When it comes to wacky ingredients, the beauty industry does not disappoint. There’s placenta, bird poop, and even so-called whale vomit (known as ambergris). And now there’s another buzzy (yet gross-sounding) product to add to the list: snail mucin.

“It’s exactly what you think it is—mucin from a snail,” says Anna Guanche, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Bella Skin Institute in Calabasas, California. The popular ingredient is, indeed, an external bodily secretion from snails. But it’s not a trail of snail slime, per se. It’s a stress-induced secretion—one with moisturizing properties, among other skin care benefits.

Like many top beauty trends, snail mucin rose to pop culture consciousness through Korean beauty and is now found in a slew of creams, lotions, serums, and tonics. It’s often included in 10-step K-beauty regimens. There are options available at every price point. And despite sounding a bit out there, the ingredient’s easy to find. You’ll come across products containing snail mucin in mainstream beauty emporiums like Sephora and even in Walmart.

So does snail mucin really work, or is it just hype? We spoke with skin care experts to find out.

(Related: How’s Your Skin Barrier Doing?)

The use of snail mucin for skin health

Although snail mucin is now frequently associated with Korean beauty, it was reportedly used by the ancient Greeks and has a long history in skin care. “Snail mucin comes from the brown garden snail and has been used since ancient times for skin-healing benefits,” explains Peterson Pierre, MD, a dermatologist in Westlake Village, California.

In the 1980s, Chilean farmers producing escargot reportedly noticed that handling the snails seemed to lead to softer hands that healed from cuts more quickly. It was the birth of what has become a full-blown trend. Today you’re less likely to see the scientific name on product labels—Cryptomphalus aspersa—than the term “snail mucin.” Skin care companies also refer to it as “snail essence” or “snail secretion filtrate.”

Where does snail mucin come from?

If you’re anything like us, you might imagine gardeners hunting snails and scooping up their mucin from pavements. The reality is a bit more scientific.Ted Lain, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and chief medical officer for Sanova Dermatology, says that while snail mucin is excretion, it’s not the trail of snail slime you may remember from childhood summers. “It is the excretion from the snail,” he says. “It is not what is excreted during movement, but rather it is excreted during times of stress.” Yes, snails can experience stress, and it produces the coveted mucin that eventually makes its way to skin care manufacturers and onto your beauty shelves.

Benefits of snail mucin

The source may be questionable, but snail mucin is super moisturizing—plus it also offers anti-aging properties. “It really works,” says Dr. Peterson. “Because it contains allantoin, hyaluronic acid, and glycolic acid—which all have beneficial effects on aging skin—it is a very exciting new addition to the cosmetic space.”

Here are the top reasons snail mucin isn’t just a beauty trend; it’s a skin care staple.

Hydrates skin

Snail mucin’s moisturizing properties are highly touted. The hyaluronic acid component draws water to the surface of the skin. Think of it like a sponge, which soaks up water and gives skin a plumped effect, says Dr. Peterson. That’s why snail mucin is a great product for anyone dealing with dry skin. “Its moisturizing ingredients help to repair the barrier function of the skin while sealing in moisture, great for healing and regeneration,” he says.

Exfoliates skin

Suffering from flaky, rough skin? Snail mucin might help with that too. The mucin’s glycolic acid helps exfoliate your face by removing dead skin cells. This also evens pigment and your whole complexion. And the allantoin in snail mucin has hydrating and anti-irritating effects, according to Dr. Peterson.

Boosts collagen production

“Snail mucin contains growth factors, which stimulate collagen production,” says Dr. Peterson. Why do you care about that? Greater collagen production can lead to glowing skin, better hair, and stronger nails.

Speeds up wound healing

Remember those Chilean farmers from the ’80s who said handling snails made their cuts and scrapes heal faster? Science indicates they were onto something. A study in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment that investigated the effects of snail mucin on burns found that applying a cream containing snail mucin twice a day for 14 days led to quicker healing.

If your skin is angry and raw, snail mucin may help with that too. “It can also calm and soothe irritated skin because it contains allantoin,” says Dr. Peterson. “It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.”

More research is needed

Dr. Peterson notes that, although snail mucin has beneficial components, controlled studies are actually few and far between. He cites one small study, published in Cosmetic Dermatology over a decade ago, where researchers looked at 15 women who applied an 8 percent snail mucin formulation every morning and a 40 percent snail mucin formulation every night for three months.

“The results showed a 40 percent reduction in pigmentation, and depth of wrinkles was reduced by up to 30 percent,” says Dr. Peterson. Though the study is promising and all participants experienced smoother, more hydrated skin and improved skin elasticity, Dr. Peterson cautions that larger and more controlled studies are still lacking.

Sydney Hastings, a licensed aesthetician at Four Moons Spa in Encinitas, California, is skeptical about its benefits. “The proverbial jury is still out in terms of its benefits in cosmetic applications,” says Hastings. That’s because scientists don’t know the ideal types of snails, methods of extraction and collection, or concentrations of the snail slime.

Hastings also points to the fact that snail mucin’s effectiveness, when exposed to heat, cold, saline, and perfumes, is unknown. There may be issues, for instance, with how the extracted mucin is prepared before mixing with other skin care ingredients. Other concerns include the fact that consumers can’t vet the quality of the slime itself. “Not enough research has been found to compare organically deposited slime with harvesting slime from snails and slugs in a laboratory setting,” says Hastings.

How is snail mucin collected?

If you’re worried about the snails, you’re not alone. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) questions the ethics of harming, agitating, and bullying snails to extract the slime, and it claims that a mix of slime and feces may be released.

An investigation aggregating articles on the topic from The Outline, a publication by journalists and storytellers, noted that snail mucin breeders tend to be quite secretive about the process, making it difficult to assess the claims. At least one snail operation in Italy claims to be a “spa for snails,” subjecting them to a steam bath, according to the UK newspaper The Telegraph.

It seems like a decent bet that the stress-induced secretion is likely not an enjoyable process for the snails. However, some snail mucin brands, such as Korean beauty company COSRX, claim to be cruelty-free. Whatever the details, it’s known that mucin is collected from lab-bred snails and then processed into the skin care product itself.

