Dear Heloise: I recently bought a dozen eggs, and the yolks were a much deeper yellow — in fact, an almost orange color.
Are they OK to eat, or is something wrong with them?
— Cassie J., Forest Grove, Oregon
Cassie, a deeper color of yolk simply means that the hen had a diet high in “carotenoids.” The hen may have had a varied diet but specifically one that was rich in yellow corn and alfalfa. However, the nutritional value of the egg remains basically the same as eggs that contain paler yolks.
— Heloise
CHECKING CAR LIGHTS
Dear Heloise: In response to the person who wrote about checking a car’s lights, I recently discovered that when I press the clicker to unlock my car doors, all the lights (except the headlights) come on for a few seconds. So, I can actually check them all myself and do it every time I get in the car.
I don’t know how many cars have this feature, but it is very handy.
— Steve H., in California
HEARING THE WARNINGS
Dear Heloise: The recent fires in Southern California left people without homes, but it also left many areas without power for several hours or days. One elderly citizen was rescued by sheriff deputies from her unburned residence within the burning area. She said that her hearing aids had run out of power, and she could not hear the evacuation advice.
Since many of us hearing-aid wearers have devices that are rechargeable (as opposed to battery-operated), I suggest having a fully charged, small portable battery station to keep your hearing aids and cellphones charged up in case your power goes out.
— Paul H., Torrance
Paul, this is an excellent idea. Many people, both young and old, need hearing aids. We usually don’t think about it, but the ability to hear is essential to our safety and overall enjoyment of life.
— Heloise
SPINACH DRAWBACK
Dear Heloise: I love spinach and used to eat it almost daily. However, I have learned that spinach is not good for people with osteopenia or osteoporosis. Apparently, it contains oxalates that makes it hard for the calcium to be absorbed. I wish my doctor had told me this.
— Joan B., Kenosha, Wisconsin
Joan, yes, this is correct. Some other foods containing oxalates are dried figs, kiwi, oranges, grapefruit and pineapple. There’s also tofu, black olives, dark beer, beets, rhubarb, green beans, cashews, peanuts, cocoa and chocolate milk, to name a few.
— Heloise
NO MORE ANTS
Dear Heloise: Every summer, we used to bet on an invasion of ants in our kitchen. I’d put food away, and if I didn’t have time to clean the breakfast dishes before I left for work, I’d place them in the refrigerator until I got home in the evening.
Finally, one day, I sprayed them with vinegar, and this was the end of the ants.
— A.B., in Oregon
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