We talk a lot about birth control around here (a natural progression from our daily musings about sex). We think its ability to stop babies is pretty badass, but many of us aren’t sure if that is worth all the crappy side effects: headaches, bloat, moodiness, debilitating cramps….We seriously thought we had it pretty bad until we found out that all of our suffering was nothing compared to those unlucky ladies who opted for the birth control patch.

While it was marketed as every woman’s dream birth control option (”Lower estrogen! Lasts all month! No need to remember those pesky daily pills!”), it has recently become every woman’s worst nightmare.

“The patch actually delivered much higher doses of estrogen than the pill; Johnson & Johnson failed to reveal this to the public for six years. At least fifty deaths have been attributed to the patch because of this, with thousands more women reporting alarming symptoms.”

The people behind the patch have been dealing with major lawsuits from patch users who experienced blood clots, strokes and heart attacks! Read More »

VS.

I have been addicted to Diet Coke for years. I used to start off with a jumbo fountain D.C. on my way to class at 10 AM, followed by another one at lunch and yet another (mixed with rum) for an evening snack. There was nothing on this planet that could come between me and my beloved Diet Coke. In fact, I wasn’t sure there was any way I could love it any more.

But, dear readers, there is: it seems that not only is Diet Coke the tastiest, most delectable treat on this planet….

It is also an effective spermicide! Read More »

So it’s Sunday. Unlike productive members of society who are enjoying a break from professionalism or whatever, I woke up three hours ago with a raging hangover. I reserve the right to complain about this because a) I am a college student, thus weekends are sacred and b) after I graduate all the fun is gone and nonstop partying simply isn’t in the cards for those who hold a steady job…which I hopefully will achieve.

Anyways, this occurrence is not inevitable, but pretty regular for me, and from what I’m told, countless other Weekend Warriors. So to make my (and your) Sunday morning/afternoon nausea slightly more tolerable, I present my Top 5 fave Hangover Foods.

5. McDonald’s Diet Coke + an Egg McMuffin.
This makes the list for both its deliciousness and medicinal values. McDonald’s Coke and Diet Coke WILL cure your hangover. My best friend swears by it. So does her Mom. That stuff is great. Unfortunately this meal is 1) highly inconvenient, as there’s very little chance that you will be up early enough to get an egg McMuffin and 2) usually eaten under the circumstances that your hangover is very very severe and you can only manage small bites and sips. Read More »

I quit Diet Coke. I’ve been clean for 2 months with one lapse, where I tried to save calories at the bar and went for a Bacardi and diet. I couldn’t even finish it and have been off the sauce (the cola, that is) ever since.

Basically I have come to the conclusion that diet soda isn’t that great for you. Yes, it gives you a caffeine buzz, but there’s something I respect more about coffee and tea. I also read Skinny Bitch and the scare tactics got to me. But as I tried to keep myself from running around all jittery, I realized that leaving caffeine is a lot like ending a serious relationship. Except it can actually help stop the formation of an ulcer instead of causing it.

I’m down to one cup of coffee a day. It’s trickiest when you need little pick-me-up to get through the work day, but some things have definitely helped me transition: Read More »

• Did you know that our makeup is causing us to absorb over 5 pounds of chemicals a year? I’m going to go wash my face… (UK Dailymail)

• Some good news for a Friday afternoon! The trapped miners in South Africa have been rescued. All 3,200 of them, thank God. (Associated Press)

• A remix of sorts when it comes to those daily inappropriate teacher/student stories: Advice for young high school teachers. (valleyjew.blogspot.com)

• Drop that Diet Coke…it’ll give you cancer. For real, this time! (dmiessler.com)

• Most important First Aid myth you really should know about: Peeing on wounds DOESN’T HELP. (ririanproject.com)

As if this news wasn’t bad enough (because I truly thought that “hard work and sensible meals” would work for me!), my day has just gotten worse.

Not sort of bad like, when you dry your undies on high heat and your life turns into a constant wedgie. Bad in a Diet-Coke-is-Bad-For-You way.

I understand that this news may be shocking to no one else but me, but I am just devastated. Sure, I knew all along that the artificial sweeteners that make up my favorite bev-y were bad for me.

Something about causing cancer or something, right? Well, excuse me for ignoring the warning signs and resigning to the fact that everything I do (like standing in front of my micro and watching my 94% fat-free popcorn pop) causes cancer. At least I wasn’t drinking regular Coke!

That stuff rots your teeth. And makes you fat. Duh. Read More »

I don’t know about you, but my days aren’t complete without at least 60 ounces of Diet Coke. On the way to class, at dinner, after a long night at the bar – Diet Coke is my drug. Well, that and the occasional bong hit.

Recently, though, I had to cut back on my DC intake due to some gossip I heard around town (read: on Oprah). Apparently, drinking Diet Coke can make people fat! Yes, you heard me. The high sodium content in my favorite beverage (well, besides rum and Diet Coke, of course) causes its biggest fans to pack on the poundage.

Whaaaaa?!

Oh yeah, and all that sugar substitute crap could lead to some serious health problems.

I was outraged. And apparently I wasn’t the only one.

It seems that Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi have been getting a bad rep lately. In an effort to combat all the negative press, scientists/mixologists over at the headquarters have been working hard to produce a soda product that shatters all expectations. And they have finally done it. YIPPEE!

Introducing Diet Coke Plus, a zero (yes, zero!) calorie soda with some extra nutrients sprinkled in. According to Coke, “one 8-ounce serving of the soda will provide 15 percent of the daily value (DV) of niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, and 10 percent of the DV for zinc and magnesium.” That means that instead of taking your daily vitamin with a can of DC, the can of DC can actually be your vitamin! Read More »