Top 10 Sex Myths

Top 10 Sex Myths

Find out the real facts of life

Sex; it’s one of the most thought about subjects, but how much do we really know? Our knowledge of sex is often confused by rumours, misconceptions and outright lies. So, dust off your magnifying glass, pull out your probes and apply your long, investigative, latex gloves – it’s myth busting time:

A woman can’t get pregnant when it’s her first time

The notion that a woman cannot get pregnant the first time she has sex is still a commonly held belief. In Turkey 25 per cent of young people thought this was true. However, the truth of the matter is that without reliable contraception, pregnancy is possible, whether it is the woman’s first time or her fiftieth time.

I can’t darling, I’ve got a headache

Have you ever used the old headache excuse, or been denied some loving action because of one? Well, we have a cure for her sore head because sex has medicinal properties. When women have sex, endormorphins are released into her body, which in turn relieves pain. Therefore getting under the covers should help ease a woman’s headache.  

Men always want it

Although many men in their late teens and early twenties want a lot of it, men do not always want to have sex. Lots of things affect people’s sex drives; stress being one of the biggest culprits. If you don’t feel like it, there’s nothing wrong with you. On average Briton’s have sex six to seven times per month, whilst American’s on average have sex twice a week.  

If you masturbate you run out of semen

This is not true. The amount of semen a man ejaculates varies, being between half a teaspoon and a whole teaspoon of fluid. This equates to 40-500 million sperm.  Men who ejaculate a lot in one day may notice that the volume of semen decreases, but there is no risk of you running out of semen, you will simply produce more.

Older people don’t do it

Talking about old people getting frisky can embarrass some people; but let’s face it everyone likes sex, even the granddads and grandmas. Many people think that after the menopause women lose interest in sex, but this is not always true. Many older people enjoy an active sex life beyond the menopause and it has lots of health benefits too.

It’s good to lose your virginity when you are young

Although people are having sex younger, many regret it. The average age to lose your virginity is 16 in the UK. It was 21 in the 1950s. Sixty-three percent of sexually active adolescents wished they had waited longer and eighty-nine percent of those surveyed would advise their own brother, sister or friend not to have sex until at least after finishing secondary school.

Thin condoms break

If a condom is your preferred method of contraception, which type do you choose? There are a lot of condoms on the market: ribbed ones, sleek fitting ones, the thin, the thick and the pina colada flavored. Whichever you use, you don’t have to worry about the thickness because Durex reassures us that the thickness of the condom doesn't necessarily correspond to safety.

We’re all porn Stars

Watching two of Hollywood’s finest stars perform a hot love scene is great for getting you in the mood, but it should not be used as a sex guide. Real people do not come every time and last for three hours. Studies show that 75 per cent of men orgasm two to three minutes after penetration and an estimated 30 per cent of women can only achieve orgasm through masturbation.  

Men cheat more than Women

When you hear that a couple have split up because of an affair it is easy to assume it was the man’s fault, but recent studies suggest that women are much better at keeping their affairs secret. According to Dr David Holmes between eight and 15 per cent of children haven't been fathered by the man who thinks he's the biological parent.

Women don’t Ejaculate

Not all women ejaculate, but some do. If you have seen women ejaculate during pornography this is not an accurate depiction. In reality, women ejaculate a small amount of fluid, which is a mixture of urine and a liquid from the G-spot (the female equivalent to a prostate). However, most women do not experience ejaculation, so if you don’t, there’s no need to worry.

Cucumber and Tomato Salad can help Lose Weight

Cucumber and Tomato Salad can help Lose Weight

Cucumber and Tomato salads can stimulate weight loss. Both of them are diuretic and have high water content. This helps body to get rid of excess accumulated toxins and stimulate its natural process. Below mentioned are some of the useful features of cucumber and tomato salad that helps to lose weight:

High Water Content

The main factor that makes cucumber and tomato ‘food for weight loss’ is that they give longer feeling of fullness. As a result person eats less. According to the Centre of Disease Control,  water content of food influence how full the person feels.

