Up Your Stud Factor :: Eat These Foods
by John Maroussas
We know that our diets directly affect our physiques. It is also true that the foods you choose can strongly influence your sexual performance. There are foods that can give you harder erections, more sexual stamina and a higher libido.
Making the right food choices for your sexual engine’s performance is a bit like choosing synthetic oil in place of regular oil for your car’s oil change. Here are some foods to include within your normal diet. (If you typically eat hot dogs, pizza and beer, then these foods are not going to offset the bad effects of that diet, but assuming that you normally make reasonably healthy choices already, these foods all have a positive influence on your studliness.)
-Figs are high in amino acids, which are believed to increase libido and boost sexual energy for harder erections.
-Berries and cherries contain substantial amounts of anthocyanins, which prevent fatty plaque build-up: clogged arteries are a leading cause of erectile dysfunction. Peaches, nectarines and plums are good too.
-Bananas are good for your banana because all that potassium they contain is good for your heart and circulation. Good blood circulation is good for erections, geddit? Potassium helps to control blood pressure too.
-Nuts, especially almonds, are a good source of essential fatty acids, which are the building blocks from which our bodies make testosterone.
Stonewall report: Older gay people at risk of loneliness
by Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk
A report by gay rights charity Stonewall says older lesbian, gay and bisexual people are at more risk of loneliness and isolation.
The findings, to be officially launched tomorrow, were reported by yesterday’s Observer.
A YouGov survey commissioned by the charity found that older gay and bisexual men are three times more likely than heterosexual men to be living alone.
While nine out of ten older heterosexual people have children, the same is true for just over a quarter of gay and bisexual men and half of lesbians and bisexual women.
LGB older people are more likely to be single and are less likely to see their families regularly, the research found.
Alcoholism in the Gay and Lesbian Community
Gay Alcoholism
Society often does not understand that gay alcoholism has its own problems and stressors. Many alcoholics already feel alone in their disease, and being a gay alcoholic can lead to a person feeling even more alone and different from others. Spencer's Options has created a specialized alcohol treatment program that offers various care plans catering specifically to the gay alcohol addict. Alcoholism does not discriminate, affecting all races, ages, and sexualities. Gay alcoholics can be harder to treat, because most treatment facilities are not equipped to deal with problems such as discrimination and prejudice. In this way gay alcoholics are not provided with the best possible care and Options is proud to offer something different.
Alcoholism - Characteristics of Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a progressive disease and its most prominent characteristic is a person’s physical and psychological dependence on alcohol. Alcoholism has its own signs and symptoms. If you or a loved one could be suffering from alcoholism the symptoms discussed below will help you determine if there is a problem.
Alcoholism - Physical Craving for Alcohol
A physical craving for alcohol is a strong sign that there is a problem with alcohol. Cravings can be though of a need or obsession to drink that cannot be curbed until the person has another drink. These thoughts are unable to take into consideration other people, priorities and duties a person might have. When a craving occurs, drinking is the only thing a person can think about.
Alcoholism - Out of Control Behavior while Drinking
Becoming out of control while drinking is another sign of alcoholic behavior. Gay alcoholism and straight alcoholism have very similar symptoms although some of these may manifest themselves differently. Perhaps you told friends you would only have one or two drinks but find that you cannot stop after just two drinks and find yourself out of control physically or in a blackout (a period where you cannot remember what happened, but you are awake). These episodes often become more frequent and more dangerous as alcoholism progresses.
Alcoholism - Unable to Stop Drinking
Being unable to quit drinking is a sign that a person has developed a physical dependence on alcohol. For those suffering from alcoholism, this symptom can be both dangerous and uncomfortable because the body goes into withdrawal when it does not have the alcohol in needs. Withdrawal symptoms include delirium tremens, nausea, vomiting, hot and cold flashes and severe anxiety. In order to deal with these withdrawal symptoms safely and not have to take another drink to stop them, it is crucial that people with physical dependence seek a treatment center that offers a detox program. At Spencer our medical staff and facilities are equipped and able to handle alcoholics trying to stop drinking.
