3 Fascinating Facts About the Penis
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By Shawn McKee
Staff Writer
The mysteries of the male member continue to confuse most people and even perplex those of us that own this obtuse organ. To help everyone to better understand why the penis does what it does, here are three hard facts about a stiff subject.
Smoky the Bandit 
If cancer, the smell and the rising cost of smoking aren't enough to dissuade some men from smoking cigarettes, then how about the fact that it can shrink a man's member?
Because the male erection is all about proper blood flow, and cigarettes calcify blood vessels, smoking can diminish blood circulation to the man's penis and ultimately shrink his manhood by as much as a centimeter. I will never smoke again.
Time Share
The standard male orgasm lasts a measly six seconds, while the average woman gets a whopping 23 seconds. So if pleasure is measured in seconds, it's only fair that men get a four-to-one orgasm ratio. Now we're talking about sexual equality that men will stand up for.
Brains Not Included
The body's ejaculation command comes from the spinal cord, so no brain use is necessary for that order, which explains the silly facial expressions at climax. However, finding someone to share that special moment with can take hours of persuasion, a fancy dinner and often times a decent amount of alcohol as well.
Do you have an interesting anatomy fact? Let us know and post it below.
7 High-Powered Protein Foods
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Proteins, which are made up of amino acids, are the building blocks for your body. Protein helps children grow and helps build and maintain muscle mass in adults. It's a known fact that if you want to build muscle or tone up, a substantial level of protein intake is of utmost importance, but how much protein do you need?
eDiets Chief Fitness Pro Raphael Calzadilla gives the following general recommendations:
For the sedentary: 0.4 grams of protein per pound of body weight (a 180-pound man needs 72 grams). 
For the recreational exerciser: 0.5 - 0.75 grams.
For the athletes: 0.6 - 0.9 grams.
For serious muscle building: 1 - 1.25 grams.
There are many good sources for protein. But here are Raphael's top 7 sources (in no particular order) that will optimize your muscle gains.
1. Egg whites -- They may not be as tasty as the whole egg, but they are an efficient protein source.
"Egg whites are an excellent source of protein, because the protein is instantly absorbed by your body," says Raphael. "They also have no fat and no cholesterol."
2. Whole egg -- For years, fear of the cholesterol in egg yolk has made people shy away from this wonderful source of protein. But in moderation, you have nothing to worry about.
"Even though the yolk is high in cholesterol, it is also higher in protein than the egg whites. One of the best sources of protein is the yolk in the egg. A Harvard study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association showed eating an egg a day did not raise the risk of heart disease.
3. Steak -- Beef... it's what's for dinner... and it's what's for muscles if you want more of them. And not just protein, but creatine and iron as well.
4. Chicken -- Prefer something a little leaner? Chicken is a mainstay in bodybuilder's diets. Lean cuts of chicken breast have 28 grams of protein, no carbs and only 2 grams of fat.
5. Tuna -- Have you ever seen those dedicated gym rats eating tuna right out of the can? It may seem a little crude, but tuna is a hit for muscle gain, and the convenience outweighs the "lack of decorum." Higher consumption of fish is associated with a reduced risk of some types of stroke among middle-aged women, according to an article in the January 17 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.
6. Cottage cheese -- Guys, don't let your egos get in the way. This may be a staple of women's diets, but there's nothing wimpy about eating this high-protein food.
"Protein in cottage cheese is of extremely high quality and contains all of the essential amino acids (building blocks of protein) in the amounts proportional to the body's needs," says Raphael.
7. Salmon -- If you get sick of tuna but still want to get your protein from the sea, salmon is a great alternative. Postpone your appointment with St. Peter by consuming omega-3-rich fish such as salmon.
Do you have a favorite high-protein snack? Comment below and let us know.
Labels: calories, diet, food, men, muscles, protein, weight-loss
The Football Fan Workout
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By Glenn Mueller
Are you a die-hard football fan like me? Do you mark the date and time of important games on your calendar so you can plan your schedule around watching them? If so, I've got one question for you: Are you ready for some football workouts?
Even if you are an armchair quarterback, you can still use the start of football season as a time to get your exercise program in gear. Even if you aren't a potential draft pick, you can still take your workouts seriously. Even if your team doesn't make it to the Super Bowl this year, you'll still be a fitness winner by the end of the season.
Instead of putting off your workout because the game is on, get fit while watching football with some exercises that you can perform in the privacy of your own living room. These exercises come from eDiets Chief Fitness Pro Raphael Calzadilla, the Vince Lombardi of personal trainers. Get off the bench and follow Raphael's game plan for fitness success.
