13 Things Most Women Don’t Know About Their Own Bodies
These little-known facts will surprise and intrigue you. (And only one of them has to do with your you-know-what.)
By Corrie Pikul
Vaginas and Sharks Have Something in Common
And no, it's not teeth. Natural vaginal lubricant is composed of sweat, sebum, cervical mucus, exfoliated cells, urea, acetic and lactic acids, complex alcohols, ketones and (here's the kicker) squalene. Ever heard of it? This organic compound isn't exclusive to humans—it's also found in the liver of sharks. And now for something you didn't know about sharks' bodies: Squalene derived from shark liver oil is sometimes added to moisturizers and skin creams, where it acts as an emollient. What’s more, recent studies cited by the American Cancer Society have found that in the lab, shark-derived squalene seemed to protect normal human cells from the detrimental effects of chemotherapy drugs without inhibiting the drugs' effect on cancer cells.
Published 03/07/2012