GEORGE MICHAEL'S DEATH:: TRIBUTES FROM POP STARS OF HIS HEYDAYS

A few minutes ago, in a report by Andy Moore on BBC UK, tributes have started pouring in on the life and times of Singer George Michael, the ‘careless whisper’ crooner who was reported to have died at his home on Christmas day at the age of 53 as announced by his Publicist.

According to the BBC report, the star, who launched his career with Wham! in the 1980s and had huge success as a solo performer, "passed away peacefully" on Christmas Day in Goring, Oxfordshire, his publicist said.

Thames Valley Police say they are treating the death as unexplained but there were no suspicious circumstances.

Former Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley said he was "heartbroken at the loss of my beloved friend".

Writing on Twitter and referring to Michael as "Yog", a nickname for "Yours Only George", he added: "Me, his loved ones, his friends, the world of music, the world at large. 4ever loved. A xx"

On Instagram, Sir Elton John posted a photograph of himself with Michael, writing: "I am in deep shock. I have lost a beloved friend - the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist. My heart goes out to his family and all of his fans."

Michael's family announced news of his death in a statement issued through the singer's publicist.

"It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period," it said.

"The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage."

South Central Ambulance Service had been called to Michael's property at 13:42 GMT.

Thames Valley Police said its officers also attended and Michael was confirmed dead at the scene.

They added: "At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious. A post-mortem will be undertaken in due course. There will be no further updates from Thames Valley Police until the post-mortem has taken place."

His manager, Michael Lippman, gave the cause of death as heart failure.

A small heart wreath and a rose are among the tributes that have begun to be left outside the front door of Michael's home, a detached property by the River Thames.

Michael, who was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in north London, sold more than 100 million albums throughout a career spanning almost four decades.

He first found fame with school friend Ridgeley in duo Wham! - reaching number one in the UK singles charts on four occasions - before going on to release solo albums, including the multi-million selling Faith in 1987.

The follow-up Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 outsold Faith in the UK but led to Michael losing a court case with record label Sony over his frustration at how the album has been marketed.

His talents as a singer, songwriter and music producer made George Michael one of the world's biggest-selling artists.

Blessed with good looks and a fine singing voice, his stage presence made him a favourite on the live concert circuit as he matured from teen idol to long term stardom.

But there were times when his battle with drugs and encounters with the police made lurid headlines that threatened to eclipse his musical talents.

As a solo artist, Michael scored a further seven number one singles in the UK with songs including Careless Whisper and Fastlove, collaborated with the likes of Aretha Franklin and Elton John, and won three Brit Awards and two Grammys.

The Grammy organisers said Michael's "extraordinary talent had a profound impact on countless entertainers worldwide, and his creative contributions will live on forever".

Michael later began facing headlines for the wrong reasons as in October 2006 he pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drugs, and in 2008 was cautioned for possession of class A drugs, including crack cocaine.

In September 2010, Michael received an eight-week prison sentence following an incident in which he crashed his Range Rover into a shop in north London. He admitted driving under the influence of drugs and possessing cannabis.

Pop stars from Michael's heyday were joined by contemporary names in paying tribute on Twitter.

ABC's Martin Fry said: "Absolutely devastated to hear of the loss of @GeorgeMichael Truly brilliant talent #sad #sad #sad."

Duran Duran referred to the the so-called curse of 2016 - following the deaths of David Bowie, Prince and Rick Parfitt - posting on their official Twitter account: "2016 - loss of another talented soul. All our love and sympathy to @GeorgeMichael's family."

The band included a picture of Michael with its frontman Simon Le Bon, Sting and Bob Geldof.

Madonna posted a video from 1989 on Twitter and Instagram of herself presenting Michael with an award, and wrote: "Another Great Artist leaves us".

Robbie Williams, whose first solo single was a cover of Michael's song Freedom, wrote: "Oh God no …I love you George …Rest In Peace x".

Singer Pixie Lott tweeted: "Grew up listening to the beautiful and talented @GeorgeMichael - my mama's favourite! was a pleasure to meet him so sad to hear the news."

Fellow pop star La Roux wrote: "Another one gone.... What a voice, what a songwriter."

DJ Tony Blackburn said: "Unbelievable, George Michael has died at the age of 53. RIP.This dreadful year goes on and on. So sad, a real talent."