Alcoholism - Tolerance to Alcohol
Another symptom of alcoholism is becoming “tolerant” of alcohol. This means that you are able to drink more and more alcohol without feeling drunk, or you need greater amounts of alcohol to feel the way you used to feel. Having high tolerance contributes to alcoholism because it takes more to feel drunk so a person takes in more alcohol becoming dependent on it and making poor and irrational decisions while drunk.
Alcoholism - Alcohol Treatment at Options
Spencer's Options understands the need for an alcohol treatment facility that caters directly to alcohol abuse and the gay community. We want you to know that there is hope for a new life without the need for alcohol. By choosing alcohol treatment with Options, you or your loved one will feel safe and comfortable during the addiction recovery process and will be able to contribute to groups and therapy sessions. Our alcohol intervention and treatment programs offer a relaxing setting and our honest and open communication style makes it easier to talk about gay issues and other problems affecting gay communities.
Contact Options
If you or someone you love has a problem with alcoholism, please contact us today for a confidential consultation and assessment.
Call Today Toll Free 1-800-281-5919
Courtesy rainbowrecovery.com
A message of hope for an HIV cure from Timothy Brown
Timothy Brown revealed himself last year as the "Berlin Patient." His HIV was cured through a bone marrow transplant from a donor born with a genetic mutation resistant to the virus. Courtesy of Timothy Brown
He’s been called the “Berlin Patient” and the man who was cured of HIV. On Thursday, Timothy Brown speaks in Houston about the bone marrow transplant from a donor born with resistance to the infection that essentially cured his HIV.
Brown, 45, was diagnosed with HIV in 1995. For more than a decade, he managed the virus with antiretroviral medications while continuing his career as a German-English translator in Berlin.
He was diagnosed with leukemia in the summer of 2006. Brown was treated with chemotherapy but decided to wait on receiving stem cells from a bone marrow transplant believing it was too dangerous. His oncologist was concerned about the delay, predicting the blood cancer might return. The doctor was right. The leukemia was back by the end of the year.
Brown underwent a stem cell transplant via bone marrow in February 2007.
“I had a lot of possible donors, but the doctor decided to look for a person that didn’t have the CCR5,” Brown said in a phone interview from San Francisco, where he now resides.
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
The Health Secret for a Stronger Erection
Trouble down below? Before you start popping Viagra, consider taking better care of your heart.
That’s the conclusion from a Mayo Clinic analysis of six clinical trials on improving heart-disease risk factors—those all-important numbers like cholesterol, blood pressure, and your weight—to help guys get better erections. On average, a combination of eating foods rich in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, regular vigorous exercise, and statin drugs improved impotent men’s scores on a 25-point scale called the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) by 2.7 points.
That’s enough to be considered a cure for guys with mild ED, and could improve the sex lives of men with moderate and severe ED even if they’re already on erection-enhancing medications.
David Bromstad: Designing For Life
HGTV's resident color expert wants people to stop being lazy about HIV.
David Bromstad, the host of HGTV’s Color Splash, wants everyone to know their HIV status. To elevate public awareness about the importance of regular testing, the celebrity designer is teaming up with Janssen Therapeutics to promote the “Know Yourself: Get HIV Tested” initiative. Drawing upon his art skills, the Miami-based Bromstad will create a mural to be unveiled at an event in September in New York City in recognition of National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
Ask the Doc: Cleaning Out
by Jason Faulhaber, M.D.
Question:
Dear Dr. Jason,
When I have sex, I like to douche/enema before. What are the risks involved with this? Oh by the way I’m a bottom.
Douchebag
Doctor Jason’s Response:
It is wise (and generous) of you to have a clean environment before anal activity, but how you go about doing it is important. Certain commercially-available enemas can be quite caustic, especially if used frequently. Repeated use of a chemically-based enema can cause irritation and inflammation of the rectal mucosa, thereby potentially increasing your risk of acquiring sexually-transmitted infections, including HIV. Using a warm water or saline enema would be more ideal than a chemical solution, if being used on a routine basis.
