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HEARTY HEALTH
I’ve always gone to the gym pretty religiously to keep up the “look” side of fitness. But, as I get older I want to start taking better care of my heart. What are some steps towards better cardiovascular health? At what age should I start really caring?
Justin Santa Barbara, CA
You should start caring for your heart and cardiovascular health before it’s time to start thinking about it! A healthy heart and, therefore body, has the potential to add years to your life, and show amazing long-term benefits that go beyond just looking good. You can start by eating healthy. There are many foods that have been shown to be good for heart health—such as red grapefruits and avocados. Reduce your intake of Saturated and Trans fats, and eat more nuts, olive oil, fish and vegetables. Also try adding a routine of moderate to intense exercise depending upon how far along you are in any workout you may currently partake in. Thirty minutes of some sort of cardiovascular exercise daily can make a big difference. My suggestion is to hire a personal trainer, or fitness coach who can advise you on training zones, heart rate monitors and specific training that can course your path to a truly healthy heart and cardiovascular system—to match that gym-fit look you’ve already achieved.
PLAYING SAFE
I don’t ever have guys wear a condom when I perform oral sex because I’ve always heard that I can’t become infected with HIV this way. Is this true even if I swallow?
Jamie via Internet
Oral sex is not considered “safe sex” by the Center for Disease Control. Studies say that oral sex can result in HIV transmission and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In a San Francisco study of 198 gay or bisexual men who said they had only oral sex for a year, 39 performed oral sex on HIV positive partners. Thirty-five did not use a condom and 16 reported swallowing. No one became HIV positive during the study. All that can be said about this study is that there’s less than 2.8% chance of infection through oral sex over a year. In 2000, a different SF study of gay men who acquired HIV infection found that 7.8 % were attributed to oral sex. What’s a horny guy to do? Think harm reduction—like fewer carpets, rather than vacuuming as many as you can. Although you could swallow someone who is HIV-positive and not get it, think about herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, genital warts (HPV), intestinal parasites and hepatitis A—all of which can be transmitted during oral sex. Reducing contacts reduces risk.
NEED A LIFT?
Recently I’ve been feeling tired and worn out. I don’t think that I’m overworking myself and don’t want to hype my body up on caffeine. How can I get more energy in a healthy way?
Colin Jay Leitchfield, KY
Have you tried exercise to boost your energy? I know it sounds crazy but one of the benefits from daily exercise can be increased energy levels. If you try different types of exercise you might be surprised to find something you really enjoy doing that has multiple health benefits. A major benefit is stress reduction, which can also help you with feeling tired or overwhelmed. Also, you might try lessening the amount of refined sugar and processed foods you take in. Keeping your blood sugar regular can increase energy and keep your body from working overtime to digest these more complicated foods. To help maintain energy balance I would suggest drinking lots of water, giving yourself time for short power naps when you can and, above all, not skipping breakfast—or any other meal for that matter. If all else fails, you can always try Feng Shui!
Always ask your doctor, but we'll try our best to heal you. Write editor@instinctmagazine.com
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