Eggs, Marvellous Eggs!

Anthony Colpo,
November 15, 2004.

Over the years, foods rich in saturated fat have been blamed for causing just about every ailment known to befall humankind: Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, military conflicts, bad judging decisions on Idol…okay, so I made those last two up, but you get my drift.

One of the foods whose popularity has been hardest hit by the modern-day avalanche of anti-cholesterol tomfoolery is the humble egg. Despite egg yolks being a good source of vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, lecithin, choline, lutein, zeaxanthin and other carotenoids, we have been repeatedly told to curb their consumption to piddling levels because they contain saturated fat and cholesterol (insert big gasp of horror or disinterested yawn here, depending on your degree of resistance to anti-cholesterol hyperbole).

Eggs, kids, and CHD risk

Evidence exonerating eggs of any wrongdoing continues to mount. In a recent study, children aged 8-12 years were randomly assigned to eat either 2 whole eggs per day or the equivalent amount of egg whites for 30 days. After a 3-week 'washout' period, the children were assigned to the alternate treatment.

The researchers observed that all the kids had an increase in LDL peak diameter during the egg period and a decrease in smaller LDL. Individuals with a preponderance of small dense LDL particles--who are classified as 'phenotype B'--have been shown in numerous studies to be at higher risk of CHD. Researchers postulate that these smaller particles are more susceptible to free radical damage, and that they can weasel their way into damaged sections of artery with greater ease.

In addition to the beneficial increase in LDL size observed in all subjects, 5 of the children having LDL phenotype B (15%) shifted from this high-risk pattern to pattern A after the egg treatment.

'Eye-healthy' nutrient absorbed better from eggs

In another recent study, researchers compared the absorption of the lutein from various foods. Lutein is a nutrient that has come under increasing scrutiny for its possible role in protecting against age-related macular degeneration and cataract. After subjects ingested equal amounts of lutein from either eggs, spinach or lutein supplements, it was observed that lutein absorption was significantly higher during the period of egg consumption.

For the last forty-plus years, health authorities--in all their magnificent stupidity--have been hysterically denouncing the foods that are good for us and steering us towards those that are far less nutritious. The results of this bizarre campaign can be seen all around us, in the current epidemic of diabetes and obesity.

Take a stand against establishment misinformation and enjoy an egg--or two, or three--today!

References

Nydia Ballesteros M, et al. Dietary cholesterol does not increase biomarkers for chronic disease in a pediatric population from northern Mexico. Am J Clin Nutr 80: 855-861.

Chung H-Y, et al. Lutein Bioavailability Is Higher from Lutein-Enriched Eggs than from Supplements and Spinach in Men. J. Nutr, 2004 134: 1887-1893.

Source: The Omnivore