Dear Dr. Y,
I am so self-conscious about my body that I can’t get out of my head enough during sex to orgasm.  I worry about what my partner might be thinking about – all of the imperfections and squishy parts – instead of about my pleasure. What do I do about this head game?
Leslie

Dear Leslie,
Socialization and habit dictate the positive and negative response you’re having to your own body. Undoing these notions can be a challenge, but yoga, therapy, massage and other naturopathic/holistic exercises and treatments can be excellent tools for getting comfortable in your skin and accepting yourself as a beautiful living specimen.

 You can also take on this head game by standing in front of the mirror after your next shower. Take a deep breath as you look at each body part as objectively as possible. Watch for programmed responses and move past them by letting go of them. Acknowledge and accept each part of your whole without judging. Labels are so harsh, and can impede your ability to realize that, for example, a potbelly is just a belly – not good or bad, merely a belly. 

 If you still feel terribly self-conscious post-body and soul work, a trainer might be able to help you design an exercise program to trim down, bulk up or change your overall appearance. But make sure you do it for you – to feel better about your figure. Learning to love your self in is a vital part of a fulfilled life, not limited to the realm of sexual satisfaction. Self-love is the cornerstone to being fully capable of loving anyone else.

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

A Texas girl suffering from a rare illness has returned to her home for what her family hopes is for good after having half her brain removed by doctors at Johns Hopkins Medical Center.

Keep reading …

An Illinois teen was diagnosed with a bear-shaped kidney stone that destroyed his right kidney. Although the teen is expected to live a normal life with one kidney, doctors say he must take precautions to avoid getting another kidney stone in the future.

Read more here

If you believe your summer and fall allergies are actually getting worse, you are probably correct.  For a quick explanation, good old global warming and overproduction of greenhouse gases may be the cause. More than 40 million allergy sufferers in the U.S. have seasonal and year-round allergies. Studies show that plant pollen production such as ragweed (season starts mid-August) and spring tree pollens go way up as a result of exposure to carbon dioxide, a major contributor in greenhouse gases.

Plant ecologist Lewis Ziska with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture is a pioneer in studying allergies and climate change.  The warmer temperatures are also having an effect even in Alaska, leading to a possible increase in pollen and mold allergies as well as stinging insects.  An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (a leading authority on effects of global warming) as well as the U.S. EPA cites an increase in allergic reactions.

Data from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology show that one ragweed plant can produce 1 billion pesky pollen grains that wreak misery to those sufferers.  So if you magnify this number by two to four times you have a “mega-pollen burst”!  Pollens grains may also travel up to 400 miles leaving almost no location untouched. 

Be prepared and develop a sound survival plan:

• Pre-treat with your prescribed allergy medications before exposure
• Keep windows closed – this will reduce indoor pollen levels
• Use the air conditioner unit – place on “do not recirculate”
• Avoid certain foods that may aggravate those (about one-third of sufferers) with ragweed allergy such as bananas, melons, cucumbers, zucchini, chamomile tea, sunflower seeds and even echinacea
• Shower nightly to remove excess pollen that accumulates in your hair, skin and eyelids
• Take your summer vacation to an area where pollen levels are typically lower, such as a beach or lake
• Consider moving outdoor activities or exercise indoors during high pollen times of the day, generally between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (even more so on “windy” days)
• Check out your local pollen count at www.aaaai.org/nab

Global warming and greenhouse gases are here to stay, so sufferers let’s make ourselves better prepared in living successfully with our less allergy friendly environment. 

Dr. Clifford W. Bassett is an assistant clinical professor of medicine at the Long Island College Hospital and on the faculty of NYU School of Medicine.  He is the current vice chair for public education committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.  No information in this blog is intended as medical advice to any reader or intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition.

One of the perks of the summer is being able to leave the gym and move your workouts outdoors.  Personally, when the summer arrives, I look forward to being able to run on the beach—the change of scenery and a warm breeze always gets me going.  Little did I know that what I ate for breakfast could influence the intensity of my morning workout.

A recent study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that eating a high fiber cereal for breakfast can actually help you to breathe more easily.  In the study, participants who consumed 27 grams of fiber a day had a larger lung capacity than those who took in less than 10 grams.  In addition, those in the high fiber group were 15% less likely to develop a breathing disorder known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The reason for this is because fiber (which can be found in cereal and produce) may reduce tissue inflammation that can damage lungs.

The problem though is that the average American only takes in 9-11 grams of fiber a day.  This is well below the 25-30 grams recommended by the American Dietetic Association.  Diets high in fiber have been shown to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, control blood sugar levels, reduce the risk factors for colon and breast cancer, alleviate constipation and even help with weight loss and management.  To increase your fiber intake aim to incorporate foods high in fiber such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.  Good sources include apples, berries, broccoli, artichokes, whole wheat bread and brown rice.  High fiber cereals can contain as much as 14 grams per serving, which helps you to meet half of your fiber needs before lunch. 

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.

A 9-month-old boy suffering from “bubble boy” disease has been moved from pediatric ICU to a sterile room after a cord blood transfusion breathed new life into him.

A patient at an Iowa hospital became trapped in an elevator with hospital attendants for nearly three hours. She died a short time after being freed.