If you are HIV-infected, or have any other immunocompromised health condition, then repeated enemas are not recommended as they can increase your risk of developing infections. Whatever you do use for the enema--a plastic enema bottle, a shower nozzle attachment, garden hose--it should be used only by you and thoroughly cleaned after each use if it will be used again. This will decrease the risk of infection.
Stay healthy,
Doctor Jason
Courtesy edgemiami.com
HOUSTON RAINBOW HERALD
Houston`s One Stop Source For LGBT News & Information
Heath Advice: The Vagina Dialogues
Dr. Lissa Rankin on nine things you should talk about with your gyno.
MERRYN JOHNS
Most of us dislike going to the gynecologist, and with good reason. When it comes to women’s bodies—especially lesbian and queer bodies—doctors can often seem uneducated, if not outright homophobic. But now, California ob-gyn Dr. Lissa Rankin has written a book that can help all of us start to redefine our relationship with the gynecologist. What’s Up Down There?: Questions You’d Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend is based on the premise that there’s nothing about your body you can’t discuss with your gynecologist—just imagine she’s your best girlfriend and you’re chatting about Pap tests over piña coladas. Inspired to write the book after spending an evening sharing sexual stories with other women, Dr. Rankin realized that she “wanted women to have these intimate conversations with each other as a form of healing.” Here, she shares the essential steps to starting a relaxed, healthy relationship with your gyno, and your girly bits.
1. Ask your gyno about the exam process. Even gynecologists have had bad experiences at the gynecologist’s office.
“The introduction to the gynecologist’s office is often a very traumatic one. I remember mine. I was 17 years old. I wanted to be pre-med, so I thought, Great, I’ll get to meet a nice ob-gyn and she’ll be my mentor—but she was just god-awful. I remember her literally prying my knees apart, physically, and when I wasn’t cooperating she threw off her gloves and slammed out of the room, and I remember thinking, Oh my God, she’s going to put a giant F on my chart, like Bad Patient—she’s going to tell my father. Finally, the nurse comes in to find me sobbing, but I agree to open my legs. The gynecologist comes back in, but she’s so irritated by this point that she just grabs that speculum and jams it in me like she was fencing. It was awful. So many of us have stories that start that way, and part of it is that the medical system is broken.”
2. Speak up for your vagina. Keeping its history silent may create larger health issues.
“We as women carry so many traumas in our pelvis. We’ve been molested, raped. We’ve been victims of domestic violence. We’ve had abortions. We’ve had painful sexual and medical experiences. So, having that speculum put inside you may trigger all of those emotions, those past memories that have not been dealt with. Because talking about the vagina is rare. When we don’t talk about the things that happened in our vaginas, in my experience, they manifest: Infertility, eating disorders, depression are physical manifestations of things that need to be released and healed.”
New Device Helps Treat Erectile Dysfunction
by Kilian Melloy
A new kind of stent offers an alternative to pharmaceuticals for men with erectile dysfunction, an Oct. 19 Reuters article reported.
A stent is a tube made of wire mesh that can be surgically placed in blocked or narrowed blood vessels to improve circulation. Stents are typically used to address issues involving vessels to the heart, but Medtronic has developed a stent that can be positioned in an artery that supplies the penis with blood.
A study by Medtronic involving 30 men with an average age of 60 resulted in significant improvement for about 20 of the participants. There were no side effects within three months of the stents being surgically implanted in the men’s internal pudenda artery, though long-term issues remain a possibility.
Drugs like Viagra work through vasodilatation, meaning they allow blood vessels to dilate and allow more blood flow. The vascular tissue of the penis responds to such drugs, allowing the tissue to become engorged with blood and resulting in an erection.
Gay men warned about ‘meaner’ strains of gonorrhoea
by Jessica Geen
Gay men are being encouraged to test regularly for sexually-transmitted disease gonorrhoea. Recently, health experts warned that some strains of the disease are becoming immune to treatments.
Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection that, among gay men, is passed on through unprotected anal or oral sex and can spread to the throat, rectum or penis. If left untreated, it can cause serious health problems, as well as making it easier to pick up or pass on HIV. In men, symptoms can include drops of white or yellowish-green discharge from the end of the penis, pain when passing urine, or discomfort in the rectum. However, some cases have no symptoms.
According to HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust, diagnoses in gay and bisexual men in London rose 26 per cent between 2009 and 2010. Ben Tunstall, head of health promotion at THT, said: “The emergence of drug-resistant strains of gonorrhoea is a real concern. Using condoms during anal sex will help guard against infection, but won’t protect you completely. It’s also passed on through oral sex and, if you have it in your throat, you may not have symptoms but will still be infectious.
“With rates of the infection increasing so rapidly in London, it’s really vital that gay and bi men get themselves to the clinic for a full check-up every six months, and encourage their friends and partners to do the same.”
Courtesy Pinknews.co.UK.com
Let’s Talk HIV: Making the Fight Against AIDS Personal!
by Earl Plante
The year 2011 commemorates the 30th anniversary of the discovery of the HIV virus and the first deaths from AIDS. As the holiday season approaches, I hope that you will take some time to reflect upon what together we have accomplished, and the opportunities that lie ahead. If we all make a personal commitment to fighting AIDS, I know we will be ready to tackle the many challenges as the critical year of 2012 approaches.
Each of us living with HIV does it in different ways: as a student of history I tend to look back on the highs and lows associated with the milestones of the epidemic, taking into account the fights waged, along with the countless lives and collective talents lost over the years. All the while I am taking stock of the many struggles that lie ahead to alleviate suffering of PWAs and, of course, prevent future infections.
Following 'The Thin Commandments'
By Jacque Wilson, CNN
(CNN) -- At 6'3" and 277 pounds, Darryl Roberts had a body mass index of 34.6. Anything over 30.0 on the BMI scale is considered obese, and his doctor warned him that his blood pressure was too high.
So the doctor gave Roberts some medication and told him to take the pills daily. Side effects, she cautioned, could include erectile dysfunction. Roberts balked. "Can't I just exercise and eat healthier?" he remembers asking.
"Think about it," Roberts says with a laugh. "A 40-something year-old man on a race not to take pills that cause erectile dysfunction. Every guy I tell that to goes, 'Oh my God, I can relate to that.' "
The documentary filmmaker bought a bike and started adding salads to his diet. Two months later he returned to the doctor and was pronounced perfectly healthy -- despite having lost only 6 pounds.
It's a journey that he chronicles in "America the Beautiful 2: The Thin Commandments," a follow-up to his first award-winning film. The documentary focuses on the United States' unhealthy obsession with dieting and losing weight.
Position Probabilities
Written by Robert Bolan; David Rosenberg
Q: What is thought to be the risk—nowadays—for contracting HIV from topping?
Ben in Maine
A: I can’t give you an exact answer, but I can help you understand the relative risks involved in various exposures. There are three factors to consider, only one of which is affected by which position you’re in: Dose—How much virus is present in various locations in your HIV-positive partner during sex. A person not on treatment and with a very high serum viral load is going to have a lot of virus at different sites. We don’t actually measure viral load at different sites but use the serum viral load to tell us what the relative amount will be in, say, the rectal tissues. It will be higher in someone not on treatment (and maybe not even aware that they are positive), and it will be lower in someone on treatment. Exposure—This refers to how much surface area of mucous membranes (where the virus can enter the body) is exposed and to amount of time you are exposed. Since the opening of the urethra is relatively small, being a top entails less exposure than being a bottom. Resistance—This refers to your own resistance to HIV at the mucous membrane location of exposure. If you have an STD, for example (which you might not even realize), your body’s resistance to HIV is reduced. All other things being equal—the length of a sexual encounter, whether your immune system is compromised by another infection—your risk is considerably greater as a bottom than as a top. However, reduced risk is not the same thing as no risk. Unfortunately, we have seen many men test positive for HIV after unprotected sex; they often incorrectly assumed they did not need to use condoms if they only had sex as a top. I applaud you for wanting to be aware of risk factors in order to make educated decisions about your health. Please protect yourself, and get tested regularly, regardless of whether you are a top, a bottom or you switch it up. —RB
Courtesy Instinct Magazine
Let’s Talk HIV: Barebacking--An Act of Rebellion?
by Earl Plante
I recall my initial shock at reading a November 9 SF Weekly online article entitled, "Pros and Condoms: S.F. Emphasizes HIV Treatment, but a New Generation Advocates Bareback Sex".
The provocative title stuck with me for a number of reasons. One, because I am someone who has worked in the non-profit sector my entire professional life (and currently work for a national Latino AIDS organization).
NYC recommends AIDS drugs for any person with HIV
NEW YORK – Health officials said Thursday they are recommending that any person living with HIV be offered AIDS drugs as soon as they are diagnosed with the virus, an aggressive move that has been shown to prolong life and stem the spread of the disease.
Standard practice has been to have patients put off the expensive pill regimen — which can cost up to $15,000 a year in the United States— until the immune system weakens.
But Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said recent studies have shown that the benefits of early treatment, combined with education and testing, appear to be a promising strategy for countering the epidemic.
Same-Sex Marriage Improves Health Conditions Among Gay Men: Columbia University Study
Marriage equality advocates have another reason to feel dedicated to their cause today, as a revelatory new study has found that the health of gay men living in states with laws allowing same-sex couples to wed actually improves their health, even if they don't get hitched.
According to "Effect of Same-?Sex Marriage Laws on Health Care Use and Expenditures in Sexual Minority Men: A Quasi-?Natural Experiment," which can be found online in the American Journal of Public Health, gay men's visits to local health clinics dropped significantly after Massachusetts began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2004.
Researchers from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health surveyed the demand for medical and mental health care from 1,211 Massachusetts-based gay men registered with a particular health clinic in the 12 months prior to the change, and the 12 months afterward, the BBC is reporting.
Overall, researchers found a 13 percent drop in healthcare visits among the group after the law was enacted, as well as a reduction in blood pressure problems, depression and "adjustment disorders," which could be the result of reduced stress, according to reports.
Ask the Doc:
Talk to the Fist
by Jason Faulhaber, M.D.
EDGE Contributor
Question:
Dear Dr. Jason,
How risky is fisting?
Hmm
Doctor Jason’s Response:
Fisting can be quite risky if not done cautiously. First off, a significant amount of lubrication is required; you can never have too much. Secondly, protection--such as a latex-free glove--should be used; it provides protection from infection and injury for both parties. Thirdly, remember the story of the tortoise and the hare; slow and steady win the race.
Advancing immediately to an entire fist without proper preparation can cause physical damage, such as tears in the skin on the outside as well as tears of the rectum, which can cause a significant internal infection. Fisting can increase the pressure within the rectum, which can also cause a tear in the colon, as well as hemorrhoids. Insufficient lubrication can cause small tears in the rectum, thereby increasing the risk of acquiring sexually-transmitted infections, including HIV and Hepatitis. If no protective glove is used, then the fingernails can cause tears too.
Repeated fisting can stretch the natural muscular sphincters of the rectum and anus; these sphincters are necessary to prevent you from having an "accident" with your bowel movements. That’s not pretty for anyone. If you develop any pain or bleeding during the act, you should stop immediately. If you develop pain, bleeding, or discharge afterwards, then you should seek medical attention.
Stay healthy,
Doctor Jason
Courtesy edgechicago.com
Hepatitis C warning for HIV-positive men
A new report is calling for raised awareness of the risks posed by hepatitis C to gay men living with HIV.
The National AIDS Trust said the implications of hepatitis C and HIV co-infection on health can be severe, with liver disease one of the major causes of serious illness and fatality in HIV-positive people.