Apart from  ‘Careless Whisper’ which was a hit in 80s, George Michael's UK number one singles include Wake Me Up Before You Go (with Wham!) – 1984, Freedom (with Wham!) – 1984, I'm Your Man (with Wham!) – 1985, The Edge of Heaven (with Wham!) – 1986, A Different Corner – 1986, I Knew You Were Waiting For Me (with Aretha Franklin) – 1987, Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me (with Elton John) – 1991, Five Live EP (with Queen and Lisa Stansfield) – 1993, Jesus To A Child – 1996 and Fastlove in 1996.

Earlier this month it was announced that producer and songwriter Naughty Boy was working with Michael on a new album even with a documentary film entitled Freedom also was due for release next March.

In 2011, Michael postponed a series of concerts after being taken to hospital for treatment for pneumonia. After treatment in a Vienna hospital, he made a tearful appearance outside his London home and said it had been "touch and go" whether he lived.

Doctors were reported to have performed a tracheotomy to keep his airways open and he was unconscious for some of his spell in hospital.

After years of refusing to be drawn on speculation about his sexuality, Michael disclosed he was gay in 1998 after being arrested in a public toilet in Beverly Hills, California, for engaging in a lewd act.

WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL YOUR SUPER FOOD!

For many of us, no matter how little we eat or control our diet and how much exercise we do, as soon as we give a little break with the ‘dieting’ we just go ‘kpoof’, that is, start going fat immediately. While on the other hand, you have very slim people who can eat thrice the amount of a regular meal at a ‘seating’ yet will not add the weight you so much dread. m “Life isn’t fair” you may be tempted to say, but then what else can you do but to keep trying hard to keep off the extra fat by trying out new techniques or methods and diet plans that we come across everyday combined  with the regular exercises.

  

On a daily basis, we hear nearly everything is ‘fattening’ so we tend to avoid nearly everything that contains any form of oil as we get more and more confused by the ‘dos and don’ts’ by may healthy eating habits practitioners.

Recently an article written by an MD and a Senior Medical Advisor at Verywell, David L. Katz, was reviewed by a board-certified  Physician with the tittle “What Makes Extra Virgin Olive Oil So Healthy?

The article says, with headlines like “fat is back” appearing so regularly in the news, it is perhaps wise to remember that healthy fats, such as the monounsaturated fats in extra virgin olive oil have never really “been away.” Olive oil has been at the heart of the traditional Mediterranean diet for thousands of years and evidence is revealing even more fascinating ways in which it may contribute, as a central part of a healthy lifestyle, to preventing chronic diseases including heart disease, some cancers, and even dementia.

Verywell’s Senior Medical Advisor, David L. Katz, MD, spoke to his True Health Initiative colleague and council member Dr. Simon Poole about his new book “The Olive Oil Diet," written with Judy Ridgway. The book explains not only the most recent scientific discoveries on the food which Homer called “liquid gold,” but also how to choose and use the best extra virgin olive oils and incorporate them into recipes for every day.

David L. Katz, MD: Many people might not think of oil as part of a diet, so how do you explain the title of your book?

Simon Poole, MD: I use the word “diet” in its original sense, derived from the Latin “diaeta” which means “way of life.” Olive oil is a fundamental to the cultures of the Mediterranean region, part of ancient traditions, including religious ceremonies as well the ubiquitous fat in the diet for cooking, lubricating and flavoring. We should think more about our diet as a way to keep healthy rather than simply as a way to lose weight.

Although high in calories, olive oil contains good fats which not only promote a feeling of being full, but also reduce the speed of absorption of carbohydrates and help the hormone insulin respond to the potentially fattening sugars released from a meal.

DK: The subtitle talks of the “secrets of the original superfood”—what do you think makes olive oil a “superfood”?

SP: I have heard it said, rather irreverently, that the definition of a superfood is a food with a publicist! And that may well be the case for exotic berries from the Himalayas or green algae, for example. That said, if we accept that the word is here to stay, and that it describes foods with particular nutritional advantages, then extra virgin olive oil is perhaps the most extensively studied single ingredient which has clear benefits for health.

DK: What is the role of olive oil in the Mediterranean diet as a whole?

SP: The most recent US Dietary Guidelines have recommended we focus on the types of fat we eat, rather than on limiting the total fats in our diet, and the book takes a look at the whole Mediterranean diet from the perspective of the part this ubiquitous ingredient plays in the diet, especially when combined with colorful vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, fish, herbs, and spices.

