Age Shmage - Does It Matter When It Comes To Romance?

You thought Romeo and Juliet had it bad. When it comes to social disapproval, people who love a much younger or older partner face discrimination as intense as that encountered by interracial and same-sex couples.

Though Demi Moore's marriage to Ashton Kutcher, 15 years her junior, may have opened some minds, people in relationships with more than a 10-year age gap face frequent public scorn in the form of disapproving stares or poor restaurant service. "It's one of those biases that people find justifiable," says Justin Lehmiller, a Purdue University researcher.

Oprah Gets It - Money Can Buy Happiness - Here's How!

Whether it's Oprah's The Big Give or Pay It Forward now it's a scienfic fact.  They more you give away the happier you're going to be. Researchers at the University of British Columbia and the Harvard Business School have found that it's possible to buy happiness after all: when you spend money on other people.

In a series of studies, UBC Asst. Prof. Elizabeth Dunn found that individuals report significantly greater happiness if they spend money "pro-socially" - that is on gifts for others or charitable donations - rather than spending on themselves. Her findings will appear in the March 21 edition of the journal Science.

Jamie Lee Curtis 50 and Topless

Jamie Lee Curtis is at it again.  This time she's decided bare her soul – and body – to convince women that they will be their most beautiful if they take care of their bodies and age naturally. 

Jamie will turn 50 in November and decided to celebrate by posing gray-haired and topless on the May-June cover of AARP Magazine.

Remember when she appeared make-up free in More Magazine in 2002?  In that spread she wore a sports bra and briefs now she's going even further.

She says she prefers the natural look of her hair, which went gray in her mid-40s. And as sexy as she was in early films, she has more confidence than ever in her looks.

"I think I have finally found what I hope beauty is, or at least, beauty as it applies to me," says Curtis.

Estrogen Helps Memory Loss in Women

Menopause related memory loss is a common occurrence for many women.  We joke about those "senior moments" but at the same time find them scary and frustrating.  With all the news about baby boomers contracting Alzheimer's Disease we can't help but wonder if this is the beginning of something a lot worse.

But, there is some good news to report.  My doctor has been telling me this for years, but unfortunately women aren't hearing enough about it. Estrogen helps the brain. Not the conjugated equine estrogen found in Premarin, but 17-beta estradiol the more natural alternative.

Once again I have to congratulate Melinda Beck over at the Wall Street Journal.  She is reporting on research that shows the positive effects for women using bioidentical hormones.  She is giving us both sides of a very controversial issue.

Yesterday she wrote a column on memory loss that I think you should read.  In the article there are resources where you can find more documented information on the subject. 

To read Melinda's Beck's column click here.

In Treatment - What If Your Therapist Doesn't Get You?

I must confess, I got hooked into watching every single episode of HBO's "In Treatment".  For me it was Gabriel Byrne's sensitivity for his patients that kept me glued to the screen.  But alas this is make believe and unfortunately in real life not every therapist is as sensitive to the needs of their patients.

The decision to work with a therapist is a tough one, but there are times in life when we just need that extra emotional support.

Many people who go into therapy have good experiences. The patient feels understood and well supported by the therapist, but what if your therapy leaves you feeling frustrated? What if you believe your therapist isn't "getting you"? What if you aren't receiving the outcome you expected?

Gardasil Vaccine: Merck Expanding It's Market

Merck is getting a little too greedy even for a pharmaceutical company.  It has persuaded the Food and Drug Administration to fast track approval of its cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil for older women.  They are now recommending that doctors give it to their patients who are 27 to 45.

Here are three ways Gardasil benefits Merck's bottom line.

• Gardasil, already approved for females ages 9 to 26, is one of Merck's top-selling products with $1.5 billion in sales last year.
• Use among older women may generate an additional $1 billion in annual sales for Merck.
• Merck is counting on Gardasil to replace revenue lost from products losing patentent protection.

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Merck is getting a little too greedy even for a pharmaceutical company.  It has persuaded the Food and Drug Administration to fast track approval of its cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil for older women.  They are now recommending that doctors give it to their patients who are 27 to 45.

Here are three ways Gardasil benefits Merck's bottom line.

Masturbation: What Every Woman Needs To Know

Self pleasuring is not a subject most people feel particularly comfortable talking about.  In my humble opinion, masturbation has been associated with guilt and shame for much too long.  Masturbation has lots of great benefits, and now is as good a time as any to find out what they are. Understanding how your body works can turn ho hum sex into a mind blowing experience.

Today I received an excellent article written by Carrie Levine at Women to Women.  For those of you who are not familiar with Women to Women it's a health clinic founded by Dr. Christiane Northrup and three other colleagues. It was among the first facilities in the world devoted to health care for women, by women.

Carrie's article on masturbation is jammed pack with wonderful information on everything from the female orgasm to the psychological and physical benefits of masturbation. So please click here for a much clearer understanding of female sexuality.

Enjoy!

Organic Brands May Not Be So Organic

A new study commissioned by a U.S. consumer watchdog found that leading brands of personal care products such as shampoos, lotions and body washes that are labeled organic or 100 per cent natural contain an undisclosed carcinogenic toxin 1,4-Dioxane.

The announcement was made by the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), a consumer group with over half a million members.

Paul McCartney & Heather Mills Divorce Settlement

Heather Mills must be in the local pub hoisting a tall one today.  She was awarded $48.6 million (U.S.) in her divorce settlement with Paul McCartney.  That works out to be about $8 million for every year they were married.

The Family Court judge awarded Mills a lump sum of 16.5 million pounds ($33 million U.S.) plus the assets she currently holds worth 7.8 million pounds $15.6million U.S.), the document says.

The court also ruled that the couple's 4-year-old daughter, Beatrice, should receive a "periodical payments order" of 35,000 pounds $70,000 U.S.)  a year. On top of that, McCartney will pay for the child's nanny and school fees.

Did Sir Paul get off easy? 

Spitzer Syndrome - Why Smart Men Continue to Do Stupid Things

For the last week all we've heard are theories why Eliot Spitzer did such a stupid thing.  He's not the first and he certainly won't be the last smart man who betrayed his family or put his career on the line to indulge his sexual fantasies.

I read this article  in AlterNet by Michael Bader who is a psychologist and psychoanalyst in San Francisco.  He is the author of "Arousal:  The Secret Logic of Sexual Fantasies".  Bader's believes going to a hooker theory gives a man temporary psychic relief.  It's an interesting piece so enjoy reading it.