Friday, April 22, 2011

Do You Live In One Of The Fast-Foodiest Cities In America?

As a general rule, I'm not much for fast food (except for on a road trip, where the occasional bag o' fries can feel like it has its own tiny place. You know, kind of like car sickness and Dramamine--would it be a road trip without either?). Forget the fat-sugar-salt-calorie overload of fast food--I'm an energy black hole afterward. But, should I ever need a fix, my city is apparently the 31st "fast food capital" in the country, according to a new report. So what's first on the list?


According to a study compiled by The Daily Beast, the number-one American city with the most fast-food eateries is: Orlando, FL.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Does This Relationship Make My Butt Look Big?

Think back to when you were in the best shape of your life (and maybe it's now!). Were you in a relationship at the time? Lots of people have their own theories about how a relationship affects health. But now, a new survey conducted by British researchers throws out some interesting findings about what love does to your thighs ...


The research, sponsored by a UK diet pill maker, which polled 3,000 women, found that our weight takes a rollercoaster ride when it comes to love. The findings:


In the early days: At the beginning of a relationship, women are more likely to be 5 pounds lighter.


When we start feeling comfortable: As the relationship progresses, women, on average, gain about 10 pounds.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Dinner Tonight: Roasted Tomatoes and Garlic Baked Chicken

Looking for something loaded with flavor (with a huge comfort factor) without the guilt? The easy, yummy--low-cal!--recipe to throw together tonight...


The bloggers over at Hangry Pants share their method for making a chicken dish that sounds so perfect for a cold late-fall night like tonight! This dish calls for the flavor holy trinity, tomatoes, garlic and basil, and you won't even miss the fat--promise. Here's the recipe, though you can throw it together in three easy steps:


*Roast up some tomatoes and garlic in the oven.


*Smother on top of two chicken breasts (or one, if you're just cooking for you!).

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Did You Love Or Hate The Last Movie You Saw? You May Be Able to Thank (or Blame) This Person

What was the last movie you really hated? Which did you absolutely love? Now think back to who was sitting next to you. According to new research, that person could have had a leading role in how well you liked the film...


Research that appears in Applied Cognitive Psychology suggests that we don't like movies for two reasons: 1) we think the actual movie is a stinker, and/or 2) we're concerned with what the person next to you thinks about the movie.


Researchers asked 400 participants what kinds of movie content they didn't enjoy and if the negative reactions of co-viewers increases the unpleasantness. Then they presented participants with movie scenarios (a violent movie, a sexually explicit movie, "Brokeback Mountain," "The Notebook" and "American History X"), and five types of co-viewers (parents, significant other, a group of same-sex friends, a gay friend and a first date).

Crazy or Cool: Diane von Furstenberg's New High Fashion Hospital Gowns

I told you about the new trend (most popular internationally) for hospitals to rival 5-star hotels with spa-like amenities. And now, it seems that one Ohio hospital is getting in on the trend, but from a fashion standpoint. Top designer Diane von Furstenberg (famous for her wrap dresses) is designing a new line of hospital gowns for the hospital. Would this make you feel better about having surgery?


To address patient complaints about hospital gowns, the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio tapped designer Diane von Furstenberg to create a more stylish gown. The new garb features a bold print, the clinic's logo, and side ties (similar to her wrap dresses) which eliminates the sometimes-embarrassing peek-a-boo back ties.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Crazy But True: She Got Pregnant From ... Oral Sex

It's crazy, unbelievable, shocking--but the amazing story of a woman who got pregnant from (gasp) oral sex is true, say health experts. Details ...


ABC News is reporting a story of a teen in Africa, who in 1988 was 15 years old and gave birth to a baby boy. Here's the thing: She didn't know she was pregnant, and she didn't have a vagina, due to a rare birth defect called Mullerian agenesis.


The article goes on to explain that her medical records show that she had been in the hospital 278 days earlier (the average pregnancy lasts 280 days) to be treated for stab wounds to the stomach (an ex-boyfriend had spotted her in the act, performing oral sex on a new boyfriend, and he stabbed her).

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Crazy But True: Doctors Estimate That Many Women May Be Allergic to Sperm

You've heard about the so-called "sperm allergy," right? It sounds like one of those really rare things, but health experts say that it actually might be more common than you think...


According to a report by The New York Daily News, between 20,000 and 40,000 women in the United States suffer allergic reactions to their spouse's seminal fluid.


Dr. Andrew Goldstein of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center says that women with a sperm allergy may develop hives, swollen eyes, diarrhea and even breathing problems. The condition is called seminal plasma hypersensitivity.


"The body recognizes semen as a foreign protein just as it would recognize a peanut allergy or pollen," said Goldstein. "So you have swelling, you have itching, you have inflammation of the nerve endings."