Risks and side effects

Although snail mucin is generally seen as a benign and non-irritating ingredient, Dr. Peterson says that allergies might be possible. Without more data from research, there’s no way to know how prevalent they are. “There aren’t a plethora of large, controlled trials with snail mucin, but it appears to be a well-tolerated ingredient,” Dr. Peterson says. “That being said, as with any active ingredient, it is possible to have personal allergies.”

Dr. Guanche agrees and recommends patch testing. “Before applying to the face, you can always do a test spot and apply to the forearm and observe for any potential reaction,” she says. People who are allergic to snail mucin might develop redness, hives, and itchiness, among other reactions.

Provided you’re not allergic, your skin will probably tolerate it well, no matter your skin type, says Dr. Lain.

How to use snail mucin

Wondering how to apply what is essentially snail goo to your skin? Fret not: the beauty industry has done all the heavy lifting for you. Snail mucin is available in a wide variety of serums and creams—more on the best ones in a second—making the application look and feel exactly like your garden-variety skin care product.

While some skin care ingredients don’t mix well together (think retinol and vitamin C), that’s not the case for snail mucin. Irritation is unlikely when combined with other ingredients, meaning you can generally use it with ease and don’t have to wait, say, half an hour before layering on other products. “Snail mucin is a gentle but active ingredient,” Dr. Peterson says. “It mixes well with others, like SPF, vitamin C, and retinol, so feel free to add to your skin care regimen with confidence.”

To get the biggest bang for your buck, Dr. Guanche layers products that contain snail mucin on top of holy-grain skin-care ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and retinol. “It is best applied over actives such as tretinoin and glycolic to seal them in and support the skin barrier,” she says.

Try it

Arguably the most popular snail mucin product, COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is made with 96.3 percent snail secretion filtrate and claims to repair dryness and reduce dullness ($23, sukoshimart.com).

Next: Can This TikTok-Famous Supplement Really Treat Acne?

Our hot tub was by far our best pandemic purchase. If we couldn’t lounge on a beach, or even drive to a nearby hot springs resort, why not turn our Kelowna, B.C. residence into a vacation home?

In June 2020 we spent our family travel fund on a Costco hot tub. When it arrived two months later, my husband and I unpacked the five-person tub, heaved it onto the deck right outside our bedroom, filled it up and plugged it in. (This is what’s called a “plug and play,” which works in a regular 110-volt outdoor outlet.) Thermal therapy in the form of happy-hour sessions and post-workout soaks soon became part of our life.

The Rise of Thermal Therapy

We’re not the only Canadians who took the plunge into thermal therapy during COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns. My friend Andrea and her husband waited nearly a year for their swim spa (an oversized hot tub that converts to a pool in summer), which had to be lifted into their Kelowna backyard with a crane. “Everyone was getting on this bandwagon,” says Andrea. She planned to use it for relaxation and exercise—it has a resistance feature that allows you to swim in place, against the current—and as a way to keep her daughters busy in the summer.

Vern Nelson, the Kelowna sales manager for Arctic Spas, a Canadian luxury hot tub company, says his store saw a 40 percent increase in hot tub sales. It would have been greater if there had been more stock. The surge in demand for home spas put stress on the entire industry, which struggled with staffing and supply issues, says Nelson. Some people turned to rental companies—which can deliver and install a hot tub for a few days—to mark special occasions when everything else was closed.

“It was a good option to spend time together safely, bubbled up,” says Nelson. AlumiTubs, a smaller manufacturer located on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast, recorded a six-fold increase in sales of their wood-fired cedar hot tubs. “There was a shift in people’s desire to seek simple pleasures—from time spent at home, or doing renovations to finding unique products like ours,” says AlumiTubs co-owner Laura Anderson. Sales haven’t slowed since, despite a ten-month lead time. “People are willing to wait,” she says.

Last winter, IKEA launched a super-buzzy sauna line in collaboration with Marimekko, the iconic Finnish design brand. The BASTUA collection included robes, bench towels and a sauna bucket and ladle—main-streaming the idea that we should all be pampering ourselves at home.

Thermal Therapy Around the World

By 2028, the global spa market size will reach nearly $118 billion (USD), with destination spas—a more practical option for those who don’t have the space or budget for an at-home tub—forecast to experience the fastest growth. Multiple Nordic-style spas have popped up across Canada in the past few years, with hot pools, saunas, steam rooms, cold plunge pools and solariums for relaxation. From Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs in the Yukon to Mysa Nordic Spa & Resort in P.E.I, thermal therapy might be more accessible than you think.

Of course, Nordic people have, for centuries, sworn by the benefits of soaking and steaming. In Iceland, public hot springs and pools are commonplace. Meanwhile, in Finland, many families have access to a sauna. The thermal therapy trend also spans the globe to the banya steam baths of Russia, the onsen of Japan, and the jjimjilbang bathhouses of South Korea. Parts of Canada are already blessed with natural hot springs. A particularly famous one—Banff—was the impetus for our first national park. Really, it’s little wonder we’re bringing hydrotherapy and thermotherapy home and reaping the health rewards in the process.

The Health Benefits of Thermal Therapy

Alison Hoens, a clinical professor in the UBC Department of Physical Therapy, says those positive side effects are both physical and mental. However, they’re largely temporary. Immersing yourself in hot water can reduce stiff muscles and joints, improve muscle flexibility and increase blood flow.

Saunas provide similar results. However, there isn’t enough research to confirm that schvitzing in a sauna helps rid your body of toxins or improves your complexion, says Hoens. “[In a sauna] your body is sweating in response to being stressed. It’s about heat exchange. The body is just trying to cool itself.”

The physical gains of hot-tub time and thermal therapy come with mental health perks including stress relief and social connection. I can vouch for the attitude adjustment achieved during a soak with friends after a day of skiing, for example.

Using Hot Tubs and Saunas Safely

But in order to enjoy hot tubs and saunas safely, users need to manage a few risks, says Michael Schwandt, a clinical assistant professor in the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s School of Population and Public Health.

The main concern is keeping spa water sanitized to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria such as legionella or pseudomonas, which can grow in warmer water temps, or the spread of viruses that cause gastrointestinal illnesses (like norovirus). Tracking the pH is also important to prevent skin irritation, and showering after use is a good idea regardless.

“We recommend water testing frequently—almost daily—when the tub is in use,” says Schwandt.

Excessive heat or staying in a hot tub or sauna too long can also be problematic, especially for pregnant women or those with cardiovascular health problems, says Schwandt. Use by children should always be monitored by an adult due to risk of drowning and overheating.

Schwandt also recommends not drinking alcohol before or during hot tub use. If you do, it’s a good idea to imbibe in moderation and with others present, he says. Be sure to also make sure to hydrate with water. You may not realize you’re sweating while in the hot tub and will get dehydrated faster.

Are Hot Tubs Worth It?

Cleaning our hot tub has been a cinch. We change out the water every couple months and stay on top of the chemicals through regular testing. And because it holds a lot less water than a swimming pool, it’s much easier to maintain.

The biggest hurdle for investing in thermal therapy at home is the cost. Our Costco tub was on sale and it still put us back about $4,000. There’s a space-saving inflatable Coleman model from Canadian Tire that’s around $1,000. But it’s possible to spend a whole lot more. My friend Andrea shelled out over $30,000 on her hot tub/resistance pool model, not counting the additional costs of a concrete pad and an electrical upgrade.

Basically, you have to decide if the lifestyle boost is worth the initial cost, plus the ongoing maintenance. “We definitely don’t use it as much as I thought we would,” my friend says, but ultimately, she’s glad they invested. “We don’t do a lot of vacations, so if we can make our backyard into an oasis we want to hang out in, why not try?”

Four Canadian Hot Tub and Sauna Companies

Arctic Spas

The Custom Series Summit is the most popular hot tub from Arctic Spas, an Alberta-based company with locations across Canada. Ideal for families, this model seats six and has different depth seats for everyone in the family. There are even armrests and a swivel/lounge seat that offers various seating angles and leg positions for maximum comfort.

Starting from $15,000-$25,000, arcticspas.com

Backcountry Recreation

Turn your backyard into an après ski haven with your own cedar barrel sauna. This gorgeous, six-foot tube of relaxation accommodates four to six people. It’s made by a Vancouver Island company from fragrant western red cedar and can be powered with either wood or electricity. The self-assembly kit takes about three or four hours to build.

$7,700 plus shipping; backcountryrecreation.com

 AlumiTubs

This family-owned B.C. business uses all local, recyclable materials and builds their cedar tubs in Sechelt, on the Sunshine Coast. With a wood-fired tub, it takes two to four hours to heat up. Plus, temperature can be maintained with an additional armload of wood per day. The meditative work of chopping wood ahead of time to heat the tub is part of the appeal. This kind of hot tub can work off-grid at remote cabins, as well.

$7,495 for a two-person tub; alumitubs.com

Goodland

Crafted by a company based on B.C.’s Bowen Island, these hot tubs were initially created in 2021 as a side project by a local firefighter. Since then, these rectangular, wood-burning hot tubs have taken off. Goodland has been featured in Dwell, Goop, Elle Decor and on many influencer social media accounts. It’s made of western red cedar, oak, brass and marine-grade aluminum. Plus, its comfortably seats four people.

$7,995, hellogoodland.com

Next: The Life-Boosting Powers of Cold Water Swimming 

When looking after our well-being, we consider our heart health, oral health and skin health—but we often forget about our bone health. As we age, our bones become weaker, and they’re more at risk of breaking from little accidents. For women, this typically occurs around menopause when estrogen levels lower, and can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis. But we can boost the health of our bones with simple everyday lifestyle tweaks—like resistance training exercises and incorporating more nutrient-rich foods into our diet.

According to Dr. Nanci Guest, a registered dietitian in Toronto, “Like muscles, bones are living tissues that become stronger in response to exercise. When we exercise, our bones experience mechanical stress, which prompts bone tissue to increase in density and strength. Resistance exercises (like weights, bands and power yoga) and concussive exercises (such as running, jumping, basketball, and even hopscotch) are effective in increasing bone density and strength. Eating more foods rich in micronutrients can also help proactively prevent bone loss and osteoporosis. Try consuming bone-boosting vitamin K, potassium and boron—which conveniently are all found in prunes.”

Now, you probably know that prunes (or prune juice) are particularly helpful to reach for when experiencing digestive woes. (Have constipation? They contain fibre, which will help keep things moving!) But here’s what you may not know: This naturally sweet, chewy dried fruit is loaded with vitamins and minerals that support bone and overall health. They’re high in potassium, which contributes to normal muscle function and contractions, and they also help improve digestion, heart rhythm, nerve impulses and blood pressure. Prunes are a source of manganese, which assists with the body’s formation of connective tissue, and is a good source of iron and copper, which helps transport iron throughout the body. Looking for more? Prunes help reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol levels, and decrease risks of cardiovascular disease and blood clotting.

To reap their many health benefits, a single serving of prunes (about five to six a day) per day should be all you need—and this can be enough to help slow and even prevent bone loss in post-menopausal women, including those with osteoporosis.

So, how do you find the best prunes? California is where you want your prunes to come from. The state has world-famous growing conditions for prunes and has some of the highest quality agricultural standards of any other state or country. So, it’s no surprise that California Prunes are the superior dried fruit for not just quality, but also taste and texture. Meaning, they’re everything you could want in a prune: they’re chewy, moist, sticky, and taste naturally sweet and earthy.

California Prunes contain all the aforementioned vitamins and minerals, as well as vitamin K and manganese, two nutrients that support the maintenance of healthy bones. They’re also rich in phenolic compounds, which may inhibit bone resorption and stimulate bone formation. Plus, California Prunes have no added sugar, cholesterol, sodium, or fat.

Prunes are extremely versatile and can seamlessly be integrated into your lifestyle. For example, you can:

• Eat them whole as a snack
• Add chopped prunes as a topping to oatmeal, granola, or salad
• Create a prune purée and use it as a swap for butter or sugar in baked goods
• Simmer them in sauces for a rich-taste and flavour boost

Looking for something sweet? For a bite-sized snack that works well as a pre-workout or afternoon treat, try No-Bake California Prune Power Balls. This simple recipe requires just six ingredients and features a sweet taste that’s teamed with a wonderfully crispy texture. The recipe calls for not just prunes but almond butter and sunflower seeds, too, which are a rich source of minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus and calcium, offering further support of healthy bones.

Prefer a savoury dish? Try an easy weeknight dinner recipe for California Prunes, Chicken & Butterbean Stew. This protein-rich dish includes flavourful beans and a handful of greens for an extra dose of vitamin K and calcium, which are also good for your heart. In other words, this is truly a heart-warming dinner!

For premium-quality prunes, look for packaging that says “Product of USA” or “Product of California” to ensure premium quality prunes. For more information, nutrition facts, and bone-building recipes visit californiaprunes.ca.

When it comes to unsolicited comments and conversations about weight, bodies and the way we look, I’ve heard it all. Sadly, it’s been like this for me for years, whether I was receiving weight loss advice from family members or being fat-shamed by my classmates.

I still remember going to a movie with my friends in grade 9, and my sister’s guy friend walking into the theater and telling her that he didn’t want to sit with her “fat sister.” When I was in university, my uncle would often ask me what I ate at each meal and if I was losing weight.

I used to work as a therapist, and I frequently counselled my clients about body image and how to deal with family members or intimate partners making unintentionally hurtful comments. I would encourage them to set boundaries with their loved ones, who often truly felt that their comments were coming from a good place. (They tended to only see their good intentions, rather than how it would feel to hear things like, “You’d be prettier if you lost weight”—yes, really!—or the thinly veiled dig, “I’m glad you’re making exercise a priority.”)

I have always had to fend off questions about my body, but I also recognize there’s a natural curiosity when we notice our friends’ and acquaintances’ bodies changing in noticeable ways. It’s human nature to compare ourselves to our peers.

This year, with Ozempic ads all over bus shelters, TV and your social media feed, it’s hard not to feel the impact. A host of complex feelings and past experiences can be dredged up during your daily commute, and you’re transported back to those thoughtless offhand remarks. We’re also seeing dramatic weight loss IRL. Maybe you bump into a friend while dropping the kids off at school, or you’re getting together for a pumpkin spice latte, and you can’t help but wonder what prompted your friend’s seemingly sudden physical transformation. You might even be tempted to say something. But is it ever okay to comment on someone’s weight loss? 

However well-intentioned, any and all remarks about weight loss can be quite hurtful, says clinical psychologist Elizabeth Fedrick. Even if curiosity gets the better of you, it’s not necessary or appropriate to mention a friend’s weight gain or loss.

 “We often think we’re giving a compliment or being supportive when we mention somebody’s weight loss, but in reality, saying something like, ‘You lost weight—you look great,’ is actually somewhat implying that they didn’t look good prior, or that they need to be a certain weight in order to look great,” says Fedrick, who is the founder of Evolve Counseling & Behavioral Health Services. “This feels really awkward and uncomfortable for most people,” she adds. “Questions and comments about weight loss run the risk of sounding fatphobic, prejudicial and insensitive.”

(Related: My Doctor Prescribed Me Ozempic for Weight Loss—Here’s What I’ve Learned)

Weight Loss Comments Can Sound Fatphobic, Regardless of Intentions

Fatphobia refers to a fear of fat bodies. But it isn’t just about the more blatantly harmful comments people make, such as directly insulting someone’s weight or body type. Fatphobia encompasses the many covert—yet insidious—remarks we hear, like being told you’d be more comfortable in a dress with sleeves that cover your arms. It’s asking someone, “Are you really going to order dessert after such a big meal?” It’s also the mere implication that weighing less is better; that weight loss is more virtuous and healthier; and that you’re a more praise-worthy person after shedding a few pounds. It ties your value as a human to the shape of your body. 

Sometimes people conceal their fatphobia with concerns about a person’s health. The problem here is that you can’t tell whether someone is healthy just by looking at them. To address weight stigma and fatphobia, as a society, we need to make an intentional effort to value all bodies, not just the ones that conform to ideals of thinness or fitness. This also means addressing our own internalized fatphobia by refusing to engage in food-shaming (i.e., labelling certain foods as good or bad) and practising body positivity by accepting your own body at any weight or size, instead of self-scrutinizing.

Take the Lead from Your Friend

If a friend or acquaintance hasn’t said anything about their weight loss, the best approach would be to keep that observation to yourself, says Fedrick. Mentioning weight loss at all, however subtly or gently, immediately puts the other individual in a position of either dodging the reason for their weight loss, or feeling obligated to speak about the cause, Fedrick explains, when perhaps they would prefer to go about their day without talking about their body. At the grocery store or in the schoolyard, for example, there’s no need to say “You look great!” A simple “How are you doing?” is a better approach. 

“If they do bring up losing weight, lean in with gentle, nonjudgmental curiosity while allowing them to do the majority of the talking,” Fedrick adds.

If your friend shares that they’re losing weight because of illness, of course, you’d want to steer clear of praising them for looking good. 

Alternatively, if they seem excited about starting a new diet, it doesn’t hurt to validate their feelings. Fedrick suggests saying something like, “You seem like you’re feeling good about the change. It’s great that it’s helping you feel more comfortable.” A comment like this shows you’re supporting your friend rather than focusing on their physique.

Another appropriate response is to ask open-ended questions such as, “How are you feeling about the weight loss?” or “What has this transition been like for you?” 

“The idea is to lean into curiosity without judgment,” she adds. 

As a friend, your role is to be supportive and open to whatever weight loss means for them—not to impose societal beliefs about an ideal body shape or size. 

Losing Weight Isn’t Always a Sign of Good Health

Relying on weight loss as a marker of good health can be misleading. For some people, dramatic body changes may be a sign of disordered eating or an underlying health issue that’s causing them to lose weight. And the reality is, plenty of us will put in ample time at the gym and eat healthy, nutritious meals without dropping multiple pants sizes. 

Nowadays, there can also be some stigma surrounding the use of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro. Perhaps you’ve seen the strange phenomenon of friends or acquaintances proudly announcing on social media that their weight loss isn’t due to Ozempic. This point of view suggests that using medication is a shortcut to weight loss, without putting in the hard work—another damaging narrative.

“The suggestion that obtaining support to aid in weight loss is some type of ‘character’ issue is again putting inappropriate and unnecessary focus on something that’s not our business or concern,” Fedrick says. “The most effective way we can support someone’s mental health and wellbeing is by showing interest in who they are and how they’re doing as a human, not as a number on a scale.”

Next: Here’s Why It’s Time to Finally Part Ways with Your Scale

Kungpao, a classic flavour profile in Sichuan cuisine, is characterized by a balance of spicy, savoury, sour and sweet tastes. The sauce is versatile and can be applied to many canvases, most famously on chicken. I’ve made everything from kungpao eel to venison to tofu, but the version I frequently make is shrimp, since it comes together quickly. Take caution when you fry the dried chilies. Depending on how hot your chilies are, the room and your lungs might fill with smoke, so try not to take any deep breaths and definitely turn on the exhaust fan and open the windows.