Perform each of the following exercises in succession during the game. After completing one movement, immediately continue to the next one. After you've completed all the movements, perform them one more time. Attempt 20-25 repetitions of each movement. Don't worry if you can't perform all the steps at once, it will come.
PUSH-UPS -- Lying face down on the floor, place your hands a little wider than shoulder width apart. Your thumbs should be lined with your chest. Your toes should be curled under and your feet hip width apart. Be sure to maintain hip alignment throughout the entire range of motion. Avoid sagging in the midsection of your body. Contracting the chest muscles, raise your body until your arms are fully extended.
CHAIR SQUATS -- Perform this exercise with the aid of a sturdy chair. Stand in front of the chair with your back toward the chair and feet shoulder width apart. Keep your head up as a natural extension of your spine. Begin to sit in the chair, lowering your body until your legs are at a 90-degree angle. Contracting your quadriceps (front part of the thigh), slowly return to the starting position -- stopping just short of the legs being fully extended. Keep a slight bend in your knees.
AB CRUNCH -- Lie on your living room carpet on your back. Make sure your lower back is relaxed against the floor during the exercise. Bend your knees until your legs are at a 45-degree angle. Keep both feet on the floor and place both hands crossed on your chest. Contracting the upper abs, raise your head and torso off the floor until your shoulders are slightly lifted. Slowly return to the starting position, stopping just short of your head touching the floor. Focus on really contracting your abs during the movement!
CLOSE STANCE WALL PUSH -- Stand facing the wall with your feet shoulder width apart. Place your hands on the wall so that your fingers are slightly lower than your shoulders. Your hands should be close enough that your thumbs and index fingers form a triangle. Your feet should be a distance from the wall that forces your body to be at an angle slightly greater than parallel.
Bend your elbow downward and lean your upper body toward the wall -- making sure to project your chest forward. Your arms should be supporting your body. Stop the motion when your face nearly touches the wall and your chest touches your hands. Contracting the triceps muscles, slowly return to the starting position -- stopping just short of the elbows being fully extended.
AB VACUUM -- In a seated position, exhale all the air from your lungs. After completely exhaling, pull the abdomen inward and hold for 20-30 seconds. Continue to breathe lightly through your nostrils, but make sure you are pulling your abs in as if you are attempting to make your abs and back touch. This exercise works the transversus, the main muscle that pulls your abs in. In fact, it's the most effective exercise for flattening your stomach.
According to Raphael, completing two cycles of these exercises should take you just 12-15 minutes -- only about the length of one quarter of the game. You will eventually perform 50 total reps of each exercise except for the vacuum (hey, things always get tougher as the season progresses).
Raphael recommends completing these exercises at least 3-5 times per week. Personally, I plan to do this workout every time football is on TV. So, what are you waiting for? With Raphael calling the plays, you're in the game and ready to score.
How do you stay in shape during football season? Leave a comment below and let us know.
Labels: crunch, exercise, fitness, football, men, push-up, squat, workout
The Michael Phelps Diet: 12,000 Calories a Day
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By Shawn McKee
Staff Writer
What if I told you that you could have a body like Michael Phelps? Now, what if I told you that you could do it by eating 12,000 calories per day? Seriously.
Recently, Phelps outlined his daily diet -- his total caloric intake is an astounding
12,000 calories. Before you start gorging yourself to get that sleek swimmer's body, you'll also have to carve out about five hours a day for intense swimming. You didn't think you could get the body of an Olympian simply by stuffing your face, did you?During his intense training schedule, he struggles to consume enough carbohydrates to fuel the gold medal machine that is Michael Phelps. He's consuming nearly five times what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends for an active, young man, but how is he even doing it? How can you cram that many calories into a single day?
Here's a sample of his regular daily menu:
Breakfast: Three fried-egg sandwiches, two cups of coffee, a five-egg omelet, a bowl of grits, three pieces of French toast and three chocolate chip pancakes.
Lunch: Two ham and cheese sandwiches, a pound of pasta and an energy drink.
Dinner: A large pizza, a pound of pasta and an energy drink.
Watch eDiets food and fitness experts weigh in on these massive meals.
It hardly seems human. His peculiar diet lends weight to my theory that he’s a robot sent from the future to consume mass quantities of carbs and crush all human opposition in the swimming pool -- The Liquidator. I really need to stop staying up so late watching the Olympics.
After winning eight gold medals, what did Phelps want?
"A big, fat cheeseburger," he said during one interview. Maybe he's human after all.
