Sunday, November 7, 2010

Eggs are not healthy, says a report that scrambles a controversy



Eggs are not as healthy as they are cracked up to be, says a report in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.



First we were told to eat very few eggs because the yoke contains too much cholesterol. Then we were told that eggs aren’t really bad for our health, and that it’s safe to an egg every day. Now the authors of a report in an academic journal claim that eggs put people at greater risk of heart attacks and strokes than a pair of infamous “dietary disasters,” the KFC Double Down burger and Hardee’s Monster Thickburger.
     What’s going on here?
      It’s all very confusing.
     When I was released from hospital following my cardiac arrest in 1989, I was advised to eat no more than two eggs a week. On our very recent semi-annual checkups, our family doctor told Joan and I that the two-eggs a week advice is no longer valid, that it’s safe to eat one or two eggs a day. Eight days later, the news media carried stories of a report in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology claiming that eggs are risky for your health.
       The two-eggs-per week rule for people with heart trouble was based on a 1970 recommendation from the American Heart Association. The AHA continues to recommend that, “People with heart disease should limit egg yokes to two per week.” For healthy people, it recommends less than 300 mg of dietary cholesterol per day—enough for one egg per day if other sources of cholesterol are carefully limited.
     An eight-year study of 117,000 men and women on “egg consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease” published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1999 concluded “that consumption of up to one egg per day is unlikely to have substantial overall impact on the risk of CHD [coronary heart disease] among healthy men and women.” Other case studies have also concluded that moderate egg consumption offers little or no heart risk to healthy people, despite the very high concentration of cholesterol.
      Why? It seems to be another case of good fat, bad fat. Only 27 percent of the fat-like cholesterol in an egg is the bad saturated fat containing the bad cholesterol, the LDL (low-density lipoprotein); the rest is the healthier unsaturated fat. Aside from the cholesterol question, eggs are loaded with healthy nutrition: an excellent source of protein and a solid source of 14 essential nutrients, say Alberta Egg Producers.
     Dietitian Clara Rosenbloom, in an article in the web site of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, writes that the early studies on which the two-eggs per rule was based were in error, and summarizes the subsequent change in thinking:
     “These early studies included foods that were rich in both cholesterol and saturated fat (such as butter), so scientists incorrectly believed that cholesterol was the main culprit. When researchers recently re-evaluated the data, they learned that diets high in saturated or trans fat—not dietary cholesterol—are mostly responsible for increases in blood cholesterol levels… Because one large egg contains just 1.6 grams of saturated fat and no trans fat, scientists have recently concluded that the earlier link between eggs and blood cholesterol was largely exaggerated. However, foods that contain high levels of dietary cholesterol, such as egg yokes, may have a small effect on cholesterol levels in people diagnosed with high blood cholesterol or type 2 diabetes.”
     Yet some studies apparently suggest that dietary cholesterol might adversely affect the ratio of total HDL and LDL. Another study suggests that eggs can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes http://www.biowizard.com/pmabstract.php?pmid=19017774. The U.S. Department of Health in a 1991 study cited in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, recommends a daily limit of not 300 mg of dietary cholesterol, as suggested by the American Heart Association, but 200 mg, and not just for those with coronary disease or diabetes, but also for healthy people.
     The authors of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology report—David Spence, a stroke prevention expert at the Robarts Research Centre in London, and nutrition and cholesterol researchers David Jenkins of Toronto and Jean Davignon of Montreal—say eggs are far from as safe as widely believed.
     There is “widespread misconception” among both the public and physicians “that consumption of dietary cholesterol and egg yolks is harmless,” they write. “Dietary cholesterol increases the susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein [LDL] to oxidation, increases  postprandial lipemia and potentaties the adverse effect of dietary saturated fat. Dietary cholesterol, including egg yolk, is harmful to the arteries.”
      In layman’s language, the three researchers claim that egg yokes can:
     •Increase the oxidation of LDL, the “bad” cholesterol in your blood. LDL oxidation can result in inflammation of the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke.
      •Cause a greater boost in the saturated fat in your blood that normally follows a meal (postprandial) for a period of time.
      •Increase the potential of saturated fat to clog your arteries.
     The authors suggest that studies indicating healthy people are not harmed by eating eggs, might be in error. “Although some studies showed no harm from consumption of eggs in healthy people, this outcome may have been due to lack of power to detect clinically relevant increases in a low-risk population.”
     The authors take issue with studies that have been cited to support claims that eggs are safe to eat, particular that 1999 JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) study and a 2007 study (“Regular egg consumption does not increase the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease”) in the Medical Science Monitor. Egg proponents who cite these studies, say the authors, fail to mention that participants who became diabetic during the studies had increased cardiovascular risk from eating eggs. In the case of the JAMA study “consumption of one egg a day doubled their risk as compared with less than one egg a week.”
      The comparison of eggs with the “dietary disasters” of the KFC Double Down burger and Hardee’s Monster Thickburger came from comments by David Spence as quoted in news reports. Depending on the size of the egg, Spence and his colleagues say that a yoke contains 215 to 275 mg of cholesterol. That’s more than the 200 mg per day recommended by the U.S. Department of the Health, more than the 150 mg in a  KFC Double Down, and more than the 210 mg in the Monster Thickburger. Aside from the cholesterol, however, the two burgers are also dangerously high in salt and saturated fat. Eggs have less salt, and no fat.
     The Egg Farmers of Canada quickly issued a release disputing the attack on  l’oeuf. “With obesity increasing in North America at an alarming rate, medical professionals should be encouraging the consumption of nutrient-dense, low-calorie foods, such as eggs,” declared Bonnie Cohen, an Egg Farmers’ dietitian. The Egg Farmers say that a large Canadian egg has only 195 mg of cholesterol, rather than the 215 to 270 mg cited by Spence and his colleagues. “If the researchers get this number wrong, we must question the accuracy of the complete report,” said Laurent Souligny, chair of the Egg Farmers.
Bottom line
     Whether eggs are harmful or helpful to your health, this much is certain: they won’t improve your cholesterol levels, especially the LDL that causes clogging in the arteries and heart trouble. Does this concern you?  It concerns me. Because I’m a heart attack survivor, I’m said to be at high risk of more heart trouble. My LDL level is well within the recommended range for those deemed to be at low or moderate risk, but too high for those said to be at high risk. Dr. Marie Cescon, our family physician, wants me to lower my LDL to a recommended level.
     I’ll continue to eat eggs—but just the whites, not the yokes. The whites have virtually all the nutrition of whole eggs without the cholesterol. They have no fat and are a very good source of protein, although somewhat high in salt  (NutritionData.com.) We will again eat frozen, packaged, coloured egg whites, as we did more than two decades ago. “Things are seldom what them seem, skim milk masquerades as cream,” wrote librettist W.S. Gilbert. And egg white masquerade very well as real scambled eggs.
     In my next blog, I’ll talk about how I plan to tackle the challenge of lowering my LDL, by exercise and fine-tuning an already healthy diet. And why I need to lower that LDL without the aid of medication.
     TAGS: Eggs. Cholesterol. Canadian Journal of Cardiology. American Heart Association Journal of the American Medical Associiation. LDL (low-density lipoprotein). Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Egg Farmers of Canada. U.S. Department of Health.


