Eating Eggs and Life Expectancy

Are Eggs Good or Bad?

Eggs have to be one of the most confusing foods out there. Eggs were first healthy, a good source of protein. Then we discovered that eggs had cholesterol and every one thought eggs would give you a heart attack. Then it was discovered that the cholesterol in eggs was “neutral” and we could eat a few eggs a day. Eggs were good for you again. Well, now it seems that having 7 or more eggs a week increases your risk of death. What is the story here?

Eggs are Bad (Again)

A Harvard study of over 21,000 male physicians found that men who ate up to 6 eggs a week had no increase in their rate of death. But once they ate a seventh egg, their risk of death went up 23%. The men were studied over a 20-year period and routinely surveyed about their health status and eating habits. During that period, 1,550 had heart attacks, 1,342 had strokes and 5,000 died.
To make matters more confusing, if the men had diabetes and ate any eggs, then their risk of death over the 20-year period was doubled.

Why Are Eggs Bad?
The cholesterol in eggs is the most obvious culprit. This cholesterol can clog arteries and contribute to heart attacks and strokes. Interestingly, in the study, the eating of eggs was only linked to the men who died, not to the men who had heart attacks or strokes. Clearly we don’t have the whole picture here.

So If I Don’t Eat Eggs, I’ll Be Better Off?
Not really. This study (and most nutritional studies) was not able to really sort out the full differences between men who ate no eggs, 6 or fewer eggs or eggs every day. The researchers did say that the lots-of-egg eating men were also more likely to be smokers, eat more vegetables, drink more and exercise less.

Play Armchair Epidemiologist
When you think about it, what is different about men who eat eggs every day compared to men who don’t? We could make up a lot of theories here. They are not eating oatmeal as much (because they are having eggs for breakfast); they are more likely to eat toast with lots of butter? How about bacon -– that goes with eggs a lot. The study didn’t address these kinds of links. You can come up with your own reason that men who eat lots of eggs would be less healthy -– a lot is left out of this picture.

Dream Analysis 101

It’s time for some Dream Analysis 101.

• Why can’t you remember your dreams? It turns out that the part of your brain that stores information in long-term memory shuts off while you’re asleep. So your dreams never make it out of short-term memory. That’s why most people only remember snippets of their latest dream right as they wake up, and quickly forget them.
• Next, is it true that you never see yourself in your dreams? No, but you don’t always look like yourself. For example, in your dream you could look like Angelina Jolie – even if you’re a man. Not because you want to be her, but because you’d like to emulate her qualities.
• Finally, why do we have nightmares? Well,bad dreams may actually be good for us. As it turns out, most dreams are kind of bad. According to the journal Psychological Science, bad dreams help us sort through and regulate our stress. We’re able to let go of fears when we dream up bizarre and scary images. Bad dreams and nightmares are not the same thing. Nightmares are basically bad dreams that wake you up. They occur when there’s some kind of problem in the emotional processing. About 85% of us have at least one nightmare a year. Sometimes it’s due to medications – but most of the time, nightmares are a result of stress.

Tips to Help You Get Over Your Shyness

If you’re shy – you’re in good company. A lot of people are. Take actor Will Ferrell. He once considered himself painfully shy – so he’d do crazy things in public to try to beat it. In college, he’d push an overhead projector across campus with his pants hanging so low that people could see his rear end. Then his friends would encourage people to make fun of him – and that’s how he got over being shy.

Now, you don’t have to go to extreme measures like Will Ferrell did to get over your shyness. But if your timid nature interferes with your productivity at the office, you need to take action. So, here are some tips that’ll help from Psychology Today.

• Figure out what you’re avoiding. Let’s say you need to confront someone in the office and it fills you with anxiety. Perhaps a coworker keeps yapping on their cell phone and it distracts you. According to Peter Desberg, author of Speaking Scared, Sounding Good, weigh the cost of NOT confronting them. If every interruption takes up to 15 minutes to recover from, and they yap just once an hour on their phone, that’s as much as 2 hours of lost work time per day you BOTH lose. When you consider it in these terms, you OWE it to yourself – and the company – to say something.
• Put your boss on your same level. Or anyone else who intimidates you. In reality, everybody’s the same – no matter whether they make more money or have more power than you. Everybody was once a kid, everybody has insecurities, everybody has problems. So see people for who they really are – vulnerable, flawed, and just like you. Once you feel that you’re on the same level, they won’t have that emotional power over you.
• Set goals that are UNDER your control. Let’s say you’re applying for a NEW job. Write down the things about it that make you nervous. Then concentrate on the things you can CONTROL – such as how you describe your accomplishments, and what makes you the best candidate for the job. Then tackle each issue. For example, you might practice giving a mock presentation to a friend. After you do that enough and you start to feel confident about selling yourself, your fears will disappear.

Test Your Green IQ

#1. True or False: Running the dishwasher uses less water than hand-washing your dishes. That’s TRUE. A study by the University of Bonn in Germany found that it takes about 27 gallons of water to hand-wash 12 place settings. Since the average bathtub holds 20 gallons, that’s a little over a tub-full of water per day. On the flip side, your standard-size, Energy Star-rated dishwasher only uses about six gallons for a normal wash. So, using a dishwasher can save about 5,000 gallons of water a year, and $40 on your utility bill.