Kungpao Shrimp

Serves 4

Ingredients

Kungpao Sauce (makes 1/3 cup)

• 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 Tbsp chicken stock or water
• 2 tsp Shaoxing wine
• 2 tsp light soy sauce
• 1 tsp dark soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp black vinegar
• ½ tsp cornstarch

Shrimp

• 2 Tbsp neutral oil
• 5-6 pieces dried chilies, cut into 1-inch/ 2.5cm segments
• 1 tsp whole Sichuan pepper
• 1 Tbsp minced ginger
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic
• 3 scallions, white parts only, cut into 1⁄2-inch/ 1.3cm segments 
• 2 celery stalks, cut into ½-inch/1.3cm segments
• 1 lb /450g shrimp, peeled, tails on
• ½ cup/120ml Kungpao Sauce
• ½ cup/70g roasted cashews or peanuts
• Microgreens or edible flowers for garnish (optional)
• White rice for serving

Directions

Sauce

1. In a small bowl, mix all ingredients together until well-combined. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. When ready to use, make sure to mix well again before cooking.

Shrimp

1. In a wok or frying pan over high heat, add the oil and heat until smoking. Add the chilies and Sichuan pepper and fry quickly so they don’t burn, 10 to 20 seconds. Add the ginger, garlic and scallions and fry until fragrant. Add the celery and shrimp and flash-fry for about 3 minutes, until the shrimp start to turn pink.
2. Pour in the sauce, stirring to make sure it coats all the ingredients evenly for 1 minute. The sauce will thicken as soon as it hits the heat, so move quickly here. Stir in the cashews at the very end before transferring to a serving platter.
3. Garnish with the microgreens (if using) and serve immediately with rice.

Excerpted from The Book of Sichuan Chili Crisp by Jing Gao. Copyright © 2023 Jing Gao. Photography by Yudi Ela Echevarria and Robert Nilsson. Published by Penguin, an imprint of Penguin Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

Next: The Health Benefits of Spicy Food, Explained

If you’d like fluttery-long lashes or fuller brows, you’ve probably considered a lash or brow serum—but have you considered its side effects?

Hair growth serums are a big business—in 2020 the global lash serum market was valued at $752 million, and by 2032, it’s projected to reach $1.3 billion. But it seems like the potential side effects of hair growth products are just now becoming well known, thanks in large part to TikTok. Users are sharing their stories of experiencing not just allergic reactions such as redness and swelling (which can occur with any beauty product), but more alarming reactions such as discoloured or darker eyelids and loss of volume around the eyes.

Here’s the scoop: Redness, irritation, discolouration, volume loss and even iris colour change are all possible side effects of using a hair growth serum formulated with prostaglandin. But that doesn’t mean you need to avoid growth serums that contain the ingredient—you just need to know what to look out for.

We reached out to Jeff Donovan, a Whistler-based dermatologist specializing in hair loss, to learn how to safely use a hair growth serum and who may want to avoid it.

Best Health: What is prostaglandin?

Dr. Jeff Donovan: Prostaglandins are chemicals that the body makes to help regulate bodily functions. They’re also used in lash serums to help hair grow longer, darker and thicker—so these are chemicals that mimic what the body makes.

BH: How serious are the side effects of lash and brow serums with prostaglandin?

JD: We’ve known about the side effects for a long time—Latisse was approved in 2008 for treating lash growth problems, and we knew the side effects back then. What’s changed is that now, the FDA, Health Canada, the European Commission, and health regulatory agencies around the world have said these prostaglandin should not be in cosmetics because they’re drugs. And drugs need to be delivered with appropriate counselling, primarily because all drugs have side effects.

Prostaglandin products can cause allergic reactions, irritation, redness, itchy eyes, dry eyes, swelling of the eyes, red eyes and fat loss. When I prescribe Latisse to my patients, we do a lot of counseling about the potential side effects. But we don’t see them often. What we do see often is a lot of people pleased with the results.

BH: How long do side effects last?

JD: Prostaglandin can cause discolouration of the eyelid, meaning it looks like a person is wearing makeup. It can also cause fat loss, or hollowing of the eyes. If these effects are discovered early and patients are appropriately monitored, then they can reverse. But if someone’s been using the products for a long time, about a year or two, they don’t always reverse. Fortunately, that’s very rare. Redness, itchiness, irritation and excessive hair growth go away for most patients over time, but can take a while.

What to remember is these are drugs and all drugs need appropriate monitoring. Under appropriate monitoring, if a doctor is seeing redness, pigmentation, excessive hair, allergic reactions, fat loss, they can recommend the patient stops using the product. But if patients are using products without monitoring, then permanent problems can occur.

BH: What are the chances that one of these side effects will occur?

JD: Depends on the side effect. Fat loss is rare. A very low decimal percentage. Redness and irritation are not rare—one in every few dozen patients that use it, has those side effects.

BH: Should anyone definitely not try a lash or brow serum with prostaglandin?

JD: People who have eczema or irritated skin may be more likely to have these side effects. And people who already have issues with fat loss or fat distribution may not be great candidates for these medications.

Other than that, these side effects can happen to anyone. That’s why you should be monitored.

BH: What should you look for in a lash and brow serum?

JD: Look for products that have been studied so you know they’re safe. I would encourage people to discuss it with their healthcare providers, even if it’s a natural product.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Next: Why Eyebrows Thin as You Age—and 3 New Ways to Spruce Them Up

Finding wholesome, hearty plant-based meals that are approved by everyone is not always easy. One day Jillian tried a vegan spin on gyros, a Greek dish traditionally made with roasted meat served in a folded pita. Rather than filling them with the traditional meat, Jillian decided to fill hers with roasted butternut squash, and they were an instant hit with her family! Both the kids and Justin loved these squash gyros, and they have since earned a permanent slot in their dinner rotation.

Butternut Squash Gyros

Vegetarian • Vegan option • Gluten-free option • Nut-free
Serves 4
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

Butternut Squash Filling

• 1 medium butternut squash (2½ pounds/1.125 kg), peeled
• and cut into ½-inch (1 cm) cubes (6½ cups/1.625 mL)
• 3 tablespoons (45 mL) avocado oil or vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon (5 mL) ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon (5 mL) ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon (5 mL) garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon (5 mL) sweet paprika
• ½ teaspoon (2 mL) salt
• ¼ teaspoon (1 mL) pepper

Salad

• 1 English cucumber, diced
• 2 tomatoes, diced
• 2 tablespoons (30 mL) finely diced red onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons (30 mL) extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons (30 mL) chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish
• 1 tablespoon (15 mL) pickled red onion brine or white vinegar
• Salt

Garlic Dill Sauce

• 1 cup (250 mL) plain full-fat Greek yogurt or non-dairy plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons (30 mL) mayonnaise or vegan mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons (30 mL) fresh lemon juice
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon (15 mL) chopped fresh dill
• Pinch of salt

For serving

• 4 large Greek pitas
• Olive oil, for toasting the pita
• Pickled red onions
• Feta cheese or vegan feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
• Fresh dill

Vegan: Use non-dairy yogurt, vegan mayonnaise, and vegan feta cheese.
Gluten-free: Use gluten-free Greek pitas.

Directions

1. Make the butternut squash filling: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine the squash, avocado oil, coriander, cumin, gar- lic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Toss to mix well. Spread the squash mixture evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Roast until the squash is golden brown and tender, about 30 minutes, tossing halfway through.
3. Meanwhile, make the salad: In a medium bowl, mix together the cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, garlic, olive oil, dill, and pickled red onion brine. Season with salt.
4. Make the garlic dill sauce: In a small bowl, stir together the yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic, dill, and salt.
5. Assemble the gyros: Heat a dry medium nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. Working with 1 pita at a time, drizzle a little olive oil on each side and heat in the pan until lightly toasted, about 1 minute per side.
6. In the centre of each pita, layer the roasted butternut squash, salad, Garlic Dill Sauce, Pickled Red Onions, and a sprinkle of feta , if using. Garnish with the dill and fold the sides together.

Excerpted from Fraiche Food Fuller Hearts by Jillian Harris and Tori Wesszer. Copyright © 2023 Jillian Harris and Tori Wesszer. Photography by Rachelle Beatty. Published by Penguin, an imprint of Penguin Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

Next: A Carrot Cake-Flavoured Breakfast Cookie That’s Surprisingly Healthy

Getting good sleep is crucial for staying healthy and feeling our best. When we sleep poorly or don’t sleep long enough, we can find it hard to concentrate and remember things. And over time, not getting the sleep we need can lead to serious health problems like depression, heart disease, and even a shorter life.

Something that has a big impact on our ability to have a good sleep is melatonin, a hormone our bodies produce naturally. It’s what helps us feel sleepy at night and awake during the day—when it’s dark outside, the pineal gland in our brain produces melatonin to let us know it’s time for rest. “Its primary job is to make you sleepy and stay asleep,” says Maude Morin, a registered dietitian at JM Nutrition.

But sometimes, external factors can interfere with our melatonin production. Jetlag, stress and the foods we eat can disrupt our sleep—and that’s when a melatonin supplement comes in handy. Available as an over-the-counter natural health product in Canada since 2005, melatonin supplements can help you fall and stay asleep. What’s more, they’re a non-addictive, readily available option for catching those Zzzs without the same risks as sleeping pills.

Lately, we’ve been seeing melatonin in gummy form on store shelves, so we wonder: Could a candy that also helps us sleep be too good to be true?

How do melatonin gummies compare to other forms?

Melatonin comes in many forms, including capsules, liquids, powders and gummies. Every melatonin product, including gummies, has varying melatonin amounts, so checking the supplement instructions for the recommended dose is crucial.

“The form of melatonin you take is a personal preference—it’s more important to pay attention to whether or not it’s a high-quality product,” says Morin. A simple rule of thumb: You shouldn’t need to take five or six melatonin gummies to feel tired enough to fall asleep. Needing to take so many gummies for a single dose of melatonin is a sign that the supplement might not be effective.

Since gummies are typically made with sugar, could a melatonin gummy actually hinder sleep?

Morin states that the low sugar content in melatonin gummies is unlikely to affect your sleep. Sugar also doesn’t affect how your body metabolizes the melatonin.

Are melatonin gummies safe to take?

Research conducted by the Cleveland Clinic shows that melatonin is generally non-addictive. No substantial evidence suggests that long-term use of supplemental melatonin reduces the body’s natural production as long as you stick to the recommended dose.

Melatonin gummies are usually safe for short-term use, even if you won’t sleep eight hours. But if you need to drive or stay alert soon after taking them, it’s important to be careful. Melatonin can make you drowsy, so you have time to rest before doing tasks like driving. Safety should always come first when using melatonin or any sleep aid.

Is it safe to take melatonin gummies every night?

Like all types of melatonin, Morin recommends using melatonin gummies as a valuable tool for better sleep on an as-needed basis. However, “it’s important not to rely solely on them for a good night’s rest,” she says.

According to The National Health Service, melatonin should only be taken for short-term sleep problems. Adults shouldn’t use melatonin supplements for more than 13 weeks unless they’ve consulted with a healthcare provider.

Morin recommends trying different stress reduction techniques instead of depending solely on a melatonin supplement. Some ideas include evening walks, deep breathing exercises and cutting screen time before bed.

What dosage of melatonin should I take?

When you’re taking melatonin, less is more. According to Morin, it’s best to start with the smallest effective dose of melatonin supplements, which is approximately 0.5 mg. If you can’t find this low dose, she suggests taking half the amount first to determine its effectiveness. If melatonin alone isn’t working, try more behaviour changes for better sleep.

What are the side effects of melatonin?

Headache, dizziness, nausea and daytime drowsiness are some of the most common side effects of melatonin. But Morin says that exposure to sunlight within the first hour or two after waking up can stimulate the production of cortisol, the wakefulness hormone, to help balance your sleep-wake cycle.

When’s the best time to take melatonin?

Taking a melatonin gummy 30 minutes to one hour before bed is best, says Morin. This timing aligns with your body’s typical melatonin release and when you would likely start feeling tired naturally. Additional research suggests taking other melatonin supplements, like slow-releasing tablets, is best to take an hour or two before your desired bedtime.

