Health Benefits of Eating Eggs
Are eggs safe to eat every day? Is the cholesterol a problem?
Sure, eggs are an amazing powerhouse.
And yes, they contain some of the highest-quality protein available.
Protein are the basic substance of our bodies, the stuff out of which every cell is built. When eaten in foods, protein also provides energy. Foods vary in the amount and quality of the protein they contain.
However, top-quality protein, with the essential amino acids, is of animal origin: meat, fish, milk and eggs.
And yes, egg yolks contain many vitamins and minerals that are difficult to find anywhere else.
The only nutritionally comparable food is organic meat.
But what about the cholesterol?
Cholesterol, a fatty substance in the blood vessels, is either manufactured by the body or is obtained from animal and other fats.
Many so-called “experts” have been crusading against eggs for decades because of the cholesterol.
Medical authorities believe that the hardening of the arteries is linked to excess blood cholesterol which forms deposits on the insides of the blood vessels. As the deposits increase, the passageways of the circulatory system gradually narrows, until the flow of blood is obstructed.
When the cholesterol buildup occurs in an artery carrying blood to the heart, the end result is often a heart attack.
And many people believe that egg WHITES are okay but they are skipping the yolk.
Scientific Research on Eating Eggs
Well we have some surprises for you.
Because now a new study dispels these fears, showing that eggs do not increase the risk of type 2 diabetes or heart disease.
These scientists conducted their human study at Sydney University and published their results in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
They enrolled 140 overweight participants in the three-month study. All of the participants were diagnosed with either pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes. The researchers put the participants on a weight-loss diet.
The weight loss protocol consisted of eating 500 calories less than their energetic daily requirements. They divided the participants into two groups.
The diets for the groups were almost identical -- except for the number of eggs eaten by the participants.
One group was instructed to avoid eggs entirely. The other group ate two eggs per day, six days a week, for three months.
“We aimed to determine whether a high-egg diet affected circulating lipid profiles – in particular, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.”
The study then looked at the effects of eggs on lipids and cholesterol.
It turned out there were no significant differences in cholesterol between the high-egg diet and the no-egg diet.
“There was no significant difference in the change in HDL cholesterol – from screening to three months – between groups.”
Eating a little cholesterol in the form of eggs had an insignificant effect on the amount of HDL-cholesterol in circulation. LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol were also unchanged.
“No between-group differences were shown for total cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.”
The study found that eggs had no effect on blood sugar regulation or triglycerides.
“No differences were found for triglycerides or glycemic control.”
From these results, it seems very unlikely that a couple of eggs a day are a risk factor for diabetes or heart disease.
Both experimental diets contained similar amounts of protein, usually a major factor in hunger.
Those in the high-egg diet group reported less hunger.
“Both groups were matched for protein intake, but the high-egg group reported less hunger and greater satiety post-breakfast.”
The authors concluded that eating two eggs per day poses no risk to people with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes.
“This study suggests that a high-egg diet can be included safely as part of the dietary management of type 2 diabetes.”
The scientists then conducted an in-depth follow-up study
At the end of the previous study, they asked the participants to extend the experiment for another nine months. Most of the participants agreed and they maintained the diet they were assigned. The scientists performed the same tests at the end of 12 months. They also performed a number of other tests looking at inflammation.
12 months of a high-egg diet had no effect on glycemia, cholesterol, lipids, oxidative stress, or inflammation.
“There were no differences between groups in glycemia, lipids, markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein), or oxidative stress from 0 to 12 months.”
A couple of eggs a day seem very safe in regard to diabetes and heart health.
“People with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes who consumed a 3-month high-egg weight-loss diet with a 6-month follow-up exhibited no adverse changes in cardio-metabolic markers.”
Health Benefits of Eating Eggs
Egg yolks provide many vital nutrients that are otherwise difficult to get.
Eggs are effective for the management of diabetes
Eggs don’t contribute to cholesterol problems in the blood
Eggs reduce the risk of having a heart attack
Eggs are effective for helping you manage your weight and to lose weight too
So it seems that eating one or two eggs a day is a very good addition to a healthy diet.
Would you like to learn how to use healthy eating to prevent diet-related illnesses?
This free online Introduction to Human Nutrition course will give you a broad insight into nutrition and help you make wise choices when it comes to the food you eat every day. These days, health problems such as obesity, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are becoming more and more common. By the end of this course, you will understand the role nutrition plays in personal health and be able to create a healthy diet for yourself. Learn more and register for the course here
References
The Effect of a High-Egg Diet on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in People with Type 2 Diabetes: The Diabetes and Egg (DIABEGG) Study—a 3-mo Randomized Controlled Trial by Namson S Lau, Tania P Markovic et al
The Effect of a High-Egg Diet on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in People with Type 2 Diabetes: The Diabetes and Egg (DIABEGG) Study—randomized weight-loss and follow-up phase by Namson S Lau, Tania P Markovic et al
Rich Health Editorial Team
Rich Health Editorial Team is made up of medical practitioners and experienced writers who provide information for dealing with health issues in a simple and easy-to-understand manner
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