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April 2009
Happy Easter Eggs and Cholesterol
Since this is the season that even we Floridians consider spring, let us enjoy the incredible new birth of nature, with the beautiful new green leaves of the oak trees, the warmer days and nights, and the change to Daylight Saving Time.
Enjoy that? No? I don't, and I understand if you and the children don't either. Getting up a whole hour earlier, having them stand at the street corner yet again in the dark to wait for the bus . . . . It is hard on the body, and you don't have to be an acupuncture physician to know, feel, and understand that. So, what can you do to make the transition easier? Meditation at the time of trying to fall asleep an hour early can help. Actually, you can try this simple method and teach it to your children: When you are lying in bed, think with every breath in, “In” and every breath out, “Out.” When thoughts come up, just say, “Thank you” and don't follow them around. It sounds simple, but it is very effective. The more you practice it, the easier and more effective it becomes. If you need more help, I do teach a free guided meditation every Thursday evening from 6:00–7:00pm. Call for details. Apart from that, I hope you are using the sleeping tips from last month's column and are already better rested!
Now to another subject when we talk about spring — Easter. And with Easter comes EGGS. What about the cholesterol in the egg yolk? You know, many considered it a “fact” that one shouldn't have the yolk because of the cholesterol, heart disease, and children's obesity. I am not of that opinion. There is a lot of research nowadays that actually gives convincing data to the health BENEFITS of egg yolks. Did you know that your brain's weight is only 2% of your body weight, but contains 25% of all cholesterol in your body? There is some question in the medical community if there could be a connection between the rising numbers of Alzheimer's and dementia cases and the “no-fat” product craze. Remember, medicine is a science, and as we learn more, our medical opinions can change. About eggs, I suggest organic eggs, preferably from free-range (relatively happy) animals. When possible, farm fresh is preferred. It makes a huge difference in the accumulation of toxins over time for your children when they grow up with conventional food. Worldwide studies have been done on differences between organic and non-organic foods. These studies have shown that organic fruits and vegetables have significantly more vitamins and minerals, particularly the protective antioxidants, in addition to being free of pesticides. In addition, organic dairy and meats are free of hormone and antibiotic residues.
Spring hopefully rings in the time of more outdoor activities for your family. Thirty minutes of sunlight without sunscreen is helpful for the Vitamin D balance in your body. Then put on the sunscreen! Vitamin D is important for the entire family. Women in menopause need Vitamin D to combat osteoporosis. Children need Vitamin D for bone growth. Nowadays, kids spend an unprecedented amount of time in front of EMF emitting machines instead of playing outdoors, and these radio waves can deplete the body.
So, you can cut the Easter basket sweets in half, and let the kids hunt and eat their eggs instead! Enjoy.
