Stack A. Brown's blog on imeem

Sex and sleep.

Stack A. Brown — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 03:34:59 -0000

According to Dr. Billy Goldberg, co-author of Why Do Men Fall Asleep After Sex?, there is little direct evidence explaining why men fall asleep. However, the chemicals oxytocin, prolactin, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) and other hormones all contribute to “that roll-over-and-snore feeling” because they facilitate sleep.
“A man’s body chemistry changes after orgasm. The biochemical prolactin is released, physically altering his body and making him very tired,” says Dr. David McKenzie, a sex therapist in Vancouver, Canada.
Further, exertion during sex and after climax depletes the muscles of energy-producing glycogen, which leads to sleepiness. Since men have more muscle mass than women, they’re generally sleepier after sex.
Men’s libido goes up and down
Think PMS is only for women? Think again. Your monthly peaks and valleys are triggered by changes in testosterone that affect your mood, libido, energy level, beard growth and sperm count.
According to research by naturopathic physician Dr. Marcus Laux, men have more energy, a greater sense of well being, lower body weight and less need for sleep during the peak of their cycle. The valleys bring apathy, indifference and the tendency to magnify small problems into big ones.
“If you keep track of your personal cycles, whether it’s shifts in energy levels, mood or sex drive, you can anticipate changes,” says Laux. “Then, you can take advantage of the times you’re at your prime and better cope when you’re not feeling your best.”
Your penis is a barometer of overall health
Dr. Mehmet Oz, co-author of You: The Owner’s Manual, calls it your “dipstick” because it reveals the health of your other body parts. The physical mechanisms that send blood to your brain, heart and kidneys also inflate your penis. If it’s not standing tall, you may have arterial problems.
“A man’s lack of interest in sex is a big red flag that something is out of balance. Up to 25% of men have a low-to-no sex drive,” says Dr. Laux. “It could be even higher, as men don't talk about low libido.”
The possible causes of restricted blood flow include diabetes, endocrine disorders, heart and vascular problems or kidney diseases. “But,” says Laux, “don't rule out fatigue, psychological factors, relationship issues, poor nutrition, insomnia or lack of exercise.”
Disrupted sleep decreases erections
If you’re struggling with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), you’re at risk for sexual dysfunction. OSA is a sleep disorder that affects 18 million Americans—many of whom go undiagnosed—and causes sufferers to stop breathing dozens of times per hour.
OSA disrupts rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, which is when men routinely experience erections. Decreased REM sleep means fewer REM erections, which affects sexual health. “It’s possible that men need to experience REM erections in order to maintain optimal sexual functioning,” says Dr. Charles Atwood, associate director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Sleep Medicine Center.
“If you have erectile dysfunction, you should get tested for OSA,” he advises. “Men who are diagnosed and treated for OSA often see an improvement in sexual functioning.”
Eco-friendly transportation could damage your testicles
Whether you’re bicycling to reduce your carbon footprint, save money on gas or get fit, make sure you’re cushioned properly. Cycling doesn’t cause male infertility, but it can lead to testicular damage, impaired sperm functioning and erectile problems. Urological surgeon Vinod Nargund from St. Bartholomew’s and Homerton Hospitals in London found that mountain bikers are more affected than road cyclists.
Dr. Nargund lists the potential problems of prolonged cycling: abrasions, chafing, damaged hair follicles and bruising. Sweating may cause skin problems and a general soreness.
Symptoms to watch for include genital numbness, erection problems and skin irritations. To stay healthy, wear shorts with protective padding. Make sure your seat is also padded, and adjust its position so it doesn’t put pressure on your groin.
Varicocele can cause male infertility
Infertility affects one in six couples, and male factors contribute to at least half of all cases. According to the Center of Reproductive Medicine at Cornell University, the most common identifiable cause of male infertility is varicocele, or enlarged veins in the scrotum. Another possibility is a blockage in the reproductive tract.
Simply being older also affects your fertility. Recent research from the Eylau Centre for Assisted Reproduction in France shows a connection between men over age 35, lower pregnancy rates and higher miscarriage rates. Keep your sperm strong by eating nutritiously, exercising regularly and decreasing your stress level.
Big news
An average penis length of five erect and three flaccid inches is normal for men—that’s significantly smaller than what most men think is normal.
“Generally, every man (and woman) believes the ultimate in sexiness and masculinity is to have a larger-than-average penis,” says sexologist Dr. Trina Read. “The fact is, men with large penises often find it difficult to find a partner who is comfortable having intercourse and giving oral sex.”
During intercourse, penis size has little to do with partner satisfaction. Most of the sensitive nerve endings are concentrated close to a woman’s vaginal opening—which means a penis of any size can be highly pleasurable.
“What most women really want is technique,” says Dr. Read. The upside? A man who masters his technique in bed may get away with falling asleep right after sex.

To Drink a Sports Drink (or Not)

Stack A. Brown — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:36:23 -0000

To Drink a Sports Drink (or Not)
Do I really need the extra calories when I exercise?
By Martica Heaner, M.A., M.Ed., for MSN Health & Fitness

Q: Should I drink a sports drink when I work out? I’ve heard conflicting advice—that they give you more energy and allow you to exercise harder, but also that they just add extra calories you don’t need, especially if you’re trying to lose weight.

A: The average bottled sports drink has about 150 to 200 calories. New lighter versions, “sports waters,” provide as few as 30 calories per bottle. Sports drinks provide calories in the form of carbohydrates (and sometimes, small amounts of protein.)

