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You know that commercial “Sweet Surprise” about the “truth” behing high fructose corn syrup? Believe me, the first time I saw it, I was in a surprise myself, but not so much of a “sweet surprise” as how they put it. It is a fact that high fructose corn syrup is not simply a corn syrup, but it has been enzymatically processed to highten the fructose level (making it sweeter.) Unfortunately, not organic, and unhealthy.
But then of course, any type of sugar is okay in moderation, right? This is true, but there are much more options out there than sweetening your food with high fructose corn syrup and/or even regular white sugar. Try organic cane sugar, that “sugar in the raw” stuff, or honey, or maple syrup. There are much less processing to those products, and since there isn’t much need for shipping, it is more nutritious (no need for extra preservatives).
Sure, the FDA stated that it is “Generally Recognized as Safe” and the American Medical Association concluded that it does not contribute to the increasing level of obesity in America… This is because high fructose corn syrup is not deadly / poisonous (we all know that), and of course, the increasing level of obesity is not because of high fructose corn syrup itself, but the products that it is in. When is it that you see an organic healthy food containing high fructose corn syrup. Although it may not be as unhealthy by itself, healthier foods often opt for healthier sweeteners, and high fructose corn syrup isn’t it.
A recent reading in the Washington Post, “High Fructose Corn Syrup: Not so Sweet for the Planet” also concluded that the production of high fructose corn syrup is not environmentally friendly. Ouch. Since the production of corn requires large amounts of land specifically for corn, there is no diversity. Also, corn production requires extra fertilization and insecticides causing the top soil to “die” and become nutrion-less and leads to erosion. An area in the Gulf of Mexico the size of New Jersey already is a dead zone, because there is a soil runoff from Mississippi and therefore nothing could grow there.
So, I’m sorry “Sweet Surprise”. Your high-fructose-corn-syrup-is-healthy advertisement is not completely true.
So it’s not hard to notice that Hollywood is taking a new step in creating a new trend, that is, getting pregnant. Of course, it’s not hard to say that pregnancy is beautiful thing, and often regarded as sexy, and more women are deciding to get the bumps this year. I am not just talking about the married or mature and ready couples here, but younger girls too. Girls who are not ready… but then again, who cares whether you’re ready or not, right? (No!!)
People like Jamie Lynn Spears who was 16 when she discovered that she’s pregnant. The media’s turn on this? That it is a great thing, Jamie will get all the support she needs, the baby will be okay, it’s not her fault, and so on. Well, the truth is, viewing teenage pregnancy like this will not help other teenage girls to look up to Jamie (who, by the way is Britney Spears’ younger sister), and actually believe that teenage pregnancy is okay.
Then we have the movies and TV shows. For example, Juno. If you have seen this movie, then you would understand. This movie is not for young girls who does not understand the complication and risks of getting pregnant. Why? Because this movie is about embracing and coping with teenage pregnancy. One scene from the movie goes like this:
Juno: “I’m pregnant.”
Stepmom: “Oh God.”
Juno: “But I’m going to give it up for adoption! I’d already found the perfect couple, they’re going to pay for the medical expenses and everything, and, and, 30 odd weeks so we can just pretend that this never happened!
“
Dad: “You’re pregnant?”
Juno: “I’m sorry… and if it is any consolation I have heartburn…”
… And then they started talking about who the father was, and started making fun of the boy who had gotten Juno pregnant in the first place, and the focus of the later conversation was straight onto dealing with the pregnancy. You could almost feel that when you’re there with the scene, there is no stress level, no worries and it’s like telling your parents that you stole gum from the hardware store. Big deal.
Well the truth is, pregnancy is a big deal and is not an easy thing. A normal parent would not deal with their children’s pregnancy as easy and relaxed as the parents in this movie. Sadly, young oblivious teenage girls would not understand this, and would actually believe that if they are pregnant, it would just be as easy as telling your parents your stole gum from the hardware store.
Adding to all this, is the so-called “pregnancy pact” that happened in a high school at Gloucester, MA. Apparently, about 17 girls decided to get pregnant and raise the children together, and these girls go as far as getting random homeless man to get themselves pregnant. What is this, a pregnancy sorority? So many girls are trying to join the pact and so many girls are willing to do whatever it takes.
The blame to all this? The media, the lack of sex education (which apparently only reached up to Freshmen), and most importantly, the parents.
Perhaps it is about time that every young girl around the nation know and understand fully the risks, the process and everything in between of getting pregnant. It’s not as easy as how they showed in the Hollywood. If you really would like to see real pregnancy and real parenthood, go to Discovery Health channel and watch is once in a while. And, to know what it’s like to take care of a baby, take care of one for a night.