DK: What is the evidence that olive oil, per se, is important in the health benefits of the traditional Mediterranean diet?

SP: Whilst the evidence of the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet are now well established, it is more challenging to take a detailed look at individual foods that are part of the scoring methods researchers use.

However, there have been notable published papers in particular from a study called the EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) study, which is a collaboration of research in different European countries. A cohort of the population in Greece demonstrated a significant benefit attributed to the type of fat in the diet and analysis of the work in Spain reported that the participants who consumed the most olive oil appeared to have a relative decrease in death rates of 26 percent.

It is of course very important to look at diets as a whole, and consider the benefits of, for example, combining olive oil with vegetables and other important healthy foods.

DK: What are thoughts on other "healthy" cooking oils? How does olive oil compare? Do any other oils figure in the Mediterranean diet mix?

SP: Certainly the traditional Mediterranean diet includes olive oil as the main source of fat. Although we know that other oils such as canola oil contain monounsaturated fats and other oil manufacturers are increasing the proportion of healthy unsaturated fats in their products, there is increasing interest in the role of the many antioxidants found uniquely in extra virgin olive oil.

Since the evidence for the benefits of the Mediterranean diet has overwhelmingly been gathered in populations who use extra virgin olive oil, it seems wise to follow the pattern of eating practices of this traditional diet.

DK: Are there any healthy ways in which olive oil combines with other foods?

SP: There is evidence to suggest that olive oil combines with nitrate compounds in salads and this can lower blood pressure and protect the good omega-3 oils in fish when fried or baked.

It provides a protective antioxidant glaze when meat is marinated and cooked in olive oil, reducing harmful chemicals released at high temperatures, and also an easily absorbed mixture of healthy fat soluble antioxidants and vitamins is created when vegetables are cooked together with extra virgin olive oil.

DK: How important for health are the antioxidant compounds in olive oil?

SP: Antioxidants in foods and their effect on our health is a really interesting area of research. The European Food Safety Authority has acknowledged, for example, the importance of antioxidants in extra virgin olive oil in reducing a process called “oxidative stress” of LDL cholesterol, one of the key factors thought to occur in the development of heart disease. The antioxidants in olive oil may, in effect, neutralize some of the harmful chemistry which can occur in our body and cause disease. 

DK: What are the different types of olive oil and is it safe to use for cooking?

SP: Unless specified as extra virgin, which is created directly from the juice of the olive in a temperature regulated process, olive oil may be made by an industrial process of refining low quality oil in order to make it fit for consumption.

The refining process destroys many of the antioxidants in extra virgin olive oil which contribute to its very special health properties. Frying, roasting, and baking is generally done at temperatures well below the “smoke point” of a good extra virgin olive oil (200 degrees Celcius) so there is no need to be concerned about the risk of producing harmful chemicals during most types of cooking.

This was confirmed by the large EPIC study which showed that there was no increased risk of heart disease with the regular use of olive oil in cooking. Levels of some of the health giving antioxidants in the oil gradually reduce during prolonged heating, but many remain intact.

DK: Are all extra virgin oils equally healthy?

SP: Quantities of antioxidants in extra virgin olive oil can vary considerably, depending on the olive tree variety, how olives are grown, and how the oil is produced and stored.  Over-intensive farming with too much irrigation and fertilization may increase the amount of oil produced, but it reduces the “stress” on trees, so they need to produce less protective antioxidants. It is possible to taste the difference. A healthy oil, rich in antioxidants, will be peppery and strong in flavor. 

DK: Are there any top tips for how to incorporate healthy extra virgin olive oil into our diets?

SP: Extra virgin olive oil can be used for all types of roasting, frying, and baking as well as having a bottle on the table to be used for drizzling, dipping, and flavoring, just as they do in the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean Foundation recommends olive oil with every meal, and certainly it can be used on toast with honey for breakfast and with baked fruit and nuts as a dessert, and not just confined to dressings or as a cooking oil.

For many of us, no matter how little we eat or control our diet and how much exercise we do, as soon as we give a little break with the ‘dieting’ we just go ‘kpoof’, that is, start going fat immediately. While on the other hand, you have very slim people who can eat thrice the amount of a regular meal at a ‘seating’ yet will not add the weight you so much dread. m “Life isn’t fair” you may be tempted to say, but then what else can you do but to keep trying hard to keep off the extra fat by trying out new techniques or methods and diet plans that we come across everyday combined  with the regular exercises.  

On a daily basis, we hear nearly everything is ‘fattening’ so we tend to avoid nearly everything that contains any form of oil as we get more and more confused by the ‘dos and don’ts’ by may healthy eating habits practitioners.

Recently an article written by an MD and a Senior Medical Advisor at Verywell, David L. Katz, was reviewed by a board-certified  Physician with the tittle “What Makes Extra Virgin Olive Oil So Healthy?

The article says, with headlines like “fat is back” appearing so regularly in the news, it is perhaps wise to remember that healthy fats, such as the monounsaturated fats in extra virgin olive oil have never really “been away.” Olive oil has been at the heart of the traditional Mediterranean diet for thousands of years and evidence is revealing even more fascinating ways in which it may contribute, as a central part of a healthy lifestyle, to preventing chronic diseases including heart disease, some cancers, and even dementia.

Verywell’s Senior Medical Advisor, David L. Katz, MD, spoke to his True Health Initiative colleague and council member Dr. Simon Poole about his new book “The Olive Oil Diet," written with Judy Ridgway. The book explains not only the most recent scientific discoveries on the food which Homer called “liquid gold,” but also how to choose and use the best extra virgin olive oils and incorporate them into recipes for every day.

David L. Katz, MD: Many people might not think of oil as part of a diet, so how do you explain the title of your book?

Simon Poole, MD: I use the word “diet” in its original sense, derived from the Latin “diaeta” which means “way of life.” Olive oil is a fundamental to the cultures of the Mediterranean region, part of ancient traditions, including religious ceremonies as well the ubiquitous fat in the diet for cooking, lubricating and flavoring. We should think more about our diet as a way to keep healthy rather than simply as a way to lose weight.

Although high in calories, olive oil contains good fats which not only promote a feeling of being full, but also reduce the speed of absorption of carbohydrates and help the hormone insulin respond to the potentially fattening sugars released from a meal.

DK: The subtitle talks of the “secrets of the original superfood”—what do you think makes olive oil a “superfood”?

SP: I have heard it said, rather irreverently, that the definition of a superfood is a food with a publicist! And that may well be the case for exotic berries from the Himalayas or green algae, for example. That said, if we accept that the word is here to stay, and that it describes foods with particular nutritional advantages, then extra virgin olive oil is perhaps the most extensively studied single ingredient which has clear benefits for health.

DK: What is the role of olive oil in the Mediterranean diet as a whole?

SP: The most recent US Dietary Guidelines have recommended we focus on the types of fat we eat, rather than on limiting the total fats in our diet, and the book takes a look at the whole Mediterranean diet from the perspective of the part this ubiquitous ingredient plays in the diet, especially when combined with colorful vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, fish, herbs, and spices.

DK: What is the evidence that olive oil, per se, is important in the health benefits of the traditional Mediterranean diet?

SP: Whilst the evidence of the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet are now well established, it is more challenging to take a detailed look at individual foods that are part of the scoring methods researchers use.

However, there have been notable published papers in particular from a study called the EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) study, which is a collaboration of research in different European countries. A cohort of the population in Greece demonstrated a significant benefit attributed to the type of fat in the diet and analysis of the work in Spain reported that the participants who consumed the most olive oil appeared to have a relative decrease in death rates of 26 percent.

It is of course very important to look at diets as a whole, and consider the benefits of, for example, combining olive oil with vegetables and other important healthy foods.

DK: What are thoughts on other "healthy" cooking oils? How does olive oil compare? Do any other oils figure in the Mediterranean diet mix?

SP: Certainly the traditional Mediterranean diet includes olive oil as the main source of fat. Although we know that other oils such as canola oil contain monounsaturated fats and other oil manufacturers are increasing the proportion of healthy unsaturated fats in their products, there is increasing interest in the role of the many antioxidants found uniquely in extra virgin olive oil.

Since the evidence for the benefits of the Mediterranean diet has overwhelmingly been gathered in populations who use extra virgin olive oil, it seems wise to follow the pattern of eating practices of this traditional diet.

DK: Are there any healthy ways in which olive oil combines with other foods?