Next True/False question: “CFL” or Compact fluorescent bulbs contain mercury so you shouldn’t throw them away. That’s TRUE. CFL bulbs, which cut energy use by 70%, contain trace amounts of mercury, which can harm your nervous system. You can be exposed if the bulbs break in the trash. Instead, drop off burned out CFLs at designated recycling areas at Home Depot and Ikea stores.

We’re testing your Green IQ. True or False: It takes more energy to shut down your computer than to put it to sleep. This one is FALSE! There’s an energy surge when you turn on a switched-off computer, but the energy you saved while it was off more than makes up for it.

The final True/False question: Toilets are the biggest water hogs in the house. That’s TRUE! According to the EPA, toilets use almost 30% of the water in your house. So, to save water, replace all toilets made before 1994 with new ones. Look for the EPA’s WaterSense label. You’ll save about $90 a year on water bills. If you can’t afford to replace your old ones, put a toilet dam or a brick in the tank. It cuts down on the space that can be filled with water. and saves about a gallon of water per flush.

Is Your Guy in a “Bromance?”

Ladies, is your man having a “bromance” with another guy, a best friend they hit the gym with, play cards with, or grab a beer with? Well, know this: Experts say you should accept – and even encourage – your man to have a bromance. Dr. Geoffery Greif is the author of “Buddy System: Understanding Male Friendships.” He says that bromances are all the rage because it’s more socially accepted nowadays for men to express their feelings for platonic male friends, and the benefits are enormous. For example:

• Men with close friends live longer, healthier lives than men without close friendships.
• Also, men who have close guy friends are more likely to exercise or to start working out if they don’t already.
• A bromance can help your man stay intellectually stimulated, because best buddies push each other to try new things, and that can keep them both mentally engaged.

According to Dr. William Pollack from Harvard University, having a close male buddy is the single most important thing in a man’s life. He points out that countless studies have found that friendships can help lower blood pressure, ward off depression, speed healing after an injury, and even prolong your life.
What if your guy’s bromantic partner is someone you don’t happen to like? What should you do? Plain and simple: Keep your mouth shut and focus on the positives. Ask your guy what he likes about his best bud, which should help you better understand and appreciate the friend he hangs out with.

Headache Cures

Your headache medicine could be giving you a headache! An article we read said that using over-the-counter pain relievers more than twice a week sets you up for rebound headaches. So, here’s how to break the cycle, and live pain-free:

• Relax. Dr. Sheena Aurora is the director of the Swedish Headache Center in Seattle. She says that tight muscles in the neck and shoulders are a major cause of headaches. So, when you’re feeling anxious, take deep breaths and do a few head and shoulder rolls to relieve the tension.


• Headache cure #2: Cold-and-heat therapy. Experts aren’t sure why changes in temperature are effective, but they work. So, wrap a cold pack in a cloth, and place it where you hurt. In five minutes, switch it for a heating pad or hot water bottle. Then, repeat the hot-cold process until your headache disappears.


• Another headache cure that works – IF you’re careful: Caffeine. Johns Hopkins researcher Dr. Jason Rosenberg says that some headaches are caused by dilated blood vessels that put pressure on your brain. Caffeine constricts those vessels and relieves the pressure. So, sipping coffee at the first sign of a headache can ease your pain, but the blood vessels in people who consume lots of caffeine stop constricting when the caffeine levels in their body rise - so, stick to one cup a day so you don’t overdo it.


• The last headache cure proves just how connected the different parts of our bodies are: Peppermint tea. It soothes your stomach, which in turn heals your head. Dr.Audrey Halpern is the director of the Manhattan Center for Headache and Neurology. She says that the neurochemical changes related to headaches can stimulate the part of the brain that makes us feel nauseous. You can also get a headache when you’re nauseous, but since peppermint eases the spasms in your stomach, and those muscles send signals to your brain to stop the headache – sipping peppermint tea can make your head pain go away.

Helping Overweight Children Get Healthy

Childhood obesity affects many children. We also know that it can cause all kinds of health problems, from Type-2 diabetes to high blood pressure to kidney stones. When it comes to parenting overweight children, experts say that most times, we’re blowing it! Most parents know when their kids are heavier than they should be, but they don’t know what to do about it. One mother we read about was concerned when her already-chubby daughter became visibly heavier than her middle school classmates, but she didn’t want to say the wrong thing and make things worse. Even though some overweight kids slim down as they grow up, it’s not always the case. According to the Centers for Disease Control, an overweight preschooler has only a 30% chance of growing to be an obese adult, but an overweight teen has a 70% chance. So how can parents help their overweight kids?

• First, learn basic nutrition. Dr. David Ludwig is the director of the obesity clinic at Children’s Hospital in Boston. He says that many parents think that low-fat Twinkies, and low-fat microwave mac-and-cheese are healthy. Instead, make sure your child’s diet is filled with real food – lean meats, fruits, veggies, and whole grains like brown rice – not processed foods.


• The next way to help your overweight kids: Emphasize activity. If you’re lying on the couch and telling your kid to get some exercise, they’ll follow your example. Instead, do something together, like riding bikes, playing ball, or going for a walk. Turn off the TV. Studies show that kids who spend more than two hours a day watching TV or playing video games are more likely to be overweight.


• Don’t focus on the scale. Researchers found that focusing specifically on weight loss only makes kids feel bad about the way they look, and they’ll turn to a reliable source of comfort: food. Instead, focus on their health.