What do you think about the 12,000 calorie diet? Do you think Phelps is human? Let us know by commenting below.
Labels: calories, diet, health, michael, olympics, phelps, swimming
Ok this guy is an athlete of the highest quality and talent. He eats that much becasue he is so active and trains so hard. A normal human could not do that becasue they do not have that lifestyle so the article is a bit misleading. A normal man cannot eat that many calories and not suffer!
Where are the vitamins in his diet?
Sorely lacking (for optimum health) in that diet: A, C, E, K
Where are the Omega 3's? They appear to be non-existant!
Where is the potassium? It also appears to be non-existant!
Wow, that's a lot of food, but I guess when you swim five and six hours a day, you need a lot of food to keep you going. I just hope it's not affecting his heart, or won't in the long run. Michael Phelps is awesome!!!
If you consider his age, his extreme expediture of energy and his muscles, he need to eat a hi-carb and hi-protein died. Oviously he burns every calorie he ingests, he needs all that food to fuel his [high metabolism and to keep his body running a an optimum level.With eight gold medals I suppose His died works for him. God Bless him. I think he is a fine young man. Lucillee
I think fuel in, fuel out seems to working for his amount of exercise. To put that in perspective if an average male about his size were to exercise 1 hour instead of 5 he should consume about 1/5 of those 12,000 calories- about 2,400 which is about right. Makes perfect sense to me! You've got to have the necessary nutrition to fuel your workouts.
Phelps is headed for disaster in 10-15 years or even less, if he continues to eat like this, no matter how many calories he spends. Needs to follow moderation in life after the current Olympics. Good health is much more than garbage in calories out.
Michael's diet is atrocious! He could consume a much healthier combination of 12,000 calories and, while youth is on his side right now, we don't know what his present diet is doing to him internally!! His liver and kidneys must be working overtime (maybe along with all the other unusual traits, he sports extra of those, too!)!! Good luck to him.
I wonder how difficult it will be to cut back now that the intensity of the practice is over. One's body gets used to eatting a certain quanitity of food. It will be difficult, but knowing swim coaches as I do (I'm a swim team mom) his will get him back on track. Remember those who criticized what he was eatting, the list was just an example. Fresh fruits and veggies, as well as low fat dairy, are also high on the list of recommended foods to include in a swimmer's diet. The intensity of his practices, athletes of his level perform, need all the fats and carbs that they consume and they are then depleted from his body. If he were to continue to eat like this when not in training, then it could lead to future problems. Right now, there isn't anything left of those foods in his system at the end of the day.
Obviously a "normal" human could not eat this much! He eats like this for competition purposes - fuel. He also takes loads of vitamin supplements, and eats a healthy diet outside of competition. Try not to focus on one particular point in this amazing man's life.
My overweight son needs lots of exercise - and he has been watching Phelps and trying to mimic him in the pool. I think he's a great role model.
I would like to know exactly what his daily exercise routine consists of? Of course there is a lot of swimming and weights, but how much of each and for how long?
Anonymous...
He obviously needs this many calories and needs a high protein/high carb diet. He could eat 12,000 healthier calories--more fruits, vegetables, grass fed beef, whole grains, etc. Also, mentioned before, what other supplements, vitamins, does he take?
Sure hope he takes a daily all-encompassing vitamin tablet!
although this diet seems to do the
trick for michael one has to wonder
in the long term what damage as far
as cholesterol and all that STRENUOUS TRAINING will have on him
in the end.
he is truly a great athlete but i dont think his caloric intake is necessarily healthy.
Fine to consume 12,000 calories a day and expend it as he does. BUT it cant be doing him good internally. There is definantly a healthier way to go. Heart attack waiting to happen if you ask me!
Fine to consume 12,000 calories a day and expend it as he does. BUT it cant be doing him good internally. There is definantly a healthier way to go. Heart attack waiting to happen if you ask me!
I also think that it is really unlikely he's chowing down on the "fast food" varieties of items listed... Athletes like him treat their bodies like temples- I'm sure his meals are made of high quality, nutrient-rich ingredients.
I dont think you need to worry about Michael Phelps's diet....as for vitamins...come one....give me a break....he a stinkin' 8 time winner of the gold..do you really think his body is suffering. Or that he doesnt know how to take care of himself? I imagine there arent many people on the planet more heathly..including yourself, even with all your vitamins.
