Ian Kerner , a sexuality counselor and New York Times best-selling author, blogs about sex weekly on The Chart. Read more from him on his website, GoodInBed. I have read “The Book.” Ok, I didn’t read the entire book, but I did do a hopscotch through the sex scenes and, on the basis of the naughty parts alone, I can understand why folks are getting hot and bothered . The book I’m referring to, of course, is “ Fifty Shades of Grey ,” the first in an erotic trilogy by E.L. James that melds kinky sex with romance. The novel has been selling like hot cakes and is causing quite a stir due to the explicit scenes of bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism (BDSM). “Fifty Shades of Grey” has put the words "bondage erotica” into the mainstream, according to Rachel Kramer Bussel, a writer and editor of more than 40 anthologies of erotica, including “Best Bondage Erotica 2012.” “It has shown that you don’t have to be a certain type of person to enjoy erotic fiction, and you certainly don’t have to be a BDSM practitioner to enjoy reading about it,” she says. “That’s the biggest misconception about erotica in general. Some people may read a book of spanking erotica and be intrigued and want to try it. Or maybe they’re curious and seek out erotica as a way to test the waters. But there’s nothing wrong with enjoying and appreciating fantasy as fantasy.” Some readers and cultural critics have opined that BDSM themes may be particularly relevant to today’s women, many of whom may have power in the workplace but would like to potentially relinquish some in the bedroom. Conversely the book could also appeal to stay-at-home moms who are so busy taking care of the kids – and everything else for that matter – that they long for more TLC for themselves (even of the not-so tender kind). But does the success of “Fifty Shades” lie in its contemporary relevance, or its timeless universality? In 1958, “Story of O” caused a firestorm of controversy with similar erotic themes, and in 1994, Anne Rice published a trilogy based on “Sleeping Beauty,” which also explored BDSM themes. “BDSM erotica explores both the physical side of BDSM, the mixing of pain and pleasure, and, usually, the psychological and power play side – which to me is often the most interesting,” says Bussel. “Readers will be drawn to these kinds of stories for various reasons but the idea of willingly giving up control to someone who wants to use that control to get off, and get you off, is exciting to a lot of people. BDSM is about far more than just whips and chains … You just need characters who want to exchange power and who are complementary in those desires.” Fantasies are just that: fantasies. Not reality. They free the brain to explore secret, extraordinary realms without the obligations of everyday life. Kaye Wellings, a respected British biologist, puts it best in her book, “First Love, First Sex.” “Fantasies perform a valuable function,” she writes. “Most of us, most of the time, behave conservatively, sexually and otherwise. Our erotic experiences represent only the tip of the iceberg in terms of possibilities. Many possibilities only see the light of day through fantasies or dreams, seldom as reality.” Much of the popularity of “Fifty Shades of Grey” has come from women talking about it with other women – but perhaps they should be sharing these thoughts with their spouses. If you’re looking for ideas, Bussel has some recommendations: – " Learning to Drown " by Sommer Marsden – The collection “ Wetting the Appetite ” by Blake Aarens – For very short erotica, “ Five Minute Erotica ” edited by Carol Queen and Bussel's “ Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex ” – Violet Blue's “ Best Women's Erotica" series – “ Best Erotic Romance ” edited by Kristina Wright for those looking for love stories along with their sex. – For the kinky-minded, Bussel's anthologies like “ Spanked ." I recently teamed up with author Cate Bellow, who has created a series of erotic short stories based on Greek myths, the first of which, “Persephone and Hades,” depicts the ultimate good girl/bad boy relationship. I created a “pleasure guide” to accompany the story, which helps couples use the themes – role-playing, sexual taboos, hot kisses, and more – as a source of erotic inspiration to dip their toes into more sexually adventurous waters. Clearly, there’s something for everyone in the realm of erotica. So instead of reaching for the remote this evening, reach for some erotica, get cozy with your partner, and take turns reading aloud. Filed under: Sex Tagged: Ian Kerner Ph.D. – sex counselor

By Joe Palazzolo A federal rule that requires tobacco companies to display pictures of diseased lungs or other graphic images on cigarette packs is unconstitutional, a judge in Washington ruled Wednesday. Regulations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would have required tobacco companies to display the images on the top half of cigarette packs, front and back. It was scheduled to take effect in September. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon said the Obama administration failed “to convey any factual information supported by evidence about the actual health consequences of smoking through its use of these graphic images.” The rule, he said, violates companies’ First Amendment protections against government-compelled speech. Several tobacco companies, including R.J. Reynolds, Lorillard and Liggett Group, filed a lawsuit against the FDA in August, challenging the rule, which stems from the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The government can compel companies to disclose factual, uncontroversial information, to protect consumers from deception or confusion. But the compelled speech can’t be overly burdensome. Other images were of a man exhaling cigarette smoke through a tracheotomy hole in his throat; a plume of cigarette smoke enveloping an infant receiving a kiss from his or her mother; a diseased mouth afflicted with what appears to be cancerous lesions; and a man breathing into an oxygen mask. In his ruling, Leon said that “the graphic images here were neither designed to protect the consumer from confusion or deception, nor to increase consumer awareness of smoking risks; rather, they were crafted to evoke a strong emotional response calculated to provoke the viewer to quit or never start smoking.” Leon said the government could have used far less heavy-handed means in its anti-smoking campaign, such as boosting its own anti-smoking advertisements, requiring companies to place smaller warning labels on their products and changing the images so they convey factual information. “Unfortunately, because Congress did not consider the First Amendment implications of this legislation, it did not concern itself with how the regulations could be narrowly tailored to avoid unintentionally compelling commercial speech,” Leon said. The FDA hasn’t responded to a request for comment. (This post originally appeared on the WSJ’s Law Blog.)