You may need a sports drink if you need more energy, but not all exercise situations dictate that you will. Whether a sports drink can help your workout—or if it’s just a slurp of unnecessary calories—all depends on your exercise goals, your energy status leading up to the workout, and the type, length and intensity of your workout.

EXERCISING EARLY ON AN EMPTY TUMMY

If you’ve woken up at 6 a.m. and are jumping straight into a long or intense workout without having eaten breakfast, then the calories and carbs in a drink can give your body an energy boost. You will be able to work out a little harder, or feel less fatigued overall, because you’re well-fueled. But you may not need the extra energy if all you’re doing is a workout based on stretching or a low-intensity workout that doesn’t use much energy.

WEIGHT LOSS AND ENERGY DRINKS

If you’re trying to lose weight, adding 150 calories of a sport drink may offset the calories that you burn during a short or easy workout. For example, neither an easy or short walk nor a toning/stretching workout are very taxing. So it’s unlikely that you will need extra fuel during these sessions. And if you’re only performing a Pilates workout or a 30-minute walk that burns about 150 calories, adding that back with a sports drink may thwart your weight-loss goals.

Of course, while you might not need extra calories, you still may need to stay hydrated, especially if the room or environment is hot or humid. So have water instead of a sports drink. Generally, unless it is early in the morning and you haven’t eaten for hours, you probably won’t need extra energy to fuel an easy workout.

FUELING LONG OR TOUGH WORKOUTS

But long, tough workouts are a whole different story. Glycogen, or the carbohydrates that are stored in your muscles, get depleted the longer and harder you exercise. Once glycogen is scarce, your limbs will feel heavy and you’ll get fatigued. Dehydration and the loss of electrolytes also occurs the more you sweat during heavy exercise, and this can also impair your performance.

Sports drinks have been proven to delay fatigue and improve endurance times by hydrating you with the fluids and electrolytes you need and replenishing your glucose (or carb) supplies. So you’ll be able to work harder and longer during intense exercise (a long run or bike ride, or an intense game of hoops) with the added energy from a sports drink.

Carbs are especially important for anyone participating in endurance workouts. Research by Dr. David Nieman, an exercise physiologist at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., and others has shown that an immune-system breakdown that can occur with high-intensity exercise lasting 90 minutes or longer can be thwarted with regular ingestion of carbs throughout the session or event.

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU DRINK?

How much is enough depends on how you much you sweat (women tend to sweat less than men) and how long your session is. General recommendations are to ingest from 0.4 to 0.8 liters per hour, although this amount can vary from person to person.

It’s important to fuel yourself during long endurance workouts. Even if you are trying to burn calories for weight loss, you should drink a sports drink, not just water. (You can also eat a sports bar or other foods, along with water, instead.) You won’t hamper weight loss if, at the end of the day, or over a period of days, you accumulate a negative energy balance. In other words, if you eat less overall over a week, you will still lose weight, even if you are taking in snacks or drinks to provide fuel to match your energy needs at any given moment during tough workouts throughout that week.

Unete a las 24 horas contra la censura.

Stack A. Brown — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:06:23 -0000

Unete a las “ 24 horas contra la censura”..!!!
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Miércoles 12 de Marzo 2008: Día Internacional por la libertad de Expresión en Internet
Reporteros sin Fronteras pone en marcha el primer Día por la Libertad de Expresión en Internet, bajo el patronazgo de la UNESCO, ESTE 12 de marzo. Con ese motivo, la organización renueva su operación “24 horas contra la censura” y llama a los internautas a movilizarse en el sitio www.rsf.org.

Actualmente hay 63 ciberdisidentes entre rejas por haber usado su derecho a la libertad de expresión en la Web. China sigue siendo la mayor cárcel para periodistas digitales y bloggers.

Para denunciar la censura ejercida por los gobiernos, y reclamar más libertad en Internet, Reporteros sin Fronteras hace un llamamiento a manifestarse en nueve de los países enemigos del Net.

Durante 24 horas, desde el miércoles 12 de marzo, a las 11 horas, hasta el jueves 13 de marzo, a las 11 horas (hora de París), los internautas podrán crear un avatar, elegir el mensaje de su banner y tomar parte en una de las cibermanifestaciones que tendrán lugar en: • Birmania,

• China,

• Corea del Norte,

• Cuba,

• Egipto,

• Eritrea,

• Túnez,

• Turkmenistán

• Vietnam.

La organización publicará también su nueva lista de “los enemigos de Internet”, y hará pública una versión actualizada de la Guía del ciberdisidente.

En la primera edición de las “24 horas contra la censura” se movilizaron cerca de 40.000 internautas, haciendo que evolucionara el mapa de los “agujeros negros de la Web”. ¡También ahora podemos tener un peso en las autoridades que amordazan lo que debería ser un lugar de intercambio libre, y conseguir que la operación sea de nuevo un éxito!

La operación ha sido creada y realizada por la agencia Saatchi & Saatchi, con una campaña de promoción destinada a la Web, llamando a toda la comunidad de internautas a movilizarse en el transcurso de esas 24 horas.

Todos los medios de comunicación, sitios y blogs que deseen sumarse a la operación están invitados.

Informa:

Florence Turbet-Delof,

Directora de Comunicación Reporteros Sin Fronteras, Sección Española

Tel.: 915 224 031 - Móvil: 652 915 153 - Fax: 915 229 383

Email: rsf@rsf-es.org - Web: www.rsf.org

Palacio de la Prensa, Plaza del Callao, 4, 10B - 28013 Madrid

“Si no lo contamos, no existe”. No espere a que le priven de la información para defenderla.

Informa Reporteros Sin Fronteras - RSF-