Gaby
For many years, recommendations about egg consumption have been controversial. Some scientists have argued that this popular breakfast staple is harmful to health, while others have highlighted its value as a good source of protein and other nutrients.
A recent study by researchers at the University of South Australia has shed new light on the benefits of eggs, adding to the evidence that they can be part of a healthy diet.
In the study, the team examined the relationship between egg consumption and levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), commonly known as “bad” cholesterol. This term is used because LDL particles, which transport cholesterol in the body, can accumulate on the walls of arteries and form plaques, leading to health problems such as atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.
Two Eggs a Day Could Make You Healthier
The researchers made that case in their report. “Eggs, which are a unique food, have long been unfairly criticized because of outdated dietary recommendations. While eggs contain a significant amount of cholesterol, they are low in saturated fats. It is often the cholesterol level that causes people to question their role in a healthy diet,” said Jonathan Buckley, the lead author of the study.
“We found that a high cholesterol intake from eggs, when consumed as part of a diet low in saturated fats, does not raise ‘bad’ cholesterol levels. In fact, saturated fats are the real culprit behind increased cholesterol levels,” he added.
To reach this conclusion, the scientists enrolled 61 adults who had similar baseline levels of “bad” cholesterol and asked them to follow three different diets for five weeks. Forty-eight participants tried all three diets, as reported by ScienceAlert.
The first dietary option was based on high-cholesterol, low-saturated-fat foods, which included two eggs per day.
The second diet featured low cholesterol, high saturated fat, and a complete elimination of eggs.
The third diet allowed for both cholesterol and saturated fats, permitting one egg per week.
The results showed that a diet high in saturated fats was linked to an increase in “bad” cholesterol levels. Conversely, the diet high in cholesterol but low in saturated fats was associated with a decrease in “bad” cholesterol. Based on this, the researchers suggested that eggs are not the cause of elevated cholesterol levels.
Buckley said the study provides strong evidence in defense of the humble egg and that when people think about breakfast, the bigger concern is the extra serving of bacon or sausage, which is more likely to affect heart health.
The findings of the study were published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
