Heel Appeal!
From the Editors at Netscape

Call it heel appeal. Women who wear high heels may give their sex life a boost, and it has nothing to do with the effect these sexy shoes have on men and their libido.
Italian urologist Dr. Maria Cerruto of the University of Verona has concluded that walking in higher heels--and they don't have to be stilettos--gives a workout to the pelvic floor muscles, the pleasure muscles that are linked to orgasm.
This may be the first scientific study to show high heels are good for a woman's health. Previous research has shown such shoes can give women everything from stress fractures to schizophrenia, not to mention corns and sore feet.Editor's Picks: Steve Madden Pumps -- Nine West Slingbacks
The BBC News and London's Daily Mail report that Cerruto's study of 66 women under age 50 found that those who held their foot at a 15-degree angle to the ground, which is the same effect as a two-inch heel, had posture that was just as good as those who wore flat shoes. But these women also showed less electrical activity in their pelvic muscles, which indicates those muscles were at an optimum position. Cerruto maintains this could improve the strength and ability of the pelvic muscles to contract. These muscles assist sexual performance and satisfaction, as well as provide vital support to the pelvic organs, which include the bladder, bowels and uterus. Editor's Picks: Guess Footwear -- Bandolino ShoesPregnancy and childbirth, as well as aging, can weaken the pelvic muscles. Exercises help, but Cerruto theorizes that wearing two-inch high heels may be enough to eliminate the need for those exercises. "Women often have difficulty in carrying out the right exercises for the pelvic zone and wearing heels could be the solution," she told the BBC. "Like many women, I like high-heeled shoes. It's good to know they have potential health benefits."
But moderation counts! Shoe designer Manolo Blahnik told The Daily Mail, "I think there's a limit, though. Anything over four-and-a-half inches is just too much. You can't walk properly; it's no longer elegant."
The study was published as a letter in the journal European Urology.

2008 Comeback Stories: Silicone is back in

2008 Comeback Stories: Silicone is back in

by Tracy Coenen Mar 4th 2008 @ 4:15PM

This post is part of our series on people, places and things that have found new life in 2008.
Silicone breast implants, after falling into disfavor in the early 90's on claims that they caused various diseases including cancer, are back. In their latest incarnation, a safer fourth-generation "gummybear' silicon material, they are expected to grow to a $620 million product by 2012.Plastic surgery has never been more popular, thanks to television shows like Extreme Makeover and Dr. 90210. Led by the creepy Dr. Robert Rey, the show Dr. 90210 shows young men and women that they can look however they want with just a cut of the knife and a few nauseating comments from the doctor about how gorgeous their boobs are.One of the most popular plastic surgery procedures is undoubtedly breast implants. In late 2006, the Food and Drug Administration approved silicone gel implants, deeming them safe and effective. Although silicone had been accused of causing certain medical problems/symptoms in the past, doctors using the implants now say that they are safe. Women who get silicone breast implants no longer just get an increased size. They get a product that now feels more natural than ever. And silicone implants aren't just for your boobs anymore. They can be used all over your body: from cheeks to lips to butts. Depending upon which body part the implant is used for, its consistency may be a little different to give it the most natural look possible. Aren't you glad that you can now sculpt your body using silicone practically anywhere?

by Tracy Coenen Mar 4th 2008 @ 4:15PM