When I heard the title of this book: What the Yuck?! The Freaky & Fabulous Truth About Your Body I had to find out more. It answers all those embarrassing questions we all want to know but are too afraid to ask. To find out more, I contacted the co-authors Dr. Roshini Rajand Lisa Lombardi.
For those who aren't familiar with your book, what's it about?
Lisa: What the Yuck?! The Freaky & Fabulous Truth About Your Body tackles all the super-embarrassing and random health questions women would never ask our doctors--or even our best friends. The book--which grew out of a hugely popular column in Health magazine--is meant to be a funny and frank guide to the real stuff we wonder: Could my laptop make me infertile? How do I know if I smell down there? Are celeb cleanses safe? Can I catch bedbugs from my date?
Dr. Raj, you have so much great information in your book. What's one of the wackiest things about our body that few people know about?
Dr. Raj: There are so many wacky things to choose from! I think our intestines are a murky area for most people. Did you know that we contain more bacteria in our guts than cells in our body? Most of these are the good variety, which help us regulate our bowels and process gas.
Why do you believe now more than ever people seem to be more health conscious?
Dr. Raj: This is the age of information. With the explosion of the Internet, TV medical dramas, and people like Oprah Winfrey talking about poop on national TV, health matters are being demystified like never before. People are much more invested in their health and in preventing disease, rather than blindly trusting their doctors. The danger is that, in addition to increased awareness, there is also a lot of misinformation out there, so it's important to verify that you're getting accurate information.
Lisa: That's so true--what makes this book invaluable is it's filled with the kind of questions we all Google late at night, but the answers are from an Ivy-educated doctor rather than a random bulletin board or blog.
You deal with a lot of serious medical conditions in the book, do you think it would be appropriate for children to read passages of it?
Dr. Raj: Definitely. It is never too early to start learning about our bodies, how they work, and when we may need to see a doctor. Also, some of the questions on weight-loss and celebrity health matters teach important lessons to children, who may be hearing and wondering about strange health trends.
Lisa: What the Yuck?! goes there--it's definitely meant for women. Brave readers may want to share it with their teen daughters, but I have little guys so I'm keeping my copy on the top shelf of my bookcase!
One of the interesting questions you answer in the book is which fad diets are safest? So many people are trying lose weight fast, what do you suggest?
Dr. Raj: My suggestion is to be realistic. When it comes to weight-loss, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Unfortunately, there is no get-thin-quick diet that actually works. Calorie restriction and exercise is the only proven way to lose weight, and it should be gradual. In What the Yuck?! we talk about different strategies to do this, how to combat cravings, and we also address the dangers behind many of the popular fad diets.
What are you working on next?
Lisa: There are so many juicy questions we couldn't fit in this book, so a sequel is a definite possibility, as are spin-offs focusing on men, kids, and pregnant women. In the meantime, I'm back to my "day job" as executive editor of Health magazine, where we're working on an exciting redesign for September.
Dr. Raj: Starting with the September issue, my Health magazine column will be called "What the Yuck?!" and I'll also continue my "day job" seeing patients along with appearances on NBC's Today Show.
Where can we get a copy of your book?
What the Yuck?! is available wherever books are sold.