24 comments:

  1. Greetings! How do you think who is your blog's average reader?

    ReplyDelete
  2. One cаn fіnd lοt of ѕuch funny sportѕ momеnts veгy easily.
    Ѕome ρісtures will remind you of your ambіtions abοut your
    life while οthеr humorοus ones ωіll rеliеve your stress аnd make уоur life morе соmfortablе аnԁ еasier.

    Anԁ if you are not readу for it, thеn believe it, уοur bоredom ωill stау.


    Mу ωeb blog :: cute funny pictures animals

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hі, I juѕt wanteԁ to mention, Ӏ likeԁ thiѕ
    pοst. It was аctually inspiring. Keep on postіng!


    my wеbsite space4elephants.org
    my page > www.ab.wur.nl/EusolWiki/LoydRidle

    ReplyDelete
  4. These fitnesѕ tips in above sоme basіс iԁeas for
    κeеping fit аnԁ healthy boԁy.
    My grandmа сan really feel ѵindicаteԁ at
    suсh a сlaim,she's been saying this all my life. Just like with the above diet tips, you want to make sure that each fitness tip you incorporate into your routine is doable.

    my site visit the following website page

    ReplyDelete
  5. Insteаd of eatіng to make yourself feel better finԁ
    οthег mеthоds to сope.
    Tгaіning with intensity doeѕ
    nοt mеаn training foolