Top 10 Health Benefits of Love and Sex

Love and its frequent companion, sex. People spend countless hours pursuing these two heights of human experience. But is the rush of positive emotions and the physical pleasure worth all the drama? Or are romantic pursuits, like Valentine’s Day, over-hyped?

When it comes to your health, that swooning in your stomach and aching in your loins offer an undeniable boon of benefits that are supported by reams of research. Whether you’re a hopeless romantic or a hardened cynic, whether you’re growing weary of the search to find love or are wondering where the heat in your relationship has gone, here are the top 10 health reasons to keep seeking that emotional and physical connection with another person.

#1 Less stress

You know a good roll in the hay can take your mind off your worries. Researchers have documented this link and theorize that it is due in part to the release of oxytocin, the hormone that helps us feel bonded to others and triggers feelings of comfort and relaxation. A 2007 study found that middle-aged women who reported having sex one day enjoyed a better mood and less stress on the following day. Even better, this improved mental state predicted more affectionate touching and sexual activity with a partner on the day after that — creating a self-perpetuating upward spiral of satisfaction.

And it’s not just sex that has a calming effect: A 2009 Japanese study found that subjects who were shown romantic films experienced a change in heart rate variability (which measures how quickly the heart rate recovers from a stressful event) that only comes when the parasympathetic nervous system is activated — the portion of the central nervous system that triggers the relaxation response. And in a University of Zurich study of women about to undergo a stressful event, such as a speaking engagement, those who received a neck and shoulder rub from their partner had significantly lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and less intense stress-related spikes in heart rate.

#2 Longer life

Contrary to the messages we get that high levels of sexual activity are somehow dangerous — either through exposure to potentially life-threatening STDs or by fostering an appetite for risky behavior — there is plenty of research to promote the opposite view: More sex leads to longer life. A Welsh study that followed 918 men aged 45 to 59 for 10 years found that those who had two or more orgasms per week had 50 percent fewer instances of mortality than those who had low or no incidence of sexual activity. A similar study followed 252 people in North Carolina for 25 years; at follow-up, men who reported having frequent intercourse lived significantly longer than those who didn’t. Sorry, ladies, the researchers didn’t find the same correlation in women. However, they did find that women who reported enjoying their sexual encounters over the years lived longer than women who didn’t.

#3 More youthful appearance

Forget painful Botox appointments and expensive skin creams. If you want to look younger than your years, have more sex. In a fascinating study, a panel of judges observed 3,500 participants — a group of men and women from Europe and America — through a one-way mirror with the directive to guess the age of each subject. The people who were perceived to be seven to 12 years younger than their actual age were found to have sex an average of three times per week (as opposed to the control group, which had sex an average of twice per week).

#4 Stronger muscles for men and women 
French researchers may have figured out why King Kong was so unstoppable when in pursuit of his beloved. An even mix of male and female participants in a 2009 study were shown a series of pictures that were chosen for their ability to elicit either a negative, neutral or positive state of arousal. After looking at each picture, they performed a feat of physical strength in hopes of winning a monetary reward. The subjects produced more force — and reported feeling the least amount of physical effort — after being shown photographs that were rated the most arousing.

#5 Clearer thinking

You may think that being in love overrides logic, but a 2006 Swiss study begs to differ. Women in love performed much better on a cognitive task when they were subliminally exposed to a beloved’s name. And a 2006 Columbia University study found that experiencing powerful emotions enhanced memory: Both men and women performed better on tests of long-term (in this instance, one week) memory recall after being shown emotionally arousing images.

#6 Improved heart health

Although sex may not qualify as an intense cardio workout, it does offer a demonstrable benefit to the old ticker: A study that followed Welsh men for 10 years found that those who had sex at least twice a week had half the incidences of fatal coronaries than men who had sex only once a month. A 2009 study of American men found a similar result: Those who had sex at least twice a week had a significantly lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease than men who had sex once a month or less.

Sex can also be beneficial for your blood pressure. In a 2006 Scottish study, people who had engaged in vaginal intercourse in the previous two weeks had lower blood pressure after giving a speech to an unfriendly audience than those who had not engaged in any sexual behavior, or had masturbated, or who had sexual activity that did not include intercourse.

#7 Stronger relationships

Relationship satisfaction is strengthened when both partners are sexually satisfied: In a 2008 Finnish study, researchers found that in couples aged 33 to 43, relationship satisfaction was highest in those couples who had sexual intercourse and sessions of kissing and petting as often as they hoped. In fact, a mutually satisfying sex life can even compensate for less than ideal communication in a relationship, according to 2005 study by researchers at the University of Tennessee.

#8 Pain relief

Sufferers of chronic pain, take note: Orgasm has been shown to raise the pain threshold.  “We know that orgasm releases neurotransmitters into the spinal fluid that have a very strong pain-blocking effect,” says Beverly Whipple, PhD, a prominent researcher on women’s sexuality, professor emerita at Rutgers University, and the author of The G Spot and Other Discoveries About Human Sexuality. “We’ve shown in the lab that these neurotransmitters elevate pain thresholds by 80 percent. For women with chronic pain from conditions such as arthritis and whiplash, orgasm can help the pain disappear. Others have reported that it can help headaches go away.” Indeed, research has found that having an orgasm resolves migraines in nearly half of study participants. (There is also a reported phenomenon of orgasm-induced migraines, and 5 percent of study participants reported those happening.)

#9 Stronger immunity

A 2004 study interviewed students at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and found that those who had sexual activity one to two times per week had higher levels of immunoglobulin A — a vital component of the immune system — in their saliva than students who reported having infrequent (less than once a week) sexual encounters. Interestingly, those students who claimed to be having sex more than three times a week had IgA levels similar to those who had infrequent sex, suggesting that perhaps there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

#10 Reduced risk of some cancersA 2003 Australian study interviewed 2,000 men in their fifties and sixties. Those who claimed to have had four or more ejaculations per week (from intercourse and masturbation) during their twenties, thirties and forties had one-third the risk of developing prostate cancer of those men who had three or fewer ejaculations during the same decades. Similarly, a 2004 U.S. study that interviewed 50,000 middle-aged men found that the more ejaculations the men had each week during the course of their lives, the less likely they were to develop prostate cancer.

Leonardo DiCaprio, model Erin Heatherton fly to Mexico for romantic vacation

Erin Heatherton is the latest beauty to catch Leonardo DiCaprio's eye since he dated 'Gossip Girl' star Blake Lively.

Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t appear upset by his Academy Award snub this week when he was spotted on vacation with his latest model fling.

The “J. Edgar” star is currently soaking up the sun in Mexico with Victoria’s Secret bombshell Erin Heatherton, who he’s been dating for the past month.

 By the looks of it, the new couple may be taking a lengthy stay south of the border. They were pictured grabbing their bags from the back of an SUV filled to the brim with designer luggage.

Although DiCaprio, 37, appears to be going strong with his latest leggy gal pal, Heatherton may have some competition.

DiCaprio, who has dated actress Blake Lively and models Gisele Bundchen and Bar Refaeli, recently said any girlfriend of his will have a lot to live up to because he compares them to his mother, Irmelin.

 

"My mother is the centre of my life," the actor told the Daily Express. "To have a woman like that in your life, who is strong, who'll be honest with you about who you are … that's something I treasure. And it's something I look for in a woman." 

David Tutera of 'My Fair Wedding' sued by couple for flaking on duties, running up the bill

Wendylee Perez and Hector Santana are suing celebrity wedding planner David Tutera for, among other things, neglecting to provide invitations, flowers and a wedding cake.

A New York couple sued its celebrity wedding planner for saying, “I don’t” to his duties on their big day.

Reality show star David Tutera, after breaking his vows to Hector Santana and Wendylee Perez, also tripled the cost of their reception, the pair charged in a Manhattan lawsuit.

The star of “My Fair Wedding” was more party pooper than planner in November 2010 when Brooklyn-born Perez and her beloved tied the knot in the Dominican Republic, the suit charged.

“Due to the defendant’s arrogant and heartless actions, plaintiffs have been harmed personally and financially,” the now happily-married couple said in their lawsuit.

After bumping the Punta Cana wedding bill from $10,000 to more than $30,000, the toothy Tutera — whose client roster includes Elton John and Jennifer Lopez — didn’t even provide the invitations, the flowers or a DJ.

His biggest whiff on their prenuptial agreement: Tutera never delivered the wedding cake, leaving the jilted couple waiting at the altar with no dessert, the lawsuit charged.