One major common misconception that young people and alot of other people as well have in this country, is that they can burn off anything that they eat. WRONG! WRONG! Consuming tons of calories to keep your fuel supply up is a necessity for athletes, especially Phelps. But why do we continue to think that any fuel is okay? Pizza, eggs, processed food (which by the way does not digest in our stomachs very easily), bread, and pasta. They are full of lots of "empty" calories, that don't serve your body much at all. Our stomach and intestines are not made to be garbage disposals. Phelps can "get away" with this diet only because he is young. People, along with Phelps, who eat these foods consistently even at much smaller volumes will develop major health problems in the long run. On another note, I love what he has accomplished at the Olympics. I am very proud! Just please stop eating all of those bad foods.
Wow...we have a lot of nutritionist and experts posting on here. Unless you are a certified dietician or are Phelps' trainer, what real hard core knowledge do you have of what he should or should not eat.
You are free to comment, but is your thinking flawed, or based on facts and knowledge, instead of mere opinion.
I loved the article. I agree with a few if the comments here but on overall, I beleive that the diet of Michael Phelps that is posted is a training diet. Mostly carbs and that would make sense. Most of you have it right - he's young, he's a super athlete and he'll "get back to a normal diet" when things settle down. Good for Michael Phelps!!!! Oh - and this is a no brainer: Don't try this at home! (Unless you are an Olympic athlete!!!)
I feel the people who are knocking him are extremely jealous of him. calories are units of energy they go in they go out if used correctly. his body internally is in much better shape then 99% of the people out there. RELAX he's an extreme athlete not some guy behind a desk!
His "Gold Medal Diet" is seriously lacking fruits and vegetables. There is also a huge lack of calcium from dairy products that could improve his bone and muscle tone.
Hopfully he will slowly cut back....or...he wil be ONE BIG FISH
I think you mean DIET and not died which is after someone or something is dead... LOL
August 20, 2008 3:57 AM
If you consider his age, his extreme expediture of energy and his muscles, he need to eat a hi-carb and hi-protein died. Oviously he burns every calorie he ingests, he needs all that food to fuel his [high metabolism and to keep his body running a an optimum level.With eight gold medals I suppose His died works for him. God Bless him. I think he is a fine young man. Lucillee
Not a single vegetable in there???
Michael Phelps is undeniably an awesome athlete and makes the US proud. With the amount of calories he expends, he needs to take in that many to fuel his activities. I doubt that he's eating that exact combination of foods everyday. That would be pretty boring, for one thing, but also, when you don't have a variety of foods, you tend to have nutrient deficiencies. If we look at the food pyramid, he is missing out on quite a few things. I'm not a nutrition expert, but I used to be a distance runner. To keep my weight down I ate mostly veggies and protein - very little of anything else. I developed some very signigicant nutrient deficiencies because the strenuous activity depletes a lot of the minerals and vitamins in the body. This led to anemia and low white blood cell counts. Even supplements cannot replace everything. I hope he's getting some red, green, orange, yellow & purple foods, as those have important nutrients as well as antioxidants to prevent illness. The omega's (good fats) are important as well to counteract those yummy fried eggs, greasy pizza and things that can cause cholesterol problems.
And the fruit? Where is the fruit in his diet? This is so wrong my gosh!
To all of you geniuses out there who think he should be eating "healthier" foods, I have a few facts for you. As a world class athlete, his resting BMR is probably over 5000 calories a day. Add to that all his swimming, at more than 1000 calories burned per hour, and he needs a LOT of fuel. I personally eat 1700 calories a day, and could do a couple hundred more, but I am maintaining a caloric deficit to burn off fat. He has no fat, and so he needs no such deficit. I eat mostly "healthy" minimally processed foods, and it's a lot of food just to get to 1700- about 4-5 plates full. When you take out garbage, it actually requires a higher volume of food to reach the same calorie count. To consume 12,000 calories worth of the foods you all would deem "healthy" he would need about 30 plates of food a day! He could not possibly eat that volume of food, so he eats foods that are calorically VERY DENSE. Fat is densest in calories per gram, as you all should know, so that's why he consumes a lot of fats. Starchy carbs are just easier to consume a large quantity of calories with, rather than watery fruits and vegetables. If he ate a lot of meat he wouldn't be able to finish all the rest of the calories he needs just to get through the day. I'm sure he eats healthier when he's not in Olympic training, and only ONE DAY of his foods is posted. One day does not make or break a diet. To really get an idea of whether he eats a lot of junk, you would need to look at his diet for a month or so, not judge from a single day. Let him do what he needs to do, and understand the caloric needs of super-athletes are very different from what you have been taught about for your own weight-loss needs.
