4 myths about healthy sex

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Ever wonder if everyone is having lots of perfect sex… except you and your partner? 

Most of us question how our sex lives stack up. In fact, chances are your sex life is in better shape than you think—even with the occasional off-night or dry spell. 

Here, four top myths you shouldn't buy into.

Myth #1: You both need to be in the mood
It's normal for sex to be a little ho-hum for one or both spouses up to 15 percent of the time. Any number of factors can throw things a bit off-kilter: timing, your mood or his, the amount of foreplay, life stresses, you name it. Rather than postponing until the planets align, have sex when you can—and don't interpret an off night as a sign of a failing relationship. If your man seems disengaged, just be affectionate and look forward to next time. To keep things exciting, make a point of venturing out of your comfort zone occasionally with new positions, locations, and sexy videos.

However, if one or both of you is never, ever in the mood anymore, consider seeing a therapist or medical doctor to rule out any underlying health problems.

Health.com: 10 Reasons Why You're Not Having Sex

Myth #2: The best sex is spontaneous
It's a fact of modern life: What we don't schedule, we don't do—and sex is no exception. Expecting it to just happen spur-of-the-moment could lead to long dry spells, whereas penciling it in on your calendar is a show of commitment; plus, it gives you both something to anticipate.

I advise my clients to establish a weekly time for intimacy, meaning anything from sex to cuddling. Choose a time you can both commit to easily, without exhaustion or daily responsibilities getting in the way. Devoting that time should take you back to those eagerly anticipated first dates.

Health.com: 12 Secrets to Better Orgasms 

Myth #3: You must have sex three times a week
Having sex regularly nourishes a relationship, sure, but don't get too caught up in the counting. Most happy couples don't have sex every day or even two or three times a week. What's important is that you both are satisfied with the frequency.

If that's not the case, start a discussion outside the bedroom by saying something like, "We don't have sex as often anymore, and it worries me." And remember: There's more to a healthy sex life than just sex. Get your RDA of intimacy by cuddling, holding hands, and spontaneously hugging and kissing.

Health.com: The Best Workouts for Your Sex Life

Myth #4: Good sex is long and slow
Few of us can afford the luxury of leisurely sex. (Frankly, most of us secretly think it sounds like more work after an exhausting day.) And holding out for the ideal moment can lead to infrequent or, even worse, vacation-only sex. The solution? Embrace the quickie. Think of it like a sex snack, sure to boost your energy and put you back in the mood. For extra excitement, break out of the bedroom: Five-minute romps are perfect for unusual locations.

This article originally appeared on Health.com.

Dr. Jennifer Berman is the director of the Berman Women's Wellness Center and the author of For Women Only.

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The most notorious health myths

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We are bombarded with health tips every day, but some of those messages may be harmful if you don’t get the facts straight.

Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, author of Real Cause Real Cure, spoke with Dr. Manny Alvarez, senior managing health editor for FoxNews.com, about some of the most notorious health myths.

Myth #1: Arthritis medication is the best treatment for arthritis.

According Teitelbaum, more than 30,000 unnecessary deaths occur each year from arthritis medications.  

“If you take a look at things like ibuprofen or the standard arthritis medication, 16,500 bleeding ulcer deaths a year in the United States from those medications – and the doubling and tripling of heart attack and stroke risk.”

While Teitelbaum says it’s better to be on medication than to be in pain, there are natural remedies for arthritis that are much safer.  End Pain, which is a mix of willow bark and boswellia, has shown to be twice as effective as ibuprofen in studies, Teitelbaum noted.  Also, Curamin and boswellia were found to be more effective than Celebrex.  And rather than getting side effects, the natural remedies provide side benefits – such as decreasing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and the risk of cancer.

Myth #2: You need to take calcium to treat osteoporosis.

A very controversial claim Teitelbaum makes is that taking calcium is for osteoporosis can actually do more harm than good.

“Osteoporosis is not calcium deficiency, and the calcium has very little benefit,” he said.  “But recent studies show that it can increase heart attack deaths up to 31 percent – which is massive.”

Instead of taking unnecessary calcium, Teitelbaum says to simply drink more milk and other natural sources of the element.  But more importantly, since the calcium isn’t exactly needed, individuals with osteoporosis can take minerals, such as Strontium – which has been shown to be almost twice as effective as medications.  Magnesium, vitamin D, boron and other nutrients help increase bone density and the production of healthy new bone.

Myth #3: Antacids are necessary to treat indigestion.

Many Americans suffer from indigestion, and numerous medications purport to relieve symptoms from the embarrassing condition.  However, Teitelbaum says that antacids don’t exactly treat the source of the problem.

“Indigestion is not too much stomach acid; it’s poor digestion,” Teitelbaum said.  “If you don’t have what you need to digest your food, you eat this big mega-meal, and an hour later, it’s still sitting in your stomach.”

In order to aid digestion, Teitelbaum suggests taking digestive enzymes, such as Digest Gold.  Whatever brand you use, make sure they are 100 percent plant-based enzymes.  Probiotic culture found in yogurts and supplement are also helpful in the lower abdomen, relieving gas, bloating, diarrhea and constipation.

Myth #4:  Avoid the sun.

Teitelbaum said the myth that people should avoid the sun at all costs probably results in tens of thousands of unnecessary cancer deaths each year.