Happy birthday to Shakira , who turns 35 today! The singer-songwriter has already had a stellar week: on Tuesday she was honored by France as a Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for her contribution to music. Besides her obvious talents, we are celebrating Shakira for her dedication to a healthy lifestyle. Keep reading to see what diet and fitness tips we’ve learned from Shakira throughout the years. Source: INFDaily.com View Slideshow ›

Stretching before a run has always been a little iffy in our playbook. It’s hard to lengthen muscle fibers before they’re warm and trying to do so can lead to injury. But warming up is still a good thing, so try an active warm-up. A dynamic warm-up raises your heart rate a bit while priming your joints for action. We created this video of five moves to do before you hit the ground running. Check it out! And be sure to enter to win running shoes for a year from Asics to help jump-start your January.

Antibiotics in Livestock: The FDA said it will ban the use of antibiotics called cephalosporins to prevent disease in livestock, though the drugs can still be used to treat illnesses in the animals, the WSJ reports . The agency — and other experts — are concerned that over- or misuse of the drugs can create resistant strains of food-borne bacteria that can harm humans. Cephalosporins, however, constitute only a “tiny fraction” of the antibiotics used in livestock, the paper says. Twins on the Rise: One of every 30 babies born in the U.S. is a twin — up from one in 53 in 1980 — reflecting the increased likelihood of multiple births among older moms and the use of assisted reproductive technology, the Associated Press reports . Some experts note that twin pregnancies carry greater risks for both moms and babies than singleton births, the AP says. Testing Possible HIV Vaccines: Research published online by Nature identifies several experimental vaccines that gave monkeys partial protection from a dangerous strain of the simian immonodeficiency virus, which is similar to HIV, the WSJ reports . The lead author of the study tells the paper that plans are underway to test a human-adapted version of one of the vaccines. Getting More Exercise in Daycare: A study published earlier this week in Pediatrics suggests some hurdles to physical activity for kids in pre-school and daycare, namely concerns about injuries, money worries and a focus on academics rather than play and exercise, the Los Angeles Times’ Booster Shots blog reports . Authors of the study said regulations intended to protect kids may actually hinder their activity by limiting play equipment, the LAT says. Image: iStockphoto

The holidays are in full swing, which, to us, means getting ready to hit the cocktail party circuit! Even with Winter temps dropping, it’s likely you’ll be swapping out bulky sweaters for a sequined frock or the never-fail, classic LBD. With no puffy down jacket to hide under, you’ll want to make sure that your body is looking its best. Keep reading to see which moves will help tone all those spots that little dress of yours won’t cover! View Slideshow ›

Working out twice in one day – obsessive, dedicated, or totally normal? It depends on whom you ask, but for many, doubling up on daily workouts is the norm. This kind of commitment to fitness has its benefits: burning more calories while also working your muscles double time. But if you’re not careful, it can lead to fatigue, cause unreasonable soreness, and even rob the body of essential nutrients. (If you amp up your workouts, it’s important that you also up your calorie intake for the day.) Our advice is that if you do work out twice in one day, vary the workouts: morning cardio and afternoon strength training, or evening yoga preceded by an outdoor run. Doing this ensures that you won’t overwork your body or certain muscle groups. If doubling up, think of workouts in three ways: cardio, strength, and flexibility. Pick two of these three on any given day and mind how much time you spend on each. Do You Work Out Twice in One Day? Yes No

Grocery shopping is so much more fun with all the fresh produce Summer brings. I’m constantly craving juicy, refreshing fruit, and although it’s low in fat, it’s not void of calories. If you’re watching what you eat, it’s good to know how many calories you’re consuming, so here are some visuals to let you know just what 100 calories of your favorite fruits look like. View Slideshow ›

It seems like boating season unofficially begins on Memorial Day weekend with everyone headed to their lake houses, weekend river residences, or the beach. In different parts of the nation, boating accidents, injuries, and unfortunately fatalities are on the rise. Now that I’ve captured your attention, let’s review a few tips on boating safety. Boater’s fatigue is real, and it can wear you down. The US Coast Guard warns people about this condition, created by the combination of wind, noise, heat, and vibration of the boat. All these elements can mentally and physically fatigue boaters and subsequently impair their judgment. Personal flotation devices , otherwise known as life jackets, are vitally important for everyone on board the boat, be it a canoe or a speed boat. Some states even require children under a certain age to wear life jackets, so if the little ones complain about wearing the big orange life vest, tell them it’s the law. Boating and alcohol don’t mix. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance, and coordination, affects your swimming and diving skills, and reduces your body’s ability to stay warm. Coupled with boater’s fatigue, folks on a boat will feel the effects of alcohol faster than they would on land. Plus, driving a boat while intoxicated is illegal. Watch the weather and know local weather conditions , and be prepared for electrical storms. Water conducts electricity, so you don’t want to find yourself on the open water during a lightning storm. Have fun out on the water, and don’t forget your sunscreen!

A news item that received a great deal of attention this past week was the FDA’s decision to approve Botox for the treatment of chronic migraines. This was welcome news for the estimated 12% of the US population who live with this debilitating form of headache pain. But as with all medications, symptomatic relief often Related posts: B-Vitamins for Migraines Acupuncture vs. Headaches Natural Headache Remedies Healthy Pregnancies and Acupuncture