Are eggs good or bad for you?

Despite decades of advice that the cholesterol in eggs is bad for you, researchers now report evidence that eggs might actually reduce high blood pressure. The scientists found egg proteins that, in laboratory simulations of the human digestive process, seem to be as good as common prescription medications for lowering blood pressure. However, it should be noted that funding for the research came from livestock and poultry industry groups. And the researchers emphasized that further study is needed to determine if the proteins actually work in humans.

Sources:

Live Science February 23, 2009
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry February 11, 2009, 57 (2), pp 471–477

Dr. Mercola says that eggs are one of the healthiest foods you can eat and that cholesterol is your friend. The type of egg matters, though, and the way it is prepared. You can read the entire article here. Read more!

First signs of spring

They're kind of hard to see but the crocuses have appeared, assuring me that spring is really here, even though the temperature is sometimes 30 degrees. Read more!

Burn More Calories by Walking Slower

By: Ray Browning, PhD

University of Colorado at Boulder new study has found that obese individuals who walked one mile at a leisurely pace burned more calories than if they walked a mile at their normal pace. In addition, those who walked at two miles per hour rather than three miles per hour reduced the load on their knee joints by up to 25%. The message is that by walking more slowly, obese individuals can burn more calories per mile and may reduce the risk of arthritis or joint injury.

Bottom Line/Retirement interviewed Ray Browning, PhD, department of integrative physiology, University of Colorado at Boulder. Read more!

Sun Protection

Here's an article that was in a newsletter I received from my naturopathic doctor.

Did you ever wonder why people who live in tropical climates where they are constantly exposed to the rays of the sun year round do not get skin cancer? In the US we are constantly warned about the dangers of sun exposure, and yet the sun helps our bodies produce nutrients such as Vitamin D. Coconut oil is probably one of the main reasons people in tropical climates can spend so much time in the sun and not get skin cancer. Coconut oil has antioxidant properties that protect the skin from free radical damage. When coconut oil is consumed and used topically on our skin, it helps our bodies absorb nutrients more effectively. According to the "Coconut Diet" website, reports of people using Virgin Coconut Oil exclusively as a sunscreen have kept them from burning and allowed them to get a nice golden tan. Read more!

10 More Reasons Why Sugar is Bad for You

More from the list I got from my naturopathic doctor:

Sugar causes copper deficiency.
Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
Sugar can weaken eyesight.
Sugar raises the level of neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine.
Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
Sugar can produce an acidic digestive tract.
Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline levels in children.
Sugar malabsorption is frequent in patients with functional bowel disease.
Sugar can cause premature aging.
Sugar can lead to alcoholism. Read more!

Do you have microwave illness?

This was in a newsletter I received from my naturopathic doctor.

Do you have any of the following symptoms? Insomnia, unexplained anxiety, vision problems, painful lymph nodes, recurrent sore throat, headaches, loss of appetite, rapid weight loss or unexplained weight gain, extreme thirst, night sweats, extreme fatigue, memory loss, inability to concentrate, muscle pain, weakened immune system, allergies, heart pain or palpitations, etc.? Then you might very well have microwave illness! To learn more about this illness, check out their website at Health By Choice. Read more!

10 Reasons Why Sugar is Bad for You

I got this list from my naturopathic doctor:

1. Sugar can suppress the immune system.
2. Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in the body.
3. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating and crankiness in children.
4. Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
5. Sugar contributes to the reduction in defense against bacterial infection (infectious diseases).
6. Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function; the more sugar you eat, the more elasticity and function you lose.
7. Sugar reduces high density lipoproteins.
8. Sugar leads to chromium deficiency.
9. Sugar leads to cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate and rectum.
10. Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose.

Read more!