“Most of the deadly skin cancers, called melanomas, are not in sun-exposed areas,” he said.  “They’re increasing because of poor immune function, from poor sleep, poor nutrition and other factors.”

The skin cancers caused by sunshine are usually not the dangerous kinds, Teitelbaum said.  Instead, sunshine is critical for vitamin D, an important hormone and vitamin.  Without vitamin D, individuals can have an increased risk of breast cancer, autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis and diabetes.

Also, Teitelbaum has simple advice to balance damage versus benefit when it comes to the sun: “Avoid sunburn, not sunshine,” Teitelbaum said.

Myth #5: Heart failure is a death sentence.

One of the biggest causes of death for many Americans is heart failure, but the condition does not necessarily mean a person’s time is up.

“It’s very easy to improve heart muscle function using natural remedies that play very well with the medication,” Teitelbaum said.  “Certainly blood thinners that you want to get through doctors are okay before you add anything to those, but things like Coenzyme Q10, 200 mg a day will markedly improve heart function.”

Ribose, a simple energy nutrient, can help heart function, along with Acetyl Carnitine, magnesium and B-vitamins.  Ultimately these supplements help improve muscle function.

“The heart beats more efficiently, and therefore the symptoms often go away,” Teitelbaum said.

Myth #6: Thyroid screenings are accurate.

When it comes to the thyroid screening methodology doctors use today, Teitelbaum says doctors don’t understand what ‘normal’ means.  He says it means you’re not in the highest or lowest 2 percent of the population.

“You have to treat the person, not just the blood test,” Teitelbaum said. “People whose thyroid levels are in the low-normal range, versus high-normal, have a 69 percent increased risk of dying of heart attack.  People with mild, low thyroid – where many doctors say we don’t need to treat it – if you do treat it, their heart attack risk goes down by more than 30 percent.”

Patients who are treated for mild to low thyroid often see increased energy levels, weight loss, and healthier skin and hair – among other benefits, Teitelbaum added.

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5 weight-lifting myths

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Some things are beyond question—planetary motion, LeBron James's defense. But when it comes to weight-lifting advice, it pays to be a skeptic. 

"The gym is filled with false information," says strength and conditioning coach Josh Henkin, a certified strength and conditioning specialist. 

Here are five weightlifting myths that might be holding you back, and the fast fixes that will have you seeing results again.

MYTH 1: GOOD FORM IS EVERYTHING IN THE GYM
The claim: Performing exercises the way they're intended will maximize results.

The truth: Sometimes cheating can boost your gains. Using a bit of momentum in the lateral raise, for example, increases the torque of your shoulder joint, helping you raise a heavier weight to the point at which your deltoids take over, notes a study in the European Journal of Applied Physiology.

"You can achieve a similar effect with biceps curls," says sports biomechanist Bret Contreras, also a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Just keep the body English to a minimum.

Have the best new exercises delivered to you weekly. Sign up for the Men’s Health Exercise of the Week newsletter.

MYTH 2: SLOW LIFTING BUILDS HUGE MUSCLES
The claim: Deliberate, controlled lifts ensure proper form and accelerate muscular gains.

The truth: Slow and steady is a smart strategy for lowering a weight, but lifting it quickly activates more type II muscle fibers, which have the greatest growth potential. 

Bottom line: "Vary your lifting speed," says Henkin. "In the bench press, for example, pause every 5 inches on the way down, and then push up explosively." Varying your pace will fatigue you faster, so start doing this on the last reps of your final set. (Want more ways secrets to size and strength? Try the Maximum Mass Workout to get bigger, faster.)

MYTH 3: IF YOU WANT TO GROW BIG, YOU HAVE TO LIFT BIG
The claim: Heavy weights and low reps (5 or fewer) trigger the greatest increase in muscle mass.

The truth: The sweet spot is 6 to 15 reps, says Brad Schoenfeld, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and author of The MAX Muscle Plan. Lifting a moderate weight in that rep range creates an optimal balance of muscular tension and metabolic stress. That in turn maximizes your protein production after exercise as well as the number of contracting mechanisms within a muscle cell. The result: serious gains in size, strength, and force production.

MYTH 4: RESTING BETWEEN SETS IS CRITICAL
The claim: Giving your muscles a break lets you put your all into every set.

The truth: Staying active between sets boosts performance. "Doing low-intensity, noncompeting moves, called fillers, between sets enhances mind-muscle communication without compromising recovery," says Mike Wunsch, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and director of programming at Results Fitness. Try lateral band walks between lower-body sets and I-raises between upper-body sets.

(Consistent workouts mean better results. Learn How to Squeeze Exercise into Any Day.)

MYTH 5: POSTWORKOUT SHAKES BOOST MUSCLE GROWTH
The claim: There's a window of opportunity after a workout when muscles are primed to respond to protein.

The truth: That idea is based on a small number of short-term studies that evaluated people who trained after fasting overnight, says Alan Aragon, a Men's Health nutrition advisor. Your focus should be on total daily protein. 

"Shoot for one gram per pound of body weight a day," he says. Falling short? Down a protein shake whenever it's most convenient for you. (Store-bought shakes can be overpriced and low on protein. Fuel your muscles with The Ultimate Shake You Can Blend At Home.)

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