Study Shows Eggs Not ‘Eggsactly’ Bad For You
The headlines recently blared "Eggs as bad as Cigarettes for your Heart," got a lot of people's attention. This was based solely on a Canadian study. Researchers at Western University in Canada surveyed 1200 patients about their egg and cigarette consumption and used ultrasound to measure the plaque in their arteries. They then concluded that eating eggs was as bad for you as smoking cigarettes.
While the study itself suggested that more research needed to be done, many "journalists" couldn't resist a juicy headline according to Tom Linden, Medical Journalism professor at the University of North Carolina.
"The danger here is headline writers who aren't necessarily science writers may go overboard in headlining the story," Linden said.
Dr. Richard Besser, Medical Editor of ABC News weighed in on the study. "Eggs keep getting a bum rap," Besser said. "First they're really good for you, and then they're bad for you, and this is another one where they're bad for you. But there are a number of things that affect your cholesterol that they didn't look at that people can really pay attention to."
Besser suggested exercising, reducing saturated fats, and maintaining a healthy weight. He said that an egg a day is fine, unless you have heart disease, in which case limiting consumption to four eggs a week is a good idea.
"Eggs are a great source of balanced protein and many vitamins," he said. "If you do it in moderation, it's a great part of your diet."
As always, if you are concerned on whether or not you should eat eggs, consult your physician.
On a personal note, a few years ago, I had elevated cholesterol levels. I took a long hard look at my diet and there were a few major culprits that kept my levels high. Eggs, cheese and ice cream were my biggest foes. By cutting back (not eliminating) these foods I was able to drop my cholesterol levels back into the healthy range without resorting to medications.
I exercise a lot, but as someone who is over 50 it is important to watch what I eat. I just had my annual physical yesterday and had the bloodwork done to check my cholesterol levels. You can bet I'll be paying close attention to the results.
Moderation is always the key to enjoying foods and many other things in life that we like.
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