The egotistical planner even two-timed the bride, jetting cross-country for a taping of his reality show when he was supposed to be working on the wedding, the couple claimed.

It was hardly the affair promised on Tutera’s website: “Turning every bride’s fantasy into a reality. . . . We believe every bride deserves to be treated like a celebrity.”

Tutera claimed he had to tend to a sick relative when he blew off the nervous couple shortly before their Nov. 6, 2010, wedding.

Tutera’s publicist Eda Kalkay, in an email, said the planner was “not interested in commenting at this time” on the marital discord.

But the newlyweds’ relatives expressed distress: “The wedding was not what we expected,” said the bride’s mom, Ercilla Perez. “He didn’t appear. We trusted him so much.”

“He noted the day before he was not coming,” she said. “He said someone was in the hospital but we don’t know.”

Earlier this year, a bitter legal brawl between Tutera and a Boston “Bridezilla” over her $300,000 Singapore wedding was quietly resolved. 

Man, wife, son guilty in Canadian ‘honor killing’ trial

Mohammad Shafia, right, Tooba Yahya, center, and their son Hamed Mohammed Shafia, left, are escorted into the Frontenac County courthouse in Kingston, Ontario, Canada on Thursday, Jan. 26.

Three members of an immigrant Afghan family were found guilty of first-degree murder on Sunday in what is thought to be Canada's first "honor killing" trial.

Mohammad Shafia, 58, and his wife Tooba Mohammad Yahya were convicted, along with their 21-year-old son Hamed, of drowning their three daughters and Shafia's first wife, according to The Associated Press.

They reportedly stashed the dead bodies in the family car, which they pushed into a canal near Kingston, Ontario to make the deaths look like an accident, jurors at the Ontario court ruled.

The bodies of sisters Zainab, 19, Sahar 17, and Geeti, 13, as well as Shafia's first wife Rona Amir Mohammad, 52, were found in the submerged car on June 30, 2009.

Wiretaps played during the trial caught Shafia on tape calling his daughters "filthy" and "whores" for "betraying" his family by dating boys and wearing revealing clothing.

Prosecutors argued that Shafia believed Mohammad backed the girls' westernized lifestyle and wanted to divorce him.

During one recording, Shafia called for the devil to defecate on his daughters' graves, the AP reported.

"It is difficult to conceive of a more despicable, more heinous crime," Ontario Superior Judge Robert Maranger said while handing down the ruling.

"The apparent reason behind these cold-blooded, shameful murders was that the four completely innocent victims offended your completely twisted concept of honor."

Shafia and his family had been living in Canada since 2007.

He married Yahya, 42, because Mohammad could not have children, but kept them both as his wives, according to the AP.

School officials, teachers and other witnesses testified during the trial that the girls were terrified of their father and feared for their lives.

The oldest, Zainab, fled to a shelter in desperation at one point, witnesses said.

Defense lawyers argued the deaths were an accident after Zainab took her sisters and Mohammad for a late-night joyride while the family was staying at a hotel during a trip to Niagara Falls.

After the trial, Mohammad Shafia, called the ruling "unjust."

"We are not criminal, we are not murderer, we didn't commit the murder," he said through a translator.

His sobbing wife Tooba, said, "I am not a murderer, and I am a mother, a mother." 

Lara Stone poses topless to model brightly for ad campaign

Lara Stone poses alongside male model Matthew Terry in the new Calvin Klein ad campaign.

Jeans have never looked so sexy than when Lara Stone wears them for Calvin Klein's spring/summer campaign.

The Dutch model, who is married to British comedian David Williams, shows off her sun-soaked body as she poses topless and wears nothing but the fashion brand’s brightly-colored jeans in the new risqué photo shoot.

Shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott on St. Barth’s Guanahani Beach, Stone seductively stretches across the rocks alongside male model Matthew Terry. The experience was something to remember for Terry, who told WWD that it was his first time in the Caribbean and only his second time outside the U.S.

In other shots, Stone covers up – but looks equally sexy – and wears a tailored white blazer and strappy high heels.

Admirers can expect to see much more of the leggy stunner – the 28-year-old recently renewed her contract with Calvin Klein and will continue to be the face of Calvin Klein Collection, ck Calvin Klein and Calvin Klein Jeans. 