An Australian woman’s family says she was duped by a bogus doctor into believing a controversial vaginal treatment would cure her cancer. The woman later died.

Beans—a whole host of varieties—have been part of the Latin American diet for centuries. And yes, it’s true: Beans are good for your heart! But there’s so much more. Beans are extremely beneficial in an antidiabetic diet because they rank low on the glycemic scale—unlike “staples” in the American diet like refined grains and baked goods, which often cause the inflammatory, hunger-inducing spike in blood sugar levels. They could even help with lowering the risk of colon cancer. Legumes (dried beans and peas) are also a major source of several nutrients—magnesium, potassium, folate, and cholesterol-lowering fiber—most often missing in Americans’ diets.

That said, here’s the second Latin powerfood on my list…

GARBANZO BEANS: These delicious beans are very high in fiber, which will improve your elimination cycles and support the growth of health intestinal flora. They are very low in natural sugar content, and high in complex carbohydrate content and protein, giving you a steady source of high-quality fuel for balanced energy throughout your day. They also have a warming effect on your body and a calming effect on your mind. Garbanzo beans are used in cooking throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Make sure to check back tomorrow when we tackle the Latin fruit category!

With gas and food prices at an all time high – everyone is looking for ways to save some money. 

But, can we do this and still look good?

Here are some budget beauty recipes from Annie Tomlin, editor of Bellasugar.com.

Click here to view a video of Annie and Dr. Manny Alvarez making some budget beauty recipes.

DIY FACIAL MOISTURIZER

To make two 50 g jars, you’ll need:

25 ml Apricot Kernel Oil
25 ml Jojoba Oil
15 g Beeswax
70 ml Bottled Water
2 tbsp Rosewater
1 tsp Lemon Juice

Step 1: Take out a double boiler and place two cups of warm water in the bottom. Then add the jojoba oil, the apricot kernel oil, and the beeswax. Heat everything until the wax dissolves.
Step 2: While the mixture is still hot, pour it into a Pyrex bowl and leave it to cool.
Step 3: Next, add the bottled water, rosewater, and lemon juice into the boiler pan and heat it until it’s warm. Turn off the heat, but leave the pot on the burner and add the oil and wax mixture to the pot.
Step 4: Stir frequently until everything becomes opaque and thick, adding more heat only if it begins to separate. Once it has thickened, it is recommended to store in a sealed container for no more than six weeks.

Note: If you’d like, you can add one tsp. of apple cider vinegar to the recipe if you have blemished skin, two tsp. evening primrose oil if you have dry skin, two drops of tea tree oil if you have combination skin or one tsp. of witch hazel water if you have oily skin.

DIY PLUMPING FACIAL OIL FOR DRY SKIN

1 oz avocado oil
2 tsp rosehip oil
2 tsp argan oil
1 borage oil capsule
1 Vitamin E capsule
2 drops of neroli oil
3 drops of sandalwood oil
For step-by-step instructions on how to make your own facial oil, read more.

STEP 1: In a microwave-safe mixing bowl, blend the avocado oil, rosehip oil and argan oil together.
STEP 2: Next, cut open your borage oil capsule and your vitamin E capsule and gently squeeze them into the bowl. Mix well.
STEP 3: Lastly, add in the neroli oil and a few drops of sandalwood. Heat everything for about twenty seconds (it makes the borage oil and vitamin E oil easier to blend) and blend a few drops to your skin. As you apply it, don’t forget to take a few deep breaths and enjoy the fragrance. This recipe is good for about six to eight applications.

DIY ASPIRIN MASK TO COMBAT ACNE AND SOFTEN SKIN

Bottle of uncoated, plain aspirin
Little bit of honey
Small bowl

STEP 1: Using two metal spoons, place two to three uncoated aspirin tablets between them and crush. Crush up approximately 12 to 15 tablets, or add more as desired.
STEP 2: Mix crushed aspirin in a bowl with two teaspoons of honey STEP 3: Pour 1/2 cup of lukewarm water into the mix and stir. Once well mixed, apply to face.

DIY LIP SMOOTHER

Honey
Baker’s sugar (regular is fine but if they have baker’s, it has a smaller grain) Olive oil Mixing bowl

STEP 1: In a medium-sized bowl, mix one tablespoon of honey with one tablespoon of baker’s sugar and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
STEP 2: Apply to lips with fingertip in a circular motion until exfoliated. For best results, dip a toothbrush into the mixture and apply gently to lips.

DIY FOOT EXFOLIATOR

Olive oil
Fresh grated ginger
Fresh mint leaves
Brown Sugar – doesn’t matter if it is light or dark Mixing bowl Large wooden spoon

STEP 1: Grate a piece of fresh ginger so it makes approximately 2/3 of a cup

STEP 2: In a large bowl, mix the ginger with 10 to 12 fresh mint leaves, 1/4 cup of olive oil and 1/4 cup of brown sugar

STEP 3: Apply to feet and/or hands and rub until exfoliated, then wash off.

STEP 4: Dry your feet and massage a generous amount of moisturizer into your skin. Once you’re all lubed up, slip into your socks. For optimal results, wear them while you sleep.