OLLY Sleep Blackberry Zen

OLLY Sleep vitamins are formulated with 3 mg of melatonin and 100 mg of L-Theanine, packed into a delicious blueberry gummy that promotes relaxation and better sleep.

OLLY Sleep Blackberry Zen, $24, well.ca

Nature’s Bounty Melatonin Gummies

Nature’s Bounty Melatonin gummies taste like sweet strawberries and contain 2.5 mg of melatonin. They’re gelatin-free, making them a great choice for vegetarians and vegans.

Nature’s Bounty Melatonin Gummies, $13, walmart.ca

Jameison Melatonin + C, D3, Zinc & Elderberry

Perfect for cold and flu season, Jamieson’s Melatonin + Vitamin C, D, Zinc and Elderberry gummies contain 5 mg of melatonin and are formulated to improve sleep quality while also strengthening your immune system.

Melatonin + C, D3, Zinc & Elderberry, $11, vitashop.ca

Vicks ZzzQuil PURE Zzzs

Vicks ZzzQuil PURE Zzzs gummies contain 2 mg of melatonin and soothing botanicals like lavender and chamomile to help you sleep naturally and wake up feeling refreshed.

Vicks ZzzQuil PURE Zzzs, $11, Amazon Canada

SUKU Restful Sleep

SUKU Restful Sleep includes 3mg melatonin, 100mg GABA, and 200mg L-Theanine. Each ingredient serves a specific purpose: Melatonin for improved sleep, L-Theanine for relaxation, and GABA for stress relief.

SUKU Vitamins Restful Sleep Blackberry Hibiscus, $25, well.ca

Next: Does Melatonin Affect Birth Control? What Experts Want You to Know

According to Human Sexuality author and psychologist Roger R. Hock, it’s common (and normal!) for both men and women to feel relaxed and sleepy after sex. So if your partner nods off right after you do it, it doesn’t mean your relationship isn’t strong or he doesn’t love you. On the contrary, his Zs are probably a sign of satisfaction.

Men fall asleep after sex for several reasons—none of which are related to your relationship or performance in bed. Here are a few of those reasons, plus, what to do about it.

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His body changes

“A man’s body chemistry changes after orgasm,” says David McKenzie, a sex therapist in Vancouver. “The biochemical prolactin is released, physically altering his body and making him very tired.” In contrast, women may not orgasm every time they have sex. So, you may still be semi-aroused and have the energy to talk about love and life while he’s drifting off to dreamland.

Mark Leyner and Billy Goldberg, M.D., authors of Why Do Men Fall Asleep After Sex?, offer an additional biological explanation: “It is thought that exertion during sex and after climax depletes the muscles of energy-producing glycogen. This leaves men feeling sleepy. Since men have more muscle mass than women, men become more tired after sex.”

Leyner and Goldberg state that there is little direct evidence to explain men falling asleep, though, after orgasm, the chemicals oxytocin, prolactin, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) and endorphins all contribute to that “roll over and snore” feeling. These chemicals and endorphins are part of what happens to your brain when you have sex.

He’s lost that spiritual feeling

Tantric sex focuses on the enlightening, spiritual aspects of sex. The merging of two bodies is a sacred act that increases awareness by channeling energy and lifting the couple to a different plane. Sex and orgasm are the pinnacle of spiritual awareness and represent the unification of male and female energy.

Leyner and Goldberg suggest that since a man’s orgasm is external, it causes the loss of that energy (through ejaculation). Research shows this loss of energy is also associated with a decrease in activation through the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex switches off post-orgasm, so men might get sleepy because this part of the brain involves consciousness, alertness,and mental activity. In contrast, a woman’s orgasm is an internal explosion of energy. Since she doesn’t experience that same outward loss of energy, she’s ready to cuddle for hours.

(Related: I Can’t Seem to Orgasm During Sex. What Gives?)

He’s not that into talking

Laurie Betito, a Montreal psychologist specializing in sex therapy, says, “Women like to ‘process’ their experiences, hence the desire to talk after sex.” Communication tends to be easier and more natural for women. If a man isn’t a great communicator at the best of times, he’ll be even less likely to engage in a heart-to-heart when he’s flat on his back.

According to sex therapist Ian Kerner, cuddling after sex helps to reinforce intimacy, attachment and an overall sense of connection and commitment. Studies show that the partners of people who fall asleep right after sex have a greater desire for more bonding and affection—no matter who falls asleep after sex. So, finding ways to bond after sex can strengthen your whole relationship.

Here’s what to do

Change the time you have sex. Instead of doing it right before bedtime, initiate sex before a meal. The goal is to avoid having sex late at night when you’re tired, which almost guarantees the Zs.

Next: 6 Reasons Your Partner May Seem Less Interested in Having Sex

At my last visit to the family doctor, my GP high-fived me after I confessed why I was there. I needed birth control, as a 47-year-old divorced mom of three who’s finally dating again—and having the best sex of my life, I might add.

My new guy is nine years younger than me, and I’m having the hottest sex since my early 20s. (And maybe ever? To be honest.) It’s such a delight, to say the least, especially because, after my marriage ended, I had surrendered to the fact that maybe this chapter of my life was, if not completely over, going to be a lot less, well, energetic. I am so, so glad to be wrong.

But it’s not just what happens between the sheets—my new paramour is young, smart, fun and makes me feel like the sexiest woman in the world. (I seriously suggest lowering your age range on dating apps. Younger men love older women, it seems.)

Last week we were supposed to go out for dinner for my birthday, so I dressed up and headed over to meet him at his place. Within minutes of me knocking on his door, my clothing was in a pile on his living room floor. We never made it to the restaurant—instead, we spent six hours in bed, breaking only for him to make me dinner. It was heaven.

So this is why I decided to go back on birth control for the first time in a decade. My new boy toy (boyfriend? partner? I have no idea what to call him, but it sure is fun) and I also agreed to get tested for STIs.

I love my family doctor, and he’s a genuinely wonderful person, yet I was still a bundle of nerves as I walked into his office. He has guided me and my family through life’s momentous milestones, like the birth of my children, as well as through minor and decidedly unglamorous complaints, from Pap smears to burning plantar warts on my kids’ feet. He also helped me through the follow-up when I found a lump in my left boob, which was terrifying. (Thankfully, it went away of its own accord.) It’s fair to say he knows me intimately. But I was somehow still embarrassed to admit to him that I was—at last—getting some.