High Fibre Content

Another way through which tomato and cucumber salad contribute to feeling of being ‘full’ is through their high fibre content. They provide high volume (low calories in ratio of their weight), take longer to digest and keep you away from consuming more calories. According to the Centre of Disease Control- dietary fibre are extremely effective for weight loss.

High Nutrition Level

Tomatoes are extremely effective at burning extra fat. They help to reduce inflammation and reverse leptin resistance. As a result you can easily get rid of excess weight. Tomatoes are rich source of folic acid, potassium, little protein, Vitamin A, C and E. It is for this reason that tomatoes are use in almost all the Fat Resistance Diet. 

Cucumbers are great food for metabolism as well as weight loss. They are quite satisfying and low in calories.

Low Energy Density

An effective way to lose weight is to consume food that is low in ‘energy density’. According to the Mayo Clinic food that has high volume and low energy density is good for weight loss. Cucumber and tomato have high volume yet low energy density.

Low in Carbohydrates

Combination of cucumber and tomatoes in salad is perfect low carb- diet. This is because both of them are low in carbohydrates.  According to the University of Illinois Extension, one cup of tomatoes has only 5.3 g and 12 unpeeled cucumber slices have 2 g of carbohydrates.

Here is how you can lose weight by eating cucumber and tomato salad:

• Replace your high-calorie food such as cheese, crackers and chips with cucumber and tomato salad.
• You can either eat tomato and cucumber salad before your meal or between the meals to get benefited by its fibre content.

7 steps to better sleep

7 steps to better sleep : Sleep tips

Better sleep can be yours! Consider sleep tips for the weary.

Feeling crabby lately? Or simply worn out? Perhaps the solution is better sleep.

Think about all the factors that can interfere with a good night's sleep — from pressure at work and family responsibilities to unexpected challenges, such as layoffs, relationship issues or illnesses. It's no wonder that quality sleep is sometimes elusive.

Although you might not be able to control all of the factors that interfere with your sleep, you can adopt habits that encourage better sleep. Start with these simple sleep tips.

No. 1:  Stick to a sleep schedule

Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends, holidays and days off. Being consistent reinforces your body's sleep-wake cycle and helps promote better sleep at night. There's a caveat, though. If you don't fall asleep within about 15 minutes, get up and do something relaxing. Go back to bed when you're tired. If you agonize over falling asleep, you might find it even tougher to nod off.

No. 2:  Pay attention to what you eat and drink

Don't go to bed either hungry or stuffed. Your discomfort might keep you up. Also limit how much you drink before bed, to prevent disruptive middle-of-the-night trips to the toilet.

Nicotine, caffeine and alcohol deserve caution, too. The stimulating effects of nicotine and caffeine — which take hours to wear off — can wreak havoc with quality sleep. And even though alcohol might make you feel sleepy at first, it can disrupt sleep later in the night.

No. 3:  Create a bedtime ritual

Do the same things each night to tell your body it's time to wind down. This might include taking a warm bath or shower, reading a book, or listening to soothing music — preferably with the lights dimmed. Relaxing activities can promote better sleep by easing the transition between wakefulness and drowsiness.

Be wary of using the TV or other electronic devices as part of your bedtime ritual. Some research suggests that screen time or other media use before bedtime interferes with sleep.

No. 4: Get comfortable

Create a room that's ideal for sleeping. Often, this means cool, dark and quiet. Consider using room-darkening shades, earplugs, a fan or other devices to create an environment that suits your needs.

Your mattress and pillow can contribute to better sleep, too. Since the features of good bedding are subjective, choose what feels most comfortable to you. If you share your bed, make sure there's enough room for two. If you have children or pets, set limits on how often they sleep with you — or insist on separate sleeping quarters.

No. 5:  Limit daytime naps

Long daytime naps can interfere with nighttime sleep — especially if you're struggling with insomnia or poor sleep quality at night. If you choose to nap during the day, limit yourself to about 10 to 30 minutes and make it during the mid afternoon.

If you work nights, you'll need to make an exception to the rules about daytime sleeping. In this case, keep your window coverings closed so that sunlight — which adjusts your internal clock — doesn't interrupt your daytime sleep.