Plus, it’s expensive! If you think that your current household could definitely afford a baby, think again. A baby’s first year could cost $9,000-$11,000 (www.surebaby.com), and that’s only the first 12 months. And the cost only go higher as your baby grows older. And this is only the money figures, babies not only cost dollars, but they can cost you time as well. The time you will have to spend taking care of the baby considering a newborn is in need of constant care and attention. Lacking any of this will cause the baby a failure to thrive (both organically and emotionally).
Also, another important fact is that teenage girls are not physically nor mentally ready to have a child. This is probably a known fact that many teenage girls miss. A teenage girls’ body (say, around 13-16) are still in the stage of developing. Adding a baby to the mass of that developing body could cause complications to not only the growing baby, but to the carrying girl as well.
Then the most important of it all: the beginning. Having unprotected sex is really a dumb choice. Pregnancy is not the only risk (especially when these girls really want it), but there are other risks like STD’s. And, really, how much do you know about STD’s? How much do you actually remember about the different kinds of the most common STD’s out there? Or the fact that many STD’s does not show any symptoms in the first few months and some could even be deadly? And STD does not only proof a threat to the girls themselves, but to others that they may have sex with again in the future as well as the baby (if they are pregnant).
So, pregnancy isn’t so pretty after all ain’t it? Isn’t it about time… NOW, that we need to inform our young generations of healthy and full-of-potential girls about sex, pregnancy and everything in between?
After reading the many books by Alice Hoffman, Here on Earth is definitely the one that touched me the most. I would say, the best one so far. In this book, Hoffman is able to portray love as how it is in real life, cheating, real love, reality and somehow still able to collaborate her usual magical writing style.
*Some spoiler are present. But not to the extreme
This is one book that I HIGHLY recommend to anyone out there who loves reading about fiction that portrays love, life, romance, family, and different individuals. Perhaps Hoffman has been able to cover quite a numerous amount of different types of individuals within this one book. One which interests me in examining individually: their motives, characteristics, behaviors and personality.
There are some dark sides to this book, though. It hurts me whenever Hoffman writes a sexual intercourse scene in a really rough and dirty way. I feel as if when she writes this, it makes me really dislike to whole situation. Maybe that’s what’s she’s trying to make the readers feel, and that’s exactly the results. There are scenes where Hollis, the “Mr.Death” as one would say, were having sex (note: not making love) with March Murray who’s been in love with him since they were young. I am glad that Hoffman separates Hollis as a young and Hollis when he grew up because they are two completely different individuals.
I’ve learned quite a bit by just reading this novel. That love could drive a person blind, so blind that they would let themselves be abused, beaten up and even stranded to die. Yes, there are a lot of abusive actions going on the books. Hoffman portrays Belinda (Hollis’ first wife) as to one that is too kind and so kind that she won’t admit that she’s being abused. And that’s exactly what abused women do, they are so kind, so in love, so distorted that they are unable to make choices for themselves. They believe in a surreal reality, lost in dreams, unable to make out the reality any longer. Friends and family tried to help, but they can only do so much because the only person who could stop the abuse is the woman herself. Yes. The woman herself is the one who has the full power to leave the relationship and get legal help. Thankfully that’s exactly what March Murray did. She finally awakens at the end of the story. She finally open her eyes to reality.
Another lesson is how a wife could love her husband so much that even when her husband is in love with another woman, she stayed by his side so lovingly. Until they grew old and died together. This type of love makes me cry, because the man has never meant to hurt the woman’s feeling. But he can’t help but falling in love with the other woman. Until the other woman (who’s loved by everyone in town) died. The man still loves the dead woman, but his wife is still by his side. As his best friend, he would feel, but she loves him much much more than that.
As soon as I closed the book (which only took me about 4-5 hours to read by the way), I was trembling. Abusive men are scary. Just reading Hoffman’s story makes me scared and tremble. The way they could make a woman feel like they’re the only one in the world, the way he could make them stay, shut up and the way they could control them anyway he wants. Such manipulation, it’s scary. Oh I can only wish that my man won’t turn into such beast. Such beast who deserves a new perspective in life – which is almost impossible to do.
The abusive man, Hollis, is one who has nothing and received everything at one. All just to proof to the world that he’s worth a lot more than what used to. But his ways are evil, he used trickery, and nothing legal. All to proof that he’s powerful. So powerful that he could have any women in town feel like their the only one he loves. So powerful that he could let his wife die in his own house of acute pneumonia. Scary. Real scary.
Hoffman even mentions how a judge thinks of domestic violence cases. How impossible it is to help the victim, when the victim her/himself does not speak out. How easy it is to tell a lie out of a victim, all to get themselves away from safety. What can a judge do? No proof. No charges.