 

Facebook ‘girlfriend’ can be had for $5

True love? Priceless. Facebook love: $5.

A website shilling goods and services for five dollars may have the answer to your social media prayers - a beautiful blonde willing to be “in a relationship” with you on Facebook.

The website Fiverr.com has a new ad out that is as creative as it is creepy. The pitch, from seller cathy01, states matter-of-factly “I'll be your girlfriend on Facebook for 10 days.” And who could resist with these qualifications:

“I'm Cathy, a 23-year-old student and I live in New York City,” the ad reads.

For the commitment phobic, Cathy offers another option - she'll write on your Facebook wall to aid in the ladies-man image sought by many-a Facebook friend.

“There's a second option, by the way: If you want a few messages (3 max.) on your profile to make someone jealous that's also possible,” Cathy says. “Just send me the message(s) and the Facebook-link!”

Unlike the struggling startup Cloud Girlfriend that allows users to design their own paramour and have her write their Facebook walls, Cathy asserts to be a real person. 

President Obama is working to bring outsourced jobs back to the U.S

President Obama :with the help of a few household items and a Republican-friendly idea — promised Saturday to make the federal government more pro-business.

The President displayed a padlock, a pair of boots, a candle and a pair of socks — items all made in the United States — and vowed to stem the tide of American business owners outsourcing their jobs.

“I’ll make sure you’ve got a government that does everything in its power to help you succeed,” Obama said in his weekly address.

The President pledged that he would soon unveil a new tax code that would give incentives for companies that bring jobs back from overseas — and eliminate breaks for those that do not.

Obama was vague on the details of the tax reform — saying they would be revealed in the coming weeks — but recent remarks from administration officials indicate that it could be a sweeping change of the nation’s tax code.

That move appears lifted from the Republican playbook, and could provide Obama with a winning election year issue, his advisors hope.

The swipe at businesses who sent jobs overseas has also been interpreted as a subtle jab at Obama’s would-be White House rival Mitt Romney, who oversaw the outsourcing of thousands of jobs during his time in the private sector.

The President also touted his commitment to a more business-friendly government by urging Congress to support his plan to merge a half-dozen federal agencies.

On Friday, Obama said he wanted to merge six trade agencies and eliminate the Commerce Department — a popular target of Republicans on the campaign trail.

But the President’s idea was met with indifference by the Republican leadership, who once again used their weekly response to call for the construction of a controversial oil pipeline.

Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) called for Obama to sign off on the $7 billion transcontinental Keystone XL pipeline, which is supported by pro-business groups but opposed by environmental activists.

Obama has yet to make a decision on the hot-button issue, which Hoeven said was indicative of a government bogged down by too much red tape.

“We must empower private investment and create sustainable jobs through private enterprise to lift up our country,” Hoeven said. 

Luxury cruise ship off coast of Tuscany evacuates 4,200 people

A luxury cruise ship ran aground off the coast of Tuscany, sending water pouring in through a 160-foot (50-meter) gash in the hull and forcing the evacuation of some 4,200 people from the listing vessel early Saturday, the Italian coast guard said.

Three bodies were recovered from the sea, said Coast Guard Cmdr. Francesco Paolillo. There were reports that three other people had died after the accident late Friday night near the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio, but those reports were not yet confirmed, he said.

Helicopters plucked to safety some 50 people who were trapped on the Costa Concordia after the liner listed so badly they couldn't launch lifeboats, Paolillo told The Associated Press in Rome by telephone from his command in the Tuscan port city of Livorno.

"We were having dinner aboard when we heard a loud noise, like that of the keel being dragged over something," passenger Luciano Castro, who is a journalist, told Italian state radio early Saturday. The lights went out "and there were scenes of panic, glasses falling to the floor," Castro said.

Another passenger on what was be an eight-day pleasure cruise around Mediterranean ports, Mara Parmegiani, also a journalist, told the ANSA news agency that "it was like a scene from the Titanic."

Survivor Christine Hammer, from Bonn, Germany, shivered near the harbor of Porto Santo Stefano, on the mainland, after stepping off a ferry from Giglio. She was wearing elegant dinner clothes — a cashmere sweater, a silk scarf — along with a large pair of hiking boots, which a kind islander gave her after she lost her shoes in the scramble to escape, along with her passport, credit cards and phone.

