Q&A Topics
The Living Well section addresses questions concerning lifestyle choices, including diet, exercise, physical health, emotional health, and more.

Click on any of the questions below:

What makes breasts "normal"?
Are sugar substitutes safe?
I just became vegetarian, and lately I've had no energy. What can I do about it? (10/05)

Food pyramids recommend minimum and maximum amounts of daily servings for fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. But what is a healthy serving size? (3/04)

When is the best time to have a breast exam? (10/03)

I was wondering if mono ("the kissing disease") stays with you for the rest of your life after you are infected.  I know someone that had mono before.  Will she always have mono in her body... and if other people who kiss her after she recovers will get it too? (10/03)

I’m thinking of getting a tattoo. Do you have any tips on how I can make sure that the experience is safe and hygienic? (4/01)

How does one acquire tuberculosis, and is it still fatal? Can one get immunized? (2/01)

I'm confused about serving sizes for meals. For instance, I eat toast and cream cheese every morning for breakfast. How many servings is that? (2/01)

Does a 20 year old woman really need to be concerned about daily calcium intake (I don't drink milk)? (1/01)

I am considering giving up smoking again. What is the best way to stop smoking for good? (12/00)

Do you know if there's an on-campus Weight Watchers session on either campus (Barnard/Columbia)? Is it possible to set one up? (11/00)

Is aspartame (a chemical found in diet foods and beverages) bad for you? I heard that it’s supposed to make you lose your memory. Is this chemical safe, or is real sugar better? (11/00)

Does chocolate block the absorption of calcium? (11/00)

I'm taking my exams and I'm so stressed out I can't think! What can I do about all this stress? (10/00)

How much sleep should I get, and can naps make up for lost sleeping time? (9/00)

I want to take a self-defense class. Do you have any information about classes on campus or in the area? (2/00)

Can I get mono more than once? (4/99)

Are girls supposed to shave their vaginal hair? I'm not sure if you are supposed to and I haven't seen a gynecologist yet. (2/99)

I think my friend has an oral fixation. What should I do? Is this normal? (4/98)

I can’t live without my daily dose of caffeine, which usually consists of three to four cans of Diet Coke and an early morning cup of coffee. What is that caffeine doing to my body and can it be dangerous? (11/97)

Occasionally, I see some friends fighting over the soy milk at Hewitt Dining Hall. What exactly makes it so much better than regular cow’s milk? (10/97)

Regarding calcium, what’s the recommended daily intake of milk for women, and if I don’t drink milk, how can I receive the RDA of calcium? (10/97)

I have an unsightly, rather bushy eyebrow! What do I do? (4/97)

With Bikini Weather coming up, I am concerned about my embarrassing abnormally thick bikini line hair. I would appreciate some hair removal tips. (4/97)

My friends and I have been arguing about this for years: I read somewhere that your body is warmer in the winter if you shave your legs. My friends disagree. Am I right or wrong? And what is the reasoning behind it? (10/96)

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