Honestly this diet - though hard to imagine - makes sense to me. I was a swimmer in high school and even at that level our coach was encouraging us to eat between 4 and 6 thousand calories a day. Why? Because swimminng is one of the most intense total body workouts and you need lots of fuel to keep you going! As far as the stupid "but where are the vitamins and omega 3's" comments - whose to say that he isn't getting those foods in? Maybe he's eating vegetables with his pasta - or on his pizza - or in his omelette. Don't assume that pizza and pasta mean white flour and red sauce with cheese and maybe sausage as the only toppings. Any one who thinks this amount of food is unnecessary, I challenge you to go swim balls out for 5 hours - for even one day - and see how hungry you are or how fast you pass out and drown because you were too stupid to eat more than a yogurt and a slice of toast for breakfast!
I have friends who swim and each meal they have during swimming season is about 3/4 carbs. But as soon as the season is over they go back to eating healthy. Those people that are saying his diet is lacking in vitamins and nutrients haven't noticed that menu didn't elaborate on anything. They said "large pizza" instead of possibly "large pizza with skim mozzarella, spinach..."; you fill in the rest. If you guys trained and swam half as much as he did (fyi: he trains all the years in between Olympics) you probably have a heart attack when you were done. He's been swimming nearly all his life but only eats like that for the Olympics; I'm pretty sure his mom didn't let him eat like that when he was in grade school. You have to realize that the standards that the American Association sets up are for average people of average weight, height and lifestyle. Let's face it: is anyone in whole wide world "average"? No! Especially not Michael Phelps who just set a world record for getting 11 gold medals and already winning 8 gold medals at this years Olympics. Michael Phelps is extraordinary; and it's extraordinary that you people might put him down because of what he eats. His diet is not what makes him.
I love the way that people are saying that this intake is wrong for him. He is an Olympic athlete with, most likely, a team of nutritionists devising the best diet possible to maximise his performance. It is a calorie dense diet. If he were to structure his meals around the traditional healthy half veg, quarter protein, quarter carb he would be eating all day with no time left for training!!!
Yay!! The next time I eat until I about pass out, instead of saying "Man, I ate like a pig!", I can say "Man, I ate like an Olympic champion!"
He can eat as much as he wants as long as he trains long enough to burn it off, but is he getting enough vitamins to consider his lifestyle healthy?
Good grief people - what comments!!! Must be alot of experts that know better than MP's trainer/coach.... Why aren't YOU his trainer? Because he has said he has the best there is. period. leave the guy alone - he has proved he is not a "normal" human - but is an extremely exceptional athelete. Get off your nutritional soap boxes and worry about your own damn vitamins.
Goodness, we take everything literally, right??
Of course he eats his veggies and fruits and dairy and all those things which keep worrying everyone. Plus he gets his vitamin supplements. He just needs more carbs to keep energy for trainings and competitions. There's just a whole team of nutritionists planning each person's diet.
Athletes at this level eat that much when at competition, and train even more than regular trainings. You eat a little bit differently but still a lot of carbs needed during the rest of the time and train for average 5 hrs. I know because I used to be in my uni's swimming team, and I ate like a quarter of what Phelps does (and trains).
I have seen on several interviews that he eats a lot of fruit. He says that fruit is mostly what he eats before he swims. I think he is an amazing man!!
With all that he eats and that he loves the water he's got to be the real "Aquaman" like from the comics and cartoons
He obviously exercises a LOT, however I think his age and his gender also play a role in the amount of calories he eats without gaining weight. Even with his workout schedule, I doubt he'd be able to eat that many calories if he was a 33 year old woman instead of 23 year old man.
Studies Confirm Men Like Sex: Women Fake Surprise
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It's taken a few centuries, but researchers have finally confirmed what we men have known all along: We like sex – a lot. Two recent studies show that men are likelier than women to enjoy casual sex and give into sexual temptation; unconfirmed reports say that women worldwide are not surprised by the results.
The first study, released last month in the journal Human Nature, analyzed the responses of more than 1,700 men and women on an Internet survey about one night stands; respondents were asked to describe their feelings after having one: 80 percent of the men felt positive and satisfied about the experience; 54 percent of women gave the same response. Labels: cheating, men, relationships, sex, study
Relationship Red Flag: Signs You're Whipped
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Geoffrey Anderson Jr.
Copy Editor
Here's how it starts: You stop seeing your friends on weekends -- even Fido has trouble remembering who you are. Your pals are soon replaced by her friends, who don't know the first thing about sports. And a late night in town requires permission -- and a curfew.
