Now that spring has sprung, farm fresh eggs are available all around New England. Duck, quail, and goose eggs serve as alternatives for those who may be sensitive to chicken eggs, and each provides a protein-rich option for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. But this brings up the age-old debate: are eggs bad for your cholesterol?

In the natural health world, we talk about eating organic fruits and vegetables, exercising, and decreasing stress. But here’s a bit of advice you might not hear from your doctor or read in the natural health news: having close friends is good for you.

If any of you watched 60 Minutes earlier this month, you may have been a bit surprised. As was suspected, various scientists reported that regular sugar consumption can increase your chances of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, but now there is evidence that sugar plays a role in  many cancers. Researchers and doctors have been asking the question: Why has cancer, heart disease, and diabetes increased so drastically over the past thirty years?

Recently a judge in New York restarted the process of banning popular antibiotics like penicillin and tetracycline in animal feed. I hadn’t realized that 80% of our antibiotics in the United States are bought and used for animals, not humans. So most of the meat we’ve been eating for the past 60 years has contained antibiotics. I know that scientists and doctors are concerned with the amount of antibiotics in our environment and blame many of the new antibiotic-resistant superbugs on the widespread use of antibiotics.

This is about the time of year on the east coast when everyone gets cabin fever. We start to see more sunlight, but the temperature still isn’t warm enough to spend much time outside. We’ve been wearing the same clothes since November and we’re itching to get into some brighter colors and lighter fabrics.  We may feel frustrated with our homes, our partners, our children, and ourselves. Whatever it may be, March is always a good time to find ways to relax and connect with yourself.

All through medical school I relied on coffee to keep me alert and awake, but after I got pregnant I lost my taste for it. Occasionally I enjoy a decaf latte, especially on a slow weekend morning or after a good meal. But what about good old fashioned caffeinated coffee? For years we thought it bad for your health, but then some studies came out that it may not be so bad. I don’t know if I have a firm answer on that one, but I do have an opinion. I think a cup of coffee a day is absolutely fine for your health if it makes you feel good.

I just read a recent study published in the United Kingdom claiming that the results of the Million Woman study (also published in the UK) may have overestimated the risk of breast cancer related to Hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This news has been picked up by papers in England and is creating a lot of buzz, but I’m not so sure this “news” is all it’s hyped up to be.

We’re coming up on Thanksgiving and for many of us, food becomes the centerpiece of our lives. With parties, family traditions, and extra goodies available at work, it can be a recipe for feeling guilty about food. But what would happen if you did the opposite? If you decided to feel good about what you ate, instead of feeling bad?

Sometimes I feel like we’re being taken for a ride. One day, we’re told we don’t get enough calcium, the next we’re getting too much. One day we need to buy everything organic, but then, we’re told buying locally is better, and growing your own garden is even better than that. Be careful of the sun, but get enough vitamin D. Don’t eat from plastic, but make sure to have your yogurt every day.

I just recently moved from southern California to Boston, Massachusetts — and wow, I was frustrated with all the clutter I’d acquired even over the short amount of time I’d been on the West Coast! I’m not sure why we have the tendency to collect things in our homes — neglected piles of papers, stashes of clothes not worn in ages, trinkets you’ll never use, and all of it collecting dust and cobwebs!