Hammer, 65, told The Associated Press that she was eating her first course, an appetizer of squid, on her first night aboard her first-ever cruise, which was a gift to her and her husband, Gert, from her local church where she volunteers.

Suddenly, "we heard a crash. Glasses and plates fell down and we went out of the dining room and we were told it wasn't anything dangerous," she said.

The passengers were instructed to put on life jackets and take to the life rafts but, Hammer said, they couldn't get into the boats, because the cruise liner was tilting so much the boats couldn't be lowered into the cold, night sea. The passengers were eventually rescued by one of several boats in the area that came to their aid. 

Find out your star position in 2012

Some planets, like Venus, Mercury and Mars, and of course, the Sun and Moon, are faster moving planets, and other planets move more slowly around our solar system. Each planet position means something different for each star sign, and with each position there is a governing energy. Here’s a rundown on the movement of these planets in 2012.

JUPITER is the ruler of Sagittarius, and is known as the planet of abundance and expansion, and often referred to as the lucky planet.
Jupiter is in Taurus till June 12, 2012: With Jupiter in Taurus, everything is deliberate. Jupiter will stretch the mind, but Taurus will make sure it is for real rather than fleeting or fantasy. The Jupiter Taurus vibration helps you strive for the future in a way that pleases your heart; it encourages you to keep life in prospective while striving to be the best you can be. It encourages art, real estate and possessions that have an investment value - this is a fortunate and positive placement.  
Jupiter moves in to Gemini on June 12th 2012 and stays in this position till June 27th 2013, when it moves into Cancer. In Gemini, the grasp of detail and vision is heightened, particularly with creative ventures. It is also the position of media, which focuses attention on matters and people that need to be made public.

SATURN is the ruler of Capricorn, represents business and acts with authority. He also represents our father, and the discipline and self control to work hard to get ahead. Saturn is known as the hard taskmaster, and anything that happens under the influence of Saturn is real, with strong foundations.
Saturn is in Libra till Oct., 06, 2012: In this position, Saturn highlights the need for fairness in all dealings, personal and professional. People become more helpful and amicable in their business negotiations and strive for win-win outcomes. This is a positive position for Saturn, as it is Capricorn’s ruler and it is in Capricorn’s solar 10th House, the position of business and career. Saturn is also known as the planet of restrictions and boundaries, but in this position it promises to rebuild business and relationships on a balanced level with integrity on a world scale.
Saturn moves into the sign of Scorpio on Oct 6th 2012 and stays here through Dec 24 2014 when it moves into the next sign, Sagittarius. In Scorpio, Saturn provides the energy of power and determination, and a responsible attitude towards money and financial dealings.

URANUS is the ruler of Aquarius and is a slow moving planet. It takes about 84 years to move through the solar cycle and visits each star sign for around seven years. It is the planet of creativity, originality and is futuristic in its essence. It can also bring about sudden change that can be disruptive but empowering.
Uranus is in Aries till March 07, 2019, another 7 years. In this position Uranus gives you a greater level of originality, boosts self confidence to achieve objectives, and enhances leadership. It can also be stubborn, risk taking, and act with rashness. But overall, it provides ambition to achieve what can be thought as impossible. Under this influence, with the genius of Uranus, you can accomplish just about anything, but in the process it can be challenging and cause upheaval.

NEPTUNE is the ruler of Pisces and known as the planet of imagination. It takes 164 years to move through the solar system and 12 zodiac signs. It stays in each sign for approximately 14 years.
Neptune is in Aquarius till Feb 04 2011. During this time, the Neptune Aquarian influence can bring about a heightened awareness of humanitarian issues, with the energy assisting the creation of unique ways to overcome world issues.  
Neptune moves back into Pisces on Feb 04, 2012 and stays there till March 31, 2025 – a 13 year period.
Neptune in Pisces is a strong position as it rules Pisces, and brings together a mind, body and soul balance to our world. People will look for more sustainable experiences and situations to fulfill their lives rather than a quick fix. It is a time when intuitive sciences will be taken more seriously, and people worldwide will seek to enter a journey of self discovery.