Are you a real man? Yes -- at least physically. But when your life in a relationship doesn't resemble your pre-relationship life, there's a problem: You're probably whipped. Granted, some things do change once you're in a serious relationship (No more strip clubs), but the fun-loving dude of the past shouldn't disappear completely. After extensive research, here are the signs that you are whipped -- ball and chain not included:Friends? What's That?
Lately, the calls from your friends have been tapering off. Maybe it's because you spend all day talking to your girlfriend. Maybe it's because you spend all day talking to your friends about your girlfriend. If you've noticed you haven't been asked to hang out in a while, you should find out the cause (Hint: It's probably your girlfriend.).
Honey, Do You Mind If I Go Out Tonight?
Asking your boss for a day off is OK. Asking your girlfriend for permission to go grab a beer is not. If your significant other can't trust you at the local watering hole with the boys, then it's probably going to get a lot worse in the future. Next, you'll be asking whether it's all right to grow a beard or -- God forbid -- whether you can watch the game on TV.
You Like Soap Operas? Me Too!
If you share similar interests with your loved one, that's great. But if you're lying about being a huge fan of Grey's Anatomy, it'll come back to bite you. The more you tell your girlfriend you have similar interests (but don't), the more you're likely to engage in said activities. Ultimately, you'll end up on the couch watching Sex and the City reruns and wondering where you went wrong.
Know of any other signs? Got any stories? Share your thoughts below by leaving a comment!
Labels: couple, men, relationships, romance
All we need is to maintain a healthy relationship just like how you eat healthily...
You have no idea what's in store. Wait till you're married, and you damned well better ask for permission if you value your married life.
But the perks of a good marriage outweigh the small inconvenience of checking whether its okay to go out. In fact, I pared my friendships down by 70%. Most of the guys I hung out with were idiots. Knew it at the time but that was all I had -- time.
You have no idea what's in store. Wait till you're married, and you damned well better ask for permission if you value your married life.
But the perks of a good marriage outweigh the small inconvenience of checking whether its okay to go out. In fact, I pared my friendships down by 70%. Most of the guys I hung out with were idiots. Knew it at the time but that was all I had -- time.
Last Call: Drink to Your Health
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Copy Editor
"It's 5 o' clock somewhere."
If you're a happy hour regular, you know that saying all too well. After a stressful week (or day) at work, hitting the local watering hole for two-for-one specials helps get your mind off the office and…well, everything else. You have to be careful, though: Getting too happy will eventually get you a beer belly, too.
Yet, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Stroke, overdoing it
might actually be good for your heart -- at least for us guys. A recent study out of Osaka University in Japan found that men who drank four or more alcoholic beverages daily had a 19 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease. Women, on the other hand, quadrupled their risk.Even though your heart might thank you, your brain won't. Both sexes increased their chances of getting strokes -- men by 48 percent and women by 92 percent. Suddenly, a long stay at Margaritaville doesn't seem all that appealing.
But, you can chalk up another benefit for moderate imbibing: University of North Carolina researchers have found a link between alcohol abstinence and depression. The researchers studied mice that drank alcohol for 28 days voluntarily. Two weeks after the mice stopped boozing, depression-like symptoms were evident.
So when 5 p.m. strikes on that long-awaited Friday afternoon, where will you be? I'll be knocking back a beer or two, but you won't find me at last call.
What do you think of the research? Tried it out yourself and noticed a difference? Share your thoughts below by posting a comment.
baloney! no heart attack but stroke. just dont drink.
Now this is good news. Thanks for making my day!
Very interesting...new I should have a few brewski's lol!
I hate to see you folks print an article like this. I have been sober for 6 years and found alcohol to be the cause of my depression. The opposite of what your article states. With all the people that have drinking issues this really isn't the best information to give when we are trying to be healthy which is what you guys are all about. It's lack of study and informations like this that gives people permission to drink more.
It's one plus one math!
Drinking a couple after work kind of reboot you from accumulated stress.
The less stress buildup, the better your body can fight negative moods, better it can fight illness, and better can counteract cell damage.
I found this article balanced and based on evidence. Informations is not, anonymous abstinent, what makes you an alcoholic; it's genetics and unsolved existential matters.
I'm sure not all the information is posted but what is posted sounds stupid to me. Of course anybody (or mice) are going to feel depressed after stopping something they've done for 28 days. And it probably only lasts for 2 weeks or so like the mice did. There was nothing said about the long term effects of abstinence.
I don't like the way this article portrays the idea that everyone is depressed without alcohol. That was the impression I got.