According to the Trust’s report, 7% of HIV positive gay men are co-infected with hepatitis C. In most cases, no symptoms are experienced after infection.
Generally, about 25% of people infected with hepatitis C clear the virus naturally from their blood during acute infection but three quarters will go on to develop chronic hepatitis C, which targets the liver.
More men than women have oral cancer virus
By Rachael Rettner
MyHealthNewsDaily
About 7 percent of adults and teens in the United States are orally infected with the human papillomavirus, or HPV, a new study says. This represents about 14.9 million people.
More men are affected than women: About 10 percent of men ages 14 to 69 have an oral HPV infection, compared with 3.6 percent of women, the study showed.
Oral HPV infections cause some oropharyngeal cancers, or cancers of the tongue, the tonsils or back of the mouth. People who are infected with the strain HPV 16 are 14 times more likely to develop these cancers compared with those not infected with the virus.
Running on Different Surfaces
by Kent McGroarty
EDGE Contributor
What is your favorite running surface? Runners have numerous options from which to choose depending on where they reside, including concrete, asphalt, dirt trails, treadmills, sand, grass or synthetic track. Each surface provides different pros and cons for the runner, who should train on a variety of surfaces to avoid getting the body used to one surface only.
Concrete and asphalt are widely regarded as putting the most stress on the runner’s knees and joints. Primarily made up of crushed rock, or cement, concrete and asphalt are generally widely available as a running surface since most sidewalks and roads are made of the stuff. Concrete is the hardest surface you can run on and therefore impacts joints and muscles the most, including causing lower back strain. Those with ankle sprains, back problems, and knee issues should stay off concrete for this reason. Patellofemoral syndrome and medial tibial stress syndrome, or runner’s knee and shin splints, are most common when running on concrete and asphalt.
If you must run on concrete or asphalt, it is recommended that you wear running shoes that feature as much cushioning and support as possible to avoid tears and strains. Those that have the choice between concrete and asphalt should probably choose asphalt, as concrete is about 10 times harder. Asphalt does get extremely hot in the sun, however.
Circumcision May Reduce Spread of AIDS
Three studies have reported that circumcising heterosexual men may be one of the best ways to reduce the spread of AIDS. Read more>>>
Struggling with sex when you're overweight
Ian Kerner, a sexuality counselor and New York Times best-selling author, blogs about sex on Thursdays on The Chart. Read more from him on his website, GoodInBed.
On the CBS sitcom “Mike & Molly,” the title characters meet at an Overeaters Anonymous support group and embark on a romantic relationship.
It’s an uncommon look at intimacy between plus-sized partners, played mainly for laughs. But with obesity rates skyrocketing in this country, sex when one or both partners is heavy is becoming a very real issue.
Nearly 34% of American adults are obese, according to the CDC, and many more are overweight. It’s not surprising that people who are carrying extra pounds may find themselves grappling with the effects on their sex lives.
Being overweight or obese can put a damper on things in the bedroom, as my clients Tom and Laura discovered. Married for 12 years, they had always enjoyed a satisfying sex life - until Laura began to gain weight. At first Tom was understanding: He knew that Laura’s self-esteem had taken a hit and he didn’t want to add to that.
Compromising Position: Missionary
With this month full of love because of Valentine’s Day, This is none other than the best time to feature the missionary position now. For those who don’t know the proper terminology this is the position where the bottom lies on his back with his legs in the air. When you’re in a relationship, this position can open up the door for wonderful passion and love-making. Coupled with added prostate stimulation, it’s no secret intimate kisses and passionate hugging is easier to come by when performing the missionary position. Orgasm is not the only product but, heightened intimacy is as well.
Whether you’re in a relationship or your single the missionary gives both people something to enjoy, allowing the bottom to stroke his own manhood while the top penetrates him. This is one reason why this position can be considered as compromising. Enjoyed by both lifestyles and pleasurable to both individuals involved, this month make the missionary position a hallmark for February.
Courtesy homocouture.com
