Dr. Egg

For quite some time now, the egg has been getting a bum rap – to the point that even young people shy away from it despite the new research indicating that moderate consumption of eggs do not produce a negative impact on cholesterol.

In addition, regular consumption of two eggs per day may, in fact, improve a person's lipid profile instead of affect it adversely. It is saturated fat, researchers assert, that raises cholesterol rather than dietary cholesterol.

Some of the health benefits of eggs are:

1. They are great for the eyes. According to one study, an egg a day may prevent macular degeneration due to the carotenoid content, specifically lutein and zeaxanthin. Both nutrients are more readily available to our bodies from eggs than from other sources.

2. Researchers of another study found that people who eat eggs every day lower their risk of developing cataracts, also because of the lutein and zeaxanthin in eggs.

3. One egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids.

4. A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health proves there is no significant link between egg consumption and heart disease. In fact, regular consumption of eggs may help prevent blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks.

5. Eggs are a good source of choline. One egg yolk has about 300 micrograms of choline. Choline is an important nutrient that helps regulate the brain, nervous system, and cardiovascular system.

6. Eggs contain the right kind of fat. One egg contains just 5 grams of fat and only 1.5 grams of that is saturated fat.

7. Eggs promote healthy hair and nails because of their high sulphur content and wide array of vitamins and minerals. Many people find their hair growing faster after adding eggs to their diet, especially if they were previously deficient in foods containing sulphur or B12.

Come to think of it, coconuts, avocados and peanuts, not too long ago, wore a big scarlet "F" for too much fat. Nonetheless, this Manila Bulletin Bulletin article may shed more light on this matter.

On a more esoteric note, there is the centuries-old shamanic healing practice in Central and South America called La Limpia.

Otherwise known as egg cleansing, limpías are a unique healing therapy that works by running a raw egg over the body of the person being cleansed. As simple as this may sound, the effects are supposedly remarkable. It works by clearing a patient’s energy field, getting rid of his energetic and physical toxins. Thus, patients are energetically opened and loosened, relaxed and brought to a more blissful state.
 
A limpia practitioner runs a raw egg over the client’s body, taking in bad energy from many parts of the body. Smoke is also employed to clear up the auric part of the body. The smoke, in Mexico, is usually obtained from burning copal, the dried fluid of the Copal tree. This tree is believed to be consecrated by the Mayans and the other native groups who observe egg cleansing.
 
Afterwards, the egg is sunk into water and evaluated. Shamans can then see how the yolk and egg white are suspended in the water, enabling them to read the person’s maladies and address them accordingly.  Most of those who've undergone it claimed feeling physically lighter, happier and enjoy a more balanced state.

More interestingly, here in the town of Bil-isan in Panglao Island, a somewhat similar healer or tambayan, also utilizes eggs to diagnose and treat her patients. She is called Dr. Egg by the locals. Supposedly, her mother was the original Dr. Egg who was once jetted to the Middle East to treat an Arabic princess. It was a successful healing session that earned the mother a king’s ransom, so to speak. Prior to her death, she passed on her healing skills to her daughter, Brenda, who nowadays carry on her healing traditions mainly to benefit the region’s poor folks unable to afford medical assistance.  However, whenever she does her treatments, which she refers to as operations, she often uses native eggs (as in photo below). Her healing center is open only on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Finally, this Bohol Standard article warns that the yellow phosphorous substance produced by the watoshi stick firecrackers – when popped and ignited as rubbed against hard surfaces – is highly toxic.  Its chemicals are poisonous to the blood and the liver when accidentally ingested, causing the person to die within three to five days, according to Dr. Edgar Pizzaras. 

And what is the recommended first aid cure? Have the victim take 8 egg whites to prevent the body from absorbing the firecrackers' toxic substances.

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