Thanks for the information,drinking is a healthy way of avoiding coke's and too much water,you guy's are the Best.
Not enough information on the results. Yes, maybe the drinking group suffered fewer heart attacks, but what was the average age of death? To put it another way, if you live long enough, you have to die of something. Maybe the drinking group suffered other types of deaths at an earlier age, say liver related, before the heart attack would’ve taken place.
People are going to drink even without an article giving them "permission" to so I doubt posting an article such as this would cause too many problems. The key to this article seems to be drinking in MODERATION, not becoming an alcoholic. One of my recent professors was one of the researchers in the study, and she admits that many of the articles citing the study are taking the information out of context. The study didn't conclude that people should always drink so that they don't become depressed, it just suggested that ceasing moderate drinking can cause some negative mood states. Also, depression usually occurs due to the problems that result from drinking too much, not the alcohol itself.
I think this is a bunch of bull. I think that maybe once a month to have a couple alcoholic beverages is ok, but not as much as this. I am a 37 year old women and I battle with social drinking. It makes you stupid and fat and look old! It does cause depression. Sorry but I have to disagree on this one.
Encouraging people to drink to reduce stress after work can accidentally encourage binge drinking and alcoholism. Also, the article does not post a disclaimer not to drive after drinking more beers. Why not encourage folks to go the gym instead and get some exercise or a walk in a park to reduce stress ?
Behaviorally speaking choose a healthier lifestyle to reduce stress.
So if you drink you get a 19% reduction in heart disease, BUT you have a 48% higher risk of stroke?!?
Can anyone tell me how this makes sense?!?!
Yes, please go out and drink more, nevermind the fact that you'll be nearly half again as likely to have a stroke and could end up paralyzed in bed, no speech, nada..
But hey... let's go out and drink!
Riiiiggghhhttt....
The article is weak. The medical community understands that ingestion of ethanol makes plack build up less "sticky" and thus there is a scientific basis for the benefit. But this article introduces scientific basis for the increased risk of stroke. As such, this article is simply bar room chatter.
I believe it! Handball players drink beer after they play and they live and play well into their 80's and 90's! Those who have drinking issues do not drink.
If you become depressed after quitting moderate drinking, perhaps you shouldn't begin in the first place!!
This is crap! My Dad is a recovered alcoholic, my husband just recovered from alcoholism, I've seen friends almost die from drinking, my sister is now battling it and it has been the worst thing I've ever seen my loved ones go through. This article makes me very angry. A few after work every day leads to more and more until you realize, "Wow, I'm have a drinking problem!" And what gets me is that it's legal! This drug is horrible and destroys lives. Choose your articles more carefully!
You can relieve your stress with a evening walk around the block, a jog in the park or at the gym. Remember folks, everything in moderation and keep your finger on the pulse of your stress buttons and find your own healthy way to relieve it.
What they should add to this article is, walk home after paying your bartab to lower your blood pressure and get sober on the way!
As a 20 yr old I am a minority when I say that I have never been drunk nor do I drink. I have tried alcohol on many occassions and enjoy the taste. The thing that keeps me from indulging in drinking is the fact that I have seen it's effects almost everyday. Whether it's my father's weight problem from too much wine or my fiance's stupid behavior when he's had too many. Alcohol should be banned in my opinion; but I know I'm on my own with that opinion too.
Anyone that is intelligent enough to read articles about their health should be smart enough not to base their decision to drink on an article such as this...calm down people. If someone read this article and seriously thought they were going to be depressed if they didn't drink, they don't deserve to be happy.
OMG....would you ppl get off your soap box....this article wasn't meant to create a drinking problem for you or your recovering family members. Must we take everything your read to the limit?!
There are lots of things people can get hooked on that are bad for you and your health....if you have an adictive personality and can't handle social drinking...THEN DON'T DRINK! simple as that folks
I understand you are worried about your family and friends who have a problem...and you should be concerned, but don't tell those of us out here who enjoy drinking moderately and safely...yes you can do both, anyways,...it's not for you to tell this company that is was wrong to post such an article...they always give you the good, bad or ugly on health...and that's exaclty what they did. There are alot of us socail drinkers who work out and we like to read these articles about alcohol and how it affects us..wieght wise or health wise!
Lighten Up.....your right to just say no to drinking...and in no way do I encourage heavy drinking or drinking and driving!
We had a friend who drank every day & decided to quit to improve himself & his health. Within 2 weeks he died. The Dr. told told his wife, his blood thickend & his heart was unable to handle it. If he would have gradually cut down & eventually to 1-2 a day it would have saved his life!
alcohol - if folks were honest, they would admit their "existential matters" allow them to use booze as the solution to their probs...and beat/neglect their; dog,wife,cat,father,mother, etc - IF this article had mentioned and/or stressed moderation even ONCE I would have to had "buy into it." I'm not bible thumpimg here and I'll never be wrapped around a statue - but the jails (and all other "insitutions") are full of people who don't even remember their transgressions under the influence. Yeah, yeah, yeah, personal responsibilty......is the key, right ? And guns don't kill....but they do allow it to be done so efficiently.
Neither of my parents drink heavily...and when they do drink, it can be done safely.........when I was growing up in the middle of middle America, 7 out of 10 neighbors' husbands did drink...with horrific family consequences....which made their (wife, in-laws, pets) children true victims.
Happy Wednesday All.
Preposterous, enabling and irresposible study!
I'll drink to that. Anonymous
i'm really sad that you would post such a misleading headline. maybe is should have ended with a question mark. and the answer at the end would be no. in moderation most things are okay. but those mice were made into alcoholics. they were detoxing. of course they seemed depressed. there is a difference between an alcoholic and a drunk. you don't always need to get drunk to be defined as an alcoholic. there are functioning addicts out there. but the body is dependent on the alcohol or other substance. i'm really upset that you frivolously posted this article. i will definitely think twice about reading any more of your articles. and if i do read any i will not give them the same credibility i would have in the past. for shame.
good for the heart, bad for the liver
Why do the non-drinkers get so angry with those who choose to drink? Everyone who enjoys wine, etc., is not an alchoholic. I think they are jealous of those who are able to control the amount consumed! Also, do any of them have the ability to write without errors?
As a recovered alcoholic, I would have found this article a good reason to keep drinking!!! However, alcohol IS A DEPRESSANT...it causes depression.
It is also listed as a POISON. I have no problem with those who drink, I simply see NO BENFIT. Hangovers suck!!!
one point is glaringly misrepresented here in this article. they assert that mice that abstain from alcohol use are more depressed. in fact, mice who drink daily for many days and then it is taken away from them get depressed.... it only makes sense of course, withdrawal and cravings for alcohol that can no longer be satisfied make one depressed, not the abstaining itself.
A small amount of alcohol consumption is not going to hurt you. Any one that has written replys to the article pertaining to being an alcoholic due to the article is bogus.. Alcoholic disease is an inherited disease.. I am an alcoholic due to the fact that the gene is in my body. The fact about drinking or not drinking alcohol is up to the individual and if you over do anything EAT too much WORK too much, EXERCISE too much or too much of doing NOTHING is not good for you.
Alcohol is called a depressant because it can depress systems in the body, not because it causes depression. It can also act as a stimulant, so by that definition you could say that it causes hyperactivity.
Alcoholics: Quit you're bitching. You're the reason that Windex bottles heed warning about drinking the product. Some dummy did it. If you are a recovering alcoholic (or know someone who is), it does not mean the world has a drinking problem. Wine (pun much intended) somewhere else...Much of the world can have one or two or three on a Friday Eve and shut it off.
You're raising you're risk of stroke with all that stress toward a blog site.
I don't think that Jimmy Buffett would take too kindly to your negative mention of Margaritaville, hopefully you covered yourself and got permission to mention it.
cannot understand the huge difference between men & woman...
life is a balance, everything in moderation...when you do (or consume) anything to excess the balance is upset...as for the "Studies", if we followed every guideline that each new study suggests, our lives (and health) would be a spiralling rollercoaster ride
Learn to make small beer ("Nourishing Traditions" by Sally Fallon) or other low alcohol, high enzyme drinks. This is the beer our ancestors used to drink, along with ginger ale, ginger beer, and various other tonics. They are very low in alcohol but contain a host of beneficial enzymes. Much better for you than today's beer/alcholic drinks. These will actually improve your health without harming it.
I think moderation is key- I definitely like my beer! One thing that this article doesn't mention is the corelation between alcohol binges and lower serotinin levels, hence the depression. Alcohol lowers serotonin, which is one reason for poor sleep after a binge and would then be a precursor to depression. Continuing to drink would NOT be a solution as this article implies.
I feel that if research is going to be done it should be done on voluntary humans. Who would be interested in the reaction of a mouse. We are built magnificantly and should not be compared with mice. I would like to hear research done that can help me as a woman come to a conclusion of the effects of alcohol.
August 17, 2008 11:20 AM