PLUTO is a slow moving planet that stays in a sign for approximately 12 years. It is known as the planet of transformation.
Pluto is in Capricorn till Jan., 22, 2024, another 12 years. Capricorn is a business minded sign that strives to build solid foundations now and for the future. As Pluto represents transformation, this combination signifies a time when world business will be under the microscope. Anything that is not working will disintegrate, that’s the Pluto influence and it will be built up again under the Capricorn influence, and in the process, it does promise to come back to be bigger and better than before. Partnerships on all levels, professional and personal, become more honest, open and sincere.

Summing up:
Conclusion 2012
In conclusion, this year, more than ever before we enter a period of spiritual growth where we change literally change our lives as the vibration of our existence changes. With the Neptune influence moving into its own inspirational and imaginative sign, Pisces, encouraging us to look within, and the Pluto Capricorn vibration of breaking down to rebuild, all leads to transformation on a whole. Whether on a personal or business level there is a common theme of people wanting to do and be better as humans. There is a need for honesty first with yourself and then fairness in all dealings. We are coming back into alignment with ourselves, each other, and the people and corporations we deal with locally and on a world scale. This is a powerful time, and it is a wake up call on many levels. It is a time when the vibration of life can rise to a level where pettiness falls between the crakes and the big picture of live takes precedence. The reality of Jupiter in Taurus for the first half of the year, then in Gemini the sign of creativity and media for the remainder of the year, Jupiter expands our mind to think further outside the box than before. The fairness of Saturn in Libra, the sheer determination of Uranus in Aries, Neptune in Pisces’s quest for us to look deeper within ourselves, and Pluto in Capricorn on a mission to reconstruct the broken fences, this is a year to rebuild the power source. It starts with one person, YOU, and with this small effort, the vibration of intention and action can filter out to mankind as a whole and as one. This is a powerful time in our existence, and I look forward to being part of the learning and teaching process. Good luck and cosmic love! 

Jay-Z and Beyonce's baby garners celebrity attention

Beyonce and Jay-Z’s baby was trending on Twitter at birth.

The social media site was aflutter Sunday with celebrity pals and relatives of the hip-hop royal couple posting messages of 140 characters or less.

“The most beautiful girl in the world,” Beyoncé’s sis, Solange Knowles, tweeted of her newborn niece, Blue Ivy Carter.

Within hours of entering the world at Lenox Hill Hospital on the upper East Side Saturday night, the infant boasting the lineage of the R&B princess and the rap impresario caused a stir in the Twittersphere.

Some Twitter-geek even set up a phony account for Blue Ivy that drew more than 12,000 followers before it was taken offline.

“I’m blowing up like you thought I would,” stated one of the bogus tweets attributed to baby Blue in the first six hours of her life.

There was no immediate word from the proud parents on the baby’s length and weight.

The legitimate tweets were signed with love and came from a who’s-who list of celebrity friends of the baby’s parents.

As Jay-Z’s protégé and collaborator, Rihanna felt close enough to call the herself the baby’s auntie.

200 million use illegal drugs says report

Drug use is more prevalent in rich economies and in drug-producing regions of poor countries and is often a major health burden, the paper adds.

About 200 million people around the world use illicit drugs, according to a study published on Friday in The Lancet.

It estimates that in 2009 between 149 and 271 million people used an illegal drug.

Cannabis users comprised between 125 and 203 million; users of opioids (heroin and morphine), amphetamines or cocaine totalled 15 to 39 million; and those who injected drugs numbered between 11 and 21 million.

Drug use is more prevalent in rich economies and in drug-producing regions of poor countries and is often a major health burden, the paper adds.

"Cannabis use is associated with dependence and mental disorders, including psychoses, but does not seem to substantially increase mortality," it says.

"Illicit opioid use is a major cause of mortality from fatal overdose and dependence," it says, adding that injecting drug users faced specific threats of catching HIV and hepatitis by sharing needles.

All three types of drugs seem to be associated with higher rates of mental disorders, road accidents and violence, although information about this is often sketchy.

The estimate is based on data from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), from national surveys and peer-reviewed studies into the impact of drug use.

Ecstasy, LSD, non-medical use of prescription drugs and anabolic steroids are not included in the estimate.

Katy Perry's split is gift from God says her parents

Katy Perry's pastor parents said the pop star's divorce from Russell Brand was a gift from God, British tabloid The Sun reports.

On Wednesday, Keith and Mary Hudson spoke to a packed congregation at Church on the Rise in Westlake, Ohio, and addressed the news of their daughter's split from the former sex addict.

Mary, 63, joked that her famous daughter, who was raised as a devout Christian, was the real reason behind the crowd's attendance.

 "I'm sure Katy is trending on the Internet just to get you to church tonight," she said, according to The Sun.

"I mean, all over the world, who knows how God is bringing them in? The most important thing is you are here, and God wants to put the fire in you in 2012."

The 27-year-old singer and Brand, 36, ended their whirlwind, 15-month marriage amid rumors of incessant fighting.

It's no secret that Katy's parents were less than enthusiastic about her relationship with Brand, but at the sermon, the "Fireworks" singer's father reportedly had only nice things to say.

"I love my daughter, and I will always love her," he said. "Stop being judgmental and critical. Do not close the doors to your loved ones, especially your children.

"Just because they do not like what you do or what you are, they are still praying that you stay in the race. They are counting on you." 

Paris Hilton poses topless in FHM

Paris Hilton says she once partied with Price William and Prince Henry in London: 'I found them to be just such nice gentlemen

After a long hiatus out of the spotlight, Paris Hilton vows to make a big comeback in the music world this summer.

"I have a huge passion for house music," she says in the January issue of FHM magazine. "It always has been my passion. I just haven't been able to focus on it, because I have been doing reality TV for so long now."

The New York-born heiress reveals she's teamed up with top deejays to work on her next album, which she says will leave people "really surprised."

"It's very modern and very catchy; perfect party music," she says of her sound.

Hilton, 30, reached momentary success when she released her self-titled debut album, "Paris," in 2006. Though sales were generally low, her first single, "Stars Are Blind," reached the Top Ten on music charts in 17 countries.

"There are just so many great deejays right now. And I should know, I've been to over 100 raves in the past year, so I've heard every type of music," she adds.

Partying isn't the only way Hilton has researched the music industry. She's been romantically linked to Dutch music producer DJ Afrojack, 24, in recent weeks.

Hilton and Afrojack (real name Nick van de Wall) were spotted holding hands and stealing kisses during a New Year's Eve celebration in Miami over the weekend, according to the Daily Mail.

Of course, it won't matter whether or not Hilton finds success through her music venture. Her multi-billion dollar business empire continues to flourish.

"I'm involved in my products every step of the way," she explains of her success. "My fragrances are doing really well at the moment. They've produced more than $1.3 billion in revenue since 2005."

"I have 35 stores and 17 product lines," she boasts. "And then there's my racing team, my 14 fragrances and my new project - the Paris Hilton Beach Club chain. The first one is opening in the Philippines soon. It's going to have nightclubs, restaurants, bars, gyms, everything really." 

DASH Diet ranks top position in U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report has ranked the DASH diet tops for health and weight loss.

For the second year in a row, the magazine praised the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) as an all-purpose health and its ‘Best Diet Overall” for lowering cholesterol, battling hupertension, and for weight loss.

The diet, which is endorsed by the National Institutes of Health also scored high for helping people control their diabetes and preventing heart disease.

Also a bonus: The DASH diet doesn’t require paid memberships, prepackaged foods or restrictive eating plans.

Coming in at number two was the (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes) or TLC Diet. This no-frills but highly rated plan was created by the National Institutes of Health.

U.S. News gave the thumbs up to this diet for people that want a no-nonsense plan that lowers cholesterol and promotes heart health.

Jennifer Hudson is right to be singing Weight Watchers’ praises. The PointsPlus plan is a winner for its emphasis on fruits and vegetables, lots of online and group support and handy guides to eating in and out of the house.

Tied with Weight Watchers for third place: The Mayo Clinic Diet for its ability to take on diabetes and the Mediterranean Diet for its emphasis on fruits and vegetables, olive oil, fish, and other nutritious (and delicious) food choices.

Want to try the trendy Dukan Diet? Don’t bother.

Experts blasted the diet as restrictive, unncessarily complicated and just plain "idiotic."

The Paleo Diet, a plan based on the idea of eating lean meats and greens like our cave-dawelling ancestors, scored at the bottom of the barrel for being just too hard to for the average dieter.