No. 6:  Include physical activity in your daily routine

Regular physical activity can promote better sleep, helping you to fall asleep faster and to enjoy deeper sleep. Timing is important, though. If you exercise too close to bedtime, you might be too energized to fall asleep. If this seems to be an issue for you, exercise earlier in the day.

No. 7:  Manage stress

When you have too much to do — and too much to think about — your sleep is likely to suffer. To help restore peace to your life, consider healthy ways to manage stress. Start with the basics, such as getting organized, setting priorities and delegating tasks. Give yourself permission to take a break when you need one. Share a good laugh with an old friend. Before bed, jot down what's on your mind and then set it aside for tomorrow.

Importance of Intimacy in Relationships

Importance of Intimacy in Relationships

When two people enter into a relationship, it is generally believed that they will now a strong bond and deeply connect with each other. However, considering the mass hysterical times that we live in, it is becoming increasing difficult for couple to share an intimate relationship. There is way too much apprehension and doubt in our minds which make us wary of the other person. However, the importance of intimacy in relationships cannot be ignored. It is what makes our relationship with that special someone unique. And we are not talking about sexual intimacy alone. Intimacy in a relationship has to happen at all levels.

Importance of Intellectual Intimacy in Relationships

Intellectual intimacy in relationships simply means that two people fully connect when it comes to matters of the mind. Of course we are not hinting that you become clones of each other! Intellectual intimacy will mean that your respect your partner’s process of thought and that the two of you connect despite disagreements. Sharing of ideas, healthy debates and exchange of opinion can both enrich the individual mind and strengthen the relationship. 

Importance of Emotional Intimacy in Relationships

The two of you need to fully understand each other and your respective emotional needs. It is very important that partners in a relationship should try and fulfil any emotional void in each other’s lives. This can mean that you lend a supportive shoulder to your partner during trying times! Emotional intimacy in relationships is critical. It decides whether or not you will be able to spend your life with this person.

Importance of Sexual Intimacy in Relationships

Sexual intimacy is of crucial importance in any relationship. When in a relationship, the act of making love further deepens the bond between two people. Sexual intimacy in relationship will also ensure that you can communicate freely with your partner. A sexually intimate couple is also more confident about each other and that shows through their daily life transactions. Sexual intimacy will also enable you to say no when you do not feel up to it. 

In order for you to be really intimate with your partner, you will have to make the effort to open up and increase proximity. However, it in no way indicates that intimacy in relationships means encroachment on each other’s ‘me’ time. The ideal way to remain intimate in a relationship and also to retain one’s unique identity is to tactfully balance personal need and joint commitment.

Looking at successful people makes you want to be thinner

Looking at successful people makes you want to be thinner

According to an article published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, it is not size zero models that make women want to be thinner; it is images of successful people irrespective of their size. So, even if that brilliant advertisement for that great car in which a super skinny model hogs on high calorie foodstuffs because “curves are back” made you feel glad, it won’t affect your wanting to get more attractive.

“Heterosexual women were unhappy with the way their bodies looked”

This study, conducted by Norman Li – a psychologist of Singapore Management University – and his colleagues, showed portraits accompanied by character descriptions to 841 volunteers in Austin, Texas (USA) and found that heterosexual women were unhappy with the way their bodies looked and were more likely to change their eating habits after seeing pictures of successful women. Surprisingly, heterosexual men did not give the same response. Even more surprisingly, lesbian women did not give the same response, but gay men behaved exactly like straight women. In the researcher’s words, “These findings support the idea that the ultimate explanation for eating disorders is related to intrasexual competition.”

This behaviour has an evolutionary origin

An ANI (Asian News Network) article quoted Li as having said that this behaviour has an evolutionary origin and suggested that since people in the west tend to gain weight as they get older, they have come to equate thinness with youth and attractiveness, and competitive advantages in general. Thus when we see ultra thin celebrities in the media, our competitive instincts go into overdrive.

BDD (body dysmorphic disorder), anorexia and bulimia

“What we see in the media plays a large role in how we view ourselves, It makes us feel ugly and be thinner, leading to problems like BDD (body dysmorphic disorder), anorexia and bulimia.”