbian couple in the state can’t live together. [The Dallas Morning News]

Between 2011 and 2012, the number of people in their 20s who got Botox increased by 10 percent. [ABC News]

Apparently Justin Bieber makes his party guests sign a liability waiver saying that if they tweet, blog, text, or even talk about the event, they’ll have to pay him $ 5 million. Host of the year right there. [TMZ]

Photo: iStockphoto/ThinkStock

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The Super Simple Way to Improve Your Mood

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You were running late, spilled coffee on your report, and didn’t feel prepared for your meeting with your boss. Rough day. Want to cheer yourself up? You can make yourself happier by listening to positive music and making a mental effort to feel better at the same time, according to recent research at the University of Missouri.

The question posed by the study: Could doing something in an attempt to feel happier actually undermine your efforts (because you’re too focused on the end result)? Past research—in which participants tried to be happier while listening to classical music—has suggested that that might be the case.

Researchers conducted two experiments: For the first experiment, half the participants listened to happy-sounding music, while the other half listened to less positive tunes. Within each of the two groups, half of the people were instructed to make a conscious effort to improve their mood. Interestingly, only the people who both listened to happy music and tried to be happier actually experienced a boost.

In the second experiment, participants visited a lab regularly and listened to whatever music they wanted while they were there. Half of the participants made a conscious effort to improve their happiness level while doing so, and the other half didn’t. That first group was the only one to elevate their mood level.

That tracks for study co-author Kennon M. Sheldon, PhD, a professor of psychological sciences at the University of Missouri: “We’re constantly regulating our mood, doing things to make ourselves feel better, to recover from little things, bad things that go wrong,” says Sheldon. “It makes sense that we would have an adaptive capacity to do that for ourselves so that we’re not just at the mercy of whatever happens to us.”

Researchers say this may work especially well while listening to music since its effects on mood are well recognized—both in research and in everyday life.

While trying too hard to force yourself to have a sunny disposition may backfire, says Sheldon, hitting “play” on some Beyonce and thinking happy thoughts when the day isn’t going your way is definitely a smart strategy.

Women’s Health asked its Twitter followers for their feel-good songs. Check out this happy playlist curated from their answers, and use it the next time you need your own mood booster:

“Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys
“You Make My Dreams” by Hall & Oates
“Firework” by Katy Perry
“Good Vibrations” by Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch
“Hey, Soul Sister” by Train
“Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley
“Raise Your Glass” by Pink
“End of Time” by Beyonce
“Beautiful Day” by U2

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More from Women’s Health:
The Random Thing That Boosts Your Happiness
2-Minute Happiness Booster
Be Happy—Now!

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Nonsmoking Hotel Rooms Aren’t Really Smoke-Free

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That hotel you have booked for your upcoming getaway? You might want to double-check whether there are any smoking rooms in the place—even if you requested a nonsmoking room: You can get third-hand smoke exposure from staying in a nonsmoking room if the hotel has other rooms where lighting up is allowed, according to new research published in Tobacco Control.

For the study, participants checked into a sample of rooms in 40 California hotels: 10 that had complete smoking bans, and 30 in which smoking was only banned in certain rooms. Researchers then tested surfaces and air in the rooms for tobacco smoke pollutants. The participants also stayed overnight in the guest rooms and then had their urine and fingers tested for exposure to nicotine and the tobacco-specific carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone.

The test results showed that the nonsmoking rooms of hotels with partial bans had 40 percent higher air nicotine levels than the rooms in hotels with complete bans. While that’s much, much lower than the 2,100 percent higher levels that researchers found in designated smoking rooms, it’s still concerning, says study author Georg E. Matt, PhD, a professor of psychology at San Diego State University—especially since nonsmokers who stayed in the hotels with partial bans also had higher levels of contaminants from tobacco in their finger swipe and urine samples.

“Lo and behold, designation policy doesn’t really work,” he says. “We learned that tobacco smoke spreads throughout an entire hotel.”

While this study didn’t examine the health consequences of spending the night in a hotel with a partial smoking ban, previous research suggests that continued exposure to third-hand smoke can cause DNA damage that might lead to certain types of cancer.

That said, you don’t have to freak out if you’ve stayed at a hotel that allows smoking in certain rooms—or if it’s too late to change your upcoming reservations without losing your money.

“If you have a healthy young adult without any respiratory or heart conditions who stays in a hotel room one night in a designated nonsmoking room, I would not expect any great health outcomes,” says Matt. “But if you have, for instance, a hotel worker who every day for six to eight hours spends time in designated nonsmoking rooms, that’s a different story.”

People with asthma or other respiratory problems may want to be particularly diligent about seeking out 100 percent smoke-free hotels, says Matt. Even if that’s not you, asking a hotel if it allows smoking in any of its rooms—and choosing not to stay at ones that do—may help encourage change in the industry.

“It’s key that we turn these hotels into 100 percent smoke-free environments to protect hotel workers, as well as to protect nonsmoking guests,” says Matt.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More From Women’s Health:
What Smoking Does to Your Body
7 Ways to Protect Yourself From Cancer
Put Down the Hookah!

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Is It OK To Put Off Your Period?

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One thing you never want to take on vacation with you: your period. With summer trips coming up, we definitely don’t blame you for fiddling with your birth control to ensure a tampon-free trip. In fact, 17 percent of women report using hormonal contraception to skip or delay their monthly period, according to a new study in the journal Contraception.

Researchers at the University of Oregon surveyed 1,374 female students who were on combined hormonal contraceptives in the last six months. Of the women who used birth control to delay their cycle, about half did so for convenience or scheduling purposes—like not wanting to worry about a period on vacation. Other less common reasons included personal preference or curbing PMS.

We get why it’s tempting to skip your flow every once in a while, but is it safe? Absolutely, says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine. “If you are a good candidate to be on birth control in the first place—you’re healthy, you don’t have high blood pressure that’s uncontrolled, you’re not over 35 or a smoker—then you are indeed a candidate for fiddling around with your cycle,” says Minkin.

Of course, taking the DIY approach to skipping your menstrual cycle isn’t totally mess-free. “A lot of women will get some breakthrough bleeding,” says Minkin. “It’s not a health hazard, it’s just an annoyance.” You’re more likely to get breakthrough bleeding if you’ve just started this birth control method, if you’re on a triphasic pill (where the level of hormones varies from week to week, like Ortho Tri-Cyclen), and if you delay your period for a longer period of time.

And here’s the best news: Skipping or delaying your period will not decrease the effectiveness of your birth control. That said, when you eventually do take your inactive pills or remove your patch or ring to get your period, it’s crucial that you resume your next cycle in seven days to protect against pregnancy. If you forget to start a new cycle on time (which might be more likely since you haven’t been following a routine schedule), use backup birth control for the next week to make sure you’re protected.

Thinking about skipping your period? Here’s what you need to know:

If you’re on the Pill:
You can skip the inactive week of pills and immediately start a new pill pack. Just make sure that you have an extra pack or two on-hand in case you run out before your insurance company will let you refill your prescription, says Minkin. This works best if you get three months of pills at a time or if your doctor has given you extra samples.

If you’re on the ring or the patch:
After three weeks of wearing the ring or patch, remove it and immediately replace with a new one instead of going without for a week, says Minkin. Just as with the Pill, you’ll want to make sure that you have an extra ring or patch on-hand in case your insurance won’t let you refill your prescription early.

If you want four or fewer periods a year:
While there is no exact cut-off for the amount of time you can put off your period, newer birth control pills like Seasonique and Seasonale are specifically designed to give you a period once every three months. Another new option, Lybrel, gives you a period just once a year. So if you want to put off your flow for that long anyway, you might want to look into switching to one of these pills. Just remember that you’re more likely to have breakthrough bleeding if you use one of these methods, says Minkin.

If you’re over 35/smoke/have uncontrolled high blood pressure:
Talk to your doctor before using birth control to skip or delay your period, says Minkin. These factors can all increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack, so you’ll want to be careful about any kind of birth control routine if you fall into one (or more) of these categories.

Photo: Stockbyte/Thinkstock


More from WH:
Fascinating Facts About Your Period
5 Surprising Effects of the Pill 
What’s a Normal Period? 

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5 Reasons to Drink More Water

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The general rule of thumb: Eat fiber to keep things, er, moving. Now, though, a new study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology finds that staying hydrated may be more important than eating fiber for staying regular.

Researchers analyzed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data on about 9,000 adults from between 2005 and 2008. The researchers were interested in determining if people who consumed less fiber and liquid had a higher likelihood of…irregularity. And yep, both men and women who had low dietary sources of liquid were more likely to have TMI problems. But—and here’s the shocker—low fiber intake wasn’t associated with the same effect.

Water keeps your body running—it helps regulate your body temperature, keeps your joints cushioned, protects your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues, and gets rid of waste through sweating, peeing, and the like, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are a few more reasons to hydrate on the regular:

It could help you lose weight
In a study published in the journal Obesity in 2010, adult dieters who drank a bottle of water before each meal for 12 weeks lost more weight than the dieters who didn’t drink the water beforehand. We’ll drink (water) to that!

It may prevent kidney disease
People who consume the most fluids have a significantly lower risk of chronic kidney disease, according to a 2011 study out of the University of Sydney in Australia.

It can make you run faster—and safer
In a 2011 study, 14 runners completed two sets of laps—one in which they showed up hydrated and got water during breaks, and one in which they had to limit their fluid intake during the run and for 22 hours beforehand. When they were able to get their hydration on, the runners had faster times and lower gastrointestinal body temperatures and healthier heart rates post-run.

It’ll put you in a better mood
In a study published last year in The Journal of Nutrition, mildly dehydrated young women experienced headaches, fatigue, worsened mood, and difficulty concentrating. Yikes.

Ready to drink up now? Make sure you know the real deal on water-drinking myths, then refill your water bottle.

Additional reporting by Caitlin Carlson

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More from Women’s Health:
Your Best Running Fuel
Sweating the Details
5 Recipes to Help You Stay Hydrated

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Allergies Can Ruin a Good Night’s Sleep

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Blossoming flowers and blooming trees are gorgeous, but for the 40 million Americans living with allergies, they can also be a major bummer. See, allergies don’t just make you miserable during your waking hours: They can also mess with your sleep, according to a new survey released by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and Teva Respiratory, a subsidiary of a pharmaceutical company.

Of the 2,000 U.S. adults polled, 59 percent reported having sleep issues. In the survey, this was defined as any kind of sleep disruption, although previous research has linked allergies with a more serious sleep disorder—obstructive sleep apnea—because of their nasal allergy symptoms.

In addition to the nearly six out of 10 allergy sufferers who said their allergies impacted their sleep quality, 48 percent said that their symptoms also interrupted their partner’s sleep.

Want to make allergy season much more bearable—and keep it from messing with your Zzzzs? Arm yourself with these tools and strategies:

The Best OTC Seasonal Allergy Meds

Crush the Allergy Culprits

The 4 Most Common Allergens

Solve Your Symptoms

Anti-Allergy Gear

How to Look Your Best This Allergy Season

Photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More from WH:
Are Your Allergies Making You Fat?
Your Body On Allergies
Would You Recognize Anaphylaxis?

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