“Why are you nervous?” he asked. “You’re not old or dead—I’m happy for you. You deserve this.”

I welled up. I’ve been legally separated for more than three years, and while I’ve had a few flings, this is the first time since my marriage ended that I’ve felt this close to someone. It meant a lot to hear that I deserved it.

He wrote a prescription for birth control and, to test for the most common STIs, he sent me home with a vaginal swab I could drop off later at my local hospital. “There’s something else I want you to do, though,” he said. “I want you to get the Gardasil vaccine.”

Gardasil prevents infections from HPV (human papillomavirus), a sexually transmitted viral infection that can cause skin or mucous membrane growths such as warts. Some of them can become anal and genital cancers, such as cervical cancer. (HPV can also cause ovarian, vulvar, penis, oral and throat cancers.) The Gardasil vaccine has been routinely given to Canadian girls between the ages of nine and 13 since 2007. By 2010, the vaccine program was expanded to both sexes, and it has been largely successful. In 2021, Statistics Canada placed the national HPV vaccination rate for children aged 14 at 84 percent.

My 16-year-old had Gardasil shots while they were in middle school, but it is not generally offered to older women, and is, in fact, only recommended to women aged 45 and under because that is the group that the vaccine has been most widely tested on. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) stays a bit vague in their recommendations, saying that the vaccine “may” be given “to women 26 years of age and older at ongoing risk of exposure to HPV.” This means there’s nothing saying we shouldn’t get it, and NACI does list benefits for older women. It’s just not something we are going to be offered for free. This, says Halifax OB/GYN James Bentley, is because the vaccine is expensive, and the number of women at risk of a later-in-life exposure to HPV isn’t high enough to justify the cost of offering it free for everyone.

My doctor told me he had recently attended a medical conference where an oncologist friend advised him to catch all the 40-something divorcees coming into his office and recommend that they have Gardasil shots to help them avoid HPV-related cancers—it’s not too late for the vaccine to make a difference.

Interestingly, after my doctor appointment, I mentioned the vaccine to a pharmacist friend, and he confirmed that he’s started to see more older women being prescribed the vaccine.

Based on the most recent available statistics, which are from 2022, the Canadian Cancer Society estimates that 1,450 Canadian women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, and 380 will die from it. But the vaccine can stop you from getting HPV, and, if you already have HPV, stop it from morphing into cancer.

Because I want cancer about as much as I want a fourth baby at age 47, I said yes, and booked the first of three vaccines—spread two months apart—at my local pharmacy, even though it would be an out-of-pocket cost for me.

I also wanted to know more about the vaccine’s efficacy for women in their 40s, especially because I was getting mixed messages from everything I read. The Canadian guidelines for girls and women explain that while peak risk for HPV infection is within five to 10 years of the first sexual experience, there’s often a second peak in HPV prevalence observed in women 45 years and older.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and their Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) do not recommend the vaccine for women my age. (The CDC guidelines say that the vaccine provides less benefit later in life for several reasons, “including that more people in this age range have already been exposed to HPV.”)

I asked Bentley, the Halifax OB/GYN, for more information on this—he’s also a Dalhousie University professor of gynaecologic oncology, and he conducts research into cervical cancer and HPV vaccines.

“There haven’t been large trials carried out on women aged 45-plus who’ve had Gardasil, but the small trials did show less abnormal (pre-cancerous) cervical cells—and fewer abnormal Pap smear tests—in the vaccinated group compared to the unvaccinated group,” he told me. “And, even if you have been infected with a strain of HPV before getting the Gardasil vaccine, it may still reduce the likelihood of those precancerous cells forming.”

This is important, because the time period from HPV infection to developing cancer, or finding precancerous cells, can be up to 15 to 20 years, for those with typical immune systems. You can be completely asymptomatic for years, with no clue that you are infected.

One thing that really struck me from my conversation with Bentley was his comment that personally, in the last decade or so, he’s seen markedly fewer cases of anal or genital warts in women younger than 30. He credits the high uptake of the Gardasil vaccine as the reason why.

A research review published in the American Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in 2019 reported “consistent declines in females age 25 years and younger after 2006, when routine female vaccination began in the United States.”

“Before the Gardasil vaccine I was seeing one [case] a week in my practice,” says Bentley. “While I doubt anal and genital warts will be eradicated by the end of my career, they are definitely less problematic [than they used to be]. And we are seeing less and less cervical cancer as time goes on. The group that I’m seeing abnormal cells in is getting [older], because just about everybody under 30 has been vaccinated.”

So why aren’t more women over the age of 45 rushing to get the Gardasil vaccine? I’m guessing it’s a lack of awareness and not enough vaccine outreach. If I hadn’t gotten divorced, started dating again, and gone to my doctor for birth control, I would have no idea that Gardasil was something I should pursue.

That said, I don’t think that married women (or men) should assume that they are protected against contracting HPV. Plenty of people step out on their long-term partners, and I have several friends who only found out their husband was having an affair because they contracted an STI.

For those who are feeling any vaccine hesitation, Bentley notes that HPV vaccination is not likely to cause any harm.

“There is a definite benefit to being vaccinated against HPV. The biggest harm it causes is financial, because this is an expensive vaccination that isn’t covered by Health Canada for adults, though many drug plans do cover it,” he says. “The reality is that people have to make a judgment call about whether they can afford this, and I don’t want anyone to feel guilty if they can’t.”

While $600 to $700 total is a hefty price tag—especially as a single mom whose drug plan did not cover it—getting the series of three shots, at more than $200 each, was still a no-brainer. My life is stressful enough, so I want to protect myself and make sure that when I’m in bed with my new guy, there’s nothing to think about other than having a rollicking good time. I’m also happy to report that for me, the first shot was no more painful than my COVID shots were, with no side effects, and there was no significant tenderness or numbness around the injection site afterward.

Bentley says that the number-one message he wants to spread among 40-something women who are having sex with new partners is that we need to be screened for cervical cancers—whether we’re vaccinated or not. Currently, each province has different guidelines on how often women should get Pap smears, ranging from every year to every two or three years, depending on medical history. So, book yourself in for a screening, and if you haven’t had an HPV vaccine, talk to your healthcare provider about whether this is a good option for you.

Next: I’m One of the 1/7 Canadians with Genital Herpes—Here’s What You Need to Know