SP: There is evidence to suggest that olive oil combines with nitrate compounds in salads and this can lower blood pressure and protect the good omega-3 oils in fish when fried or baked.

It provides a protective antioxidant glaze when meat is marinated and cooked in olive oil, reducing harmful chemicals released at high temperatures, and also an easily absorbed mixture of healthy fat soluble antioxidants and vitamins is created when vegetables are cooked together with extra virgin olive oil.

DK: How important for health are the antioxidant compounds in olive oil?

SP: Antioxidants in foods and their effect on our health is a really interesting area of research. The European Food Safety Authority has acknowledged, for example, the importance of antioxidants in extra virgin olive oil in reducing a process called “oxidative stress” of LDL cholesterol, one of the key factors thought to occur in the development of heart disease. The antioxidants in olive oil may, in effect, neutralize some of the harmful chemistry which can occur in our body and cause disease. 

DK: What are the different types of olive oil and is it safe to use for cooking?

SP: Unless specified as extra virgin, which is created directly from the juice of the olive in a temperature regulated process, olive oil may be made by an industrial process of refining low quality oil in order to make it fit for consumption.

The refining process destroys many of the antioxidants in extra virgin olive oil which contribute to its very special health properties. Frying, roasting, and baking is generally done at temperatures well below the “smoke point” of a good extra virgin olive oil (200 degrees Celcius) so there is no need to be concerned about the risk of producing harmful chemicals during most types of cooking.

This was confirmed by the large EPIC study which showed that there was no increased risk of heart disease with the regular use of olive oil in cooking. Levels of some of the health giving antioxidants in the oil gradually reduce during prolonged heating, but many remain intact.

DK: Are all extra virgin oils equally healthy?

SP: Quantities of antioxidants in extra virgin olive oil can vary considerably, depending on the olive tree variety, how olives are grown, and how the oil is produced and stored.  Over-intensive farming with too much irrigation and fertilization may increase the amount of oil produced, but it reduces the “stress” on trees, so they need to produce less protective antioxidants. It is possible to taste the difference. A healthy oil, rich in antioxidants, will be peppery and strong in flavor. 

DK: Are there any top tips for how to incorporate healthy extra virgin olive oil into our diets?

SP: Extra virgin olive oil can be used for all types of roasting, frying, and baking as well as having a bottle on the table to be used for drizzling, dipping, and flavoring, just as they do in the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean Foundation recommends olive oil with every meal, and certainly it can be used on toast with honey for breakfast and with baked fruit and nuts as a dessert, and not just confined to dressings or as a cooking oil.

STAGGERING NUMBERS OF CLICKS/VISITS: WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT PORN?

A few days ago, a couple of persons where having a discussion about how social media has destroyed homes and how principled individuals have given way to very unethical behaviours as a result of what is seen on social media.

Sometime ago, a licensed psychotherapist, certified sexuality counselor and New York Times best-selling author Ian Kerner wrote a very interesting article on his website iankerner.com with a questioning title “Is there such a thing as ‘good porn’? honestly speaking, it was a good read.

For many of us, like he explained in the article, our first exposure to pornography was surreptitious as it was either a case of a sneak peek at someone else's copy of Playboy or the viewing of a worn VHS tape stolen from an older sibling or some other ways. However today, the reverse is the case as porn is nearly everywhere given that anyone can simply jump online and view it with the few clicks on a device. 

 

‘Anyone’ means ‘anybody’  irrespective of age, gender, class, religion and more given  the staggering numbers of people who visit such sites if the  data provided by the American Psychological Association is anything to go by.

According to the data, as stated in the article, the rates of porn consumption range between 50% and 99% among men and 30% to 86% among women. It says the popular website PornHub alone logs about 2.4 million visitors per hour which is more than an estimated 6,000 visitors per second.

Amazingly, such a site is free and given that it's all free, it makes it not only more accessible and acceptable to a lot of people of the present generation but also for those of the future and many years ahead as it is gradually becoming less taboo and simply part of life for many people at the moment. The shocking and craziest part is that when you want to watch better and well-meaning videos online, you have to pay for them.

Even though many see this trend as unethical, Ian who refers to Porn as a sexually explicit Internet material or visual sexual stimuli given his field, says it could be a positive and a valuable aspect of a healthy sex life in some ways.

A proposed regulation in California would require porn actors to wear condoms while filming. The thinking is that this will not only promote safer sex on set amongst the performers, it will encourage porn viewers at home to follow their lead. But condoms aren't the only way to protect the safety of adult film actors or to ensure that the porn that reaches consumers is of a higher standard overall.

In fact, a booming trend in the creation of adult films -- ethical porn -- is changing the way erotic content is both made and consumed.

"If we put porn in perspective and use it as an adjunct to fantasy, it can be beneficial," said licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex therapist Marty Klein, author of "His Porn, Her Pain: Confronting America's Porn Panic with Honest Talk About Sex."

But with this growing acceptance comes a tolerance for mediocre material. Like most advertising-based online content, the "tube" sites that offer free porn operate on search terms and clicks. It isn't created on the "build it and they will come model," but rather on the "build more of what they're already clicking on" model. This approach creates a vicious cycle: What we click on is what gets made, which is what gets clicked on, which is what gets made.

Though the average duration of a porn visit clocks in at about 9 minutes, many men and women spend way more time searching for something interesting to view. "Sometimes, I can spend two hours a night looking at porn," one of my patients said. "It's not because I'm addicted. I'm just looking for something that feels real."

Unfortunately, that can be difficult to find on the tube sites, where quantity far exceeds quality. "Amateurs have largely replaced actors because they're willing to work for less money," explained Bryant Paul, a faculty member at Indiana University Media School and co-producer of the Emmy-nominated documentary "Hot Girls Wanted." With an amateur's career peaking after just a few months, many must participate in increasingly degrading or exploitative material to remain relevant in the industry.

Because tube sites tend to deliver short, digestible clips of content, some of the material they offer may be pirated and taken out of context.

"Free porn sites may steal scenes from longer movies, which they re-label and rebrand," explained adult film director and writer Jacky St. James. "I can create a film that's more story-driven and romantic, only to have a clip from it pop up on a tube site, where it's being called something like 'big-breasted blonde whore on her knees.' " Worse, there's no guarantee that the people participating in free porn are of legal age or that they have consented to the acts portrayed onscreen.

But the answer to bad porn shouldn't be no porn at all; it should be better porn. Enter ethical porn. Much the way organic produce, cage-free eggs and fair-trade coffee have transformed the way we shop for food, ethical porn is changing the landscape of adult-oriented material, making it easier to enjoy.

In his new book "Ethical Porn for Dicks: A Man's Guide to Responsible Viewing Pleasure," clinical psychologist David Ley outlines the requirements for this new form of porn: It should be made legally, respect the rights of performers and pay them for their labor, and treat both performers and consumers as consenting, thinking individuals. Also important: Ethical porn celebrates sexuality as a diverse, complex and multifaceted component of being a human being, without judgment.

That doesn't mean that ethical porn is always romantic and soft. "Hard-core, rough sex can be ethical," St. James said. "What matters is that the performers are comfortable, consenting and respectful of everyone's boundaries."

Ley agrees. "Ethical porn can explore darker aspects of sexuality. If we expect it to be 'nice,' we set others up to be ashamed about their own desires," he said. "Professional sports aren't 'nice' either, but they can be played ethically and responsibly. Porn should be the same."

Something else to consider: Just as porn itself should be ethical, the way it's consumed should be, too. "In addition to advocating for a product that's made ethically, we should be using it ethically as well," Klein explained. "That means enjoying it in a way that highlights the positive aspects of your own relationships and sex life: for example, not breaking any promises to your mate about your viewing and not using porn to withdraw from your mate or make them feel bad with explicit comparisons to porn stars' bodies."

In my own practice, I often suggest to couples in sex ruts that they try ethical porn as a way to increase sexual arousal, as well as to people coping with common sexual concerns such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejactulation and difficulty achieving orgasm. Indeed, research by neuroscientist Nicole Prause and her colleagues has found that watching more pornography actually increases arousal in men to less explicit material -- and increases the desire for sex with a partner. In other words, it makes them more responsive to "normal" sexual cues and more desirous of real physical relationships (Archives of Sexual Behavior, May 2013).

So how do you know whether the porn you're watching was produced ethically? Although there's no guarantee, you might want to start your search with the winners at the annual Feminist Porn Awards. Yes, you'll probably have to pay for it, but even with a small budget, you can build your ethical porn library into something you can feel good about enjoying.