Basically, this book is one worth reading and examining. It makes you rethink about what real love is all about. How your perception of love could change when you’re 15, 20, 40 and 60. Or if that “love” have anything to do with it all, maybe it’s something else entirely but we simply have no word for it? Maybe that feeling of possessiveness, of ownership, of wanting each other so much is not love? Interesting, right? They said that one could love a man/woman that they would do anything for them, even if it includes being beaten up and abused? What kind of love would that be? Is that really love at all?
Maybe we should rethink the word “love” by itself…
Girls, did you know that once you hit the age of 18 you’re supposed to start seeing a gynecologist? It does not matter whether you are sexually active or not, but it’s the fact that you’re reaching that age of turning from a teenager to a young adult. In fact, if you are sexually active earlier than the age 18, then you SHOULD quickly consult a gynecologist.
Why? What do you know about your sex organ, ladies? Unless you really paid attention in upper-level health classes, you really don’t know much. I was surprised of how much information I’ve been missing.
But isn’t seeing a gyno only important once you have sex? WRONG. The fact is, you can’t really know what’s going on unless an expert comes and check you out. What could go wrong before you have sex? Cancer, viruses, bacterial infections, and other health related risks you could possibly have but don’t know. It’s sad to see a girl of 14 year of age being diagnosed with ovarian cysts but didn’t know about it until later age.
But I’m too shy. What are my friends going to think? Are you thinking for yourself or for your friends? The fact that you are aware of your health is far more important than worrying about what your friends think. Better be safe than sorry
I’m sexually active, but I’m sure nothing is wrong. How would you know this? Did a health expert (gyno) told you this? Did you know that a lot of STD’s (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) does not show symptoms or very little of it? Did you know the many ways that you could get pregnant? Do you even know how to perform a vaginal exam yourself? Let the expert do their work, you just sit and relax and know for sure that nothing is wrong.
Why do I have to see a gyno to obtain birth control pills? Because every woman is different and every pill out there is different. If you look at the labels of birth control pills, it has different amounts of hormones. Remember that birth control pills are basically hormonal pills, which releases exact amount of hormones into your body. Only an expert could really determine which pills would be best for you. Which is why they need to go through an extensive exam to make sure that you’re getting the right pills. They will give you “test pills” and see how your body reacts. Once they’ve found the right pills for you, you’re good to go.
Fine, I guess I’m going to see a gyno. What now? Simply look for the closest gyno through your insurance health care directory. Another way to find a good gyno is through referrals. Make sure that they accept your insurance! There are bad gynos and good gynos out there It’s basically like finding the right doctor!
Yearly Exams: What is it?
It is suggested that females get a yearly exams. These exams include pap-smear and sometimes chlymidia tests (through lab). And of course external and rectal exams. (Rectal: to make sure there are not cysts, tumors and cancers in the rectum as well as the uterus.)
If your are a first timer, let your gyno know of this. They will make sure that they will make your first time as comfortable as possible. Don’t worry, there will be a nurse present whenever the gynecologist is a male. Sometimes nurses are present when the gynecologist is a female, but not too often.
They will talk through every step of the way, even if it’s your 70th time going to the gyno. It’s great because you will know what’s going to happen. They will definitely let you know if a procedure is going to hurt: the pap smear test.
The pap smear test:
This test is done to see if there are any cancerous cells present within your cervix. Once they inserted the “opener” (I really don’t know what they’re called), they’re going to insert a cotton-bud and take a sample tissue from the lining of your cervix. If you don’t know what a cervix is, you really better go find out. Learn your anatomy! They will send that cotton-bud into lab and they will send you the results through mail.
That would really be the only painful procedure. But some doctors know how to do it so then it wouldn’t be as painful. This is why finding the right gyno is important. It’s nice to have your procedure as comfortable as possible.
How long will I have to spread my legs?? The whole procedure as whole should not take more than 5-10 minutes. That’s it. 5-10 minutes once year could change your life. It’s quick, almost-painless and yet very important for your health.
You will spend a lot of talking with your gyno and this is a good time to ask whatever question you have in mind. I mean, ANY question(s)!! Don’t be embarrassed because in the health care industry, nothing is really embarrassing if it concerns your health. If you feel that something is unusual or wrong, ask your gyno about it. Also remember, if you are sexually active, tell your gyno about your sexual life. They will definitely ask you questions, but if you have further concerns, simply ask. It’s nice to know as much as you can about your own body and the health of your sexual life.
So, have you seen a gyno this year?
P.S. As far as I’m concerned you spell “gynocologist,” but I have red dots under that one, and it said the right spelling is “gynecologist.” Hm…
I’m very disappointed when I found out many of my friends have little or almost no sex knowledge. I know that it’s a sensitive subject and I know that it involves strong opinions from different cultures and beliefs. I see it as a matter of health issue. Let’s face it, there has been approximately “750,000 teen pregnancies in the United States, including over 215,000 abortions” (4parents.gov). Why? Simply because parents and schools are afraid to be open about sex and would rather “keep it low” rather than let it be an open subject for all. When you think that the only affected individual is the pregnant teen, you’re wrong. How about the teen’s parents, the school and especially the government. The government spent “at least $7 billion anually” (pregnantteenhelp.org).
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Don’t even try and mention STD’s. Do you even know how many different types of STD’s are out there? Do you know them from the back of your hand like you know the different types of seasonal sickness that you have? Well it’s time that you should. There are many STD’s that can be transmitted not only sexually but simply from touch. For example, a male/female who has genital herpes may transmit the disease through oral sex. This will cause a blister-looking infection on the lips, sometimes very small you may not even recognize it. Then imagine that affected person kissing another person. There, a transmit has occurred. Just like that.
Then there are other types of diseases that are more violent: viruses, especially the HIV. It can kill you and until this very day, there is no 100%-one-for-all cure for HIV. If you still don’t know how HIV could attack your immune system, well you better get online and start searching about it. Just imagine how important of a role our immune system has on our body, to heal scars (both internal and external) and to kill bacterias and unwanted viruses: basically to protect your body. The HIV cells can multiply at a MUCH faster rate than normal cells in our body. Worse, they use our existing cells to duplicate, which is why it is very difficult to detect because they hide behind the mask of our existing cells. It’s like having to sit next to a person looking exactly like you, only that person could destroy and kill you in seconds.
The topics mentioned above are in a lot of our sex education class (thankfully) although many schools still refuse to include sex education in their health curriculum thinking that it will promote sex but it will actually do quite otherwise. Imaging showing a video of a female giving birth – it gave me the creeps when I first saw it. Definitely something I wouldn’t want to go through with just anybody, especially during the teenage years.
There are so many myths about sex out there that many people think are true. This is the side of sex that they didn’t mention in sex education. Facts such as the life of sperm when they’re in water or in chlorine water for example. Truth be told, not all 100% sperm cells will die during water-intercourse. Guess how many you need to get pregnant? One. Also other myths such as sexual intercourse during menstrual period will prevent the female of getting pregnant – I really don’t have to explain this one. Doh! Other funny myths include how some people actually think that oral and anal sex are not actually sex because they are not vaginal intercourse. They do involve sexual arousal and I would say that anything involving sexual arousal (including touching, kissing, etc.) is part of sex.
Then the myths spread to not just the method of sex, but the prevention of pregnancies through contraception. Some people thought that condoms will prevent STD’s. It won’t. Or, putting double condoms will prevent pregnancy: wrong! You will actually trigger the tearing of condoms by wearing 2 of them. Then the birth control pills.
Let me just talk briefly about birth control pills and how their usage varies from being simply a birth control method. Birth control pills are also called hormonal pills. Maybe if we call them that, we won’t think birth control pills as strictly a birth control method. The way the pills work is just like any other hormonal methods out there (patch, nuva ring, etc.), they secrete hormones into your body and control the hormone levels (both progesterone and testosterones). For birth control advantage, they control the production of eggs in your body. For other advantages, they: control acne, cramps, heavy bleeding and any other difficulties women face resulting from hormonal changes. Also, since the pills will control your hormones, many women who are trying to get pregnant are actually prescribed with the pills so their menstrual cycle will be regulated, resulting in a predictable time of when the women can get pregnant.
The myths surrounding birth control/hormonal pills? That they will screw your hormones for the rest of your life. It won’t. The moment you stop taking the pills, your hormone levels will go back to its normal state because you are no longer controlling it. You will definitely get blood clotting. Yes, there are some risks to taking hormonal pills and so there are risks of taking acne-control pills and cramps-reducing pills. Also, pills that are more likely to cause blood-clots are slowly being taken out of market because of the slowly more aware consumers. Plus, if you are thinking of getting pills, try and research the pills that you are about to take as well as read the labels!
Well this is just a point or two I’d like to make about sex education and everything else that revolves around it. We see banners everywhere today promoting safe-sex talk with your children. Also how teens should talk freely about sex with their friends as well as their partners. Research about it, talk about it, be smart about it. It’s sad how intellectual individuals does not have enough information on sex – where I would say, it’s just like any other important science topics, only this one involves your body. Children are starting to get curious about their sexuality as early as the age of 8. So when parents (maybe you) think that there is no way your children is going to even thought of sex when they’re 9, think again. It’s better that you inform your children as many good informations as you can and make them decide on their own just how risky sex is. It’s better knowing that your children is open about their sexuality as well as knowing that they’re safe rather than not talking about it and having your children knock on your door with a pregnant belly or a handful of STD’s.
Maybe a good line would be “before you have sex with a guy/girl, make sure see their test results for HIV and STD’s…“
*Image taken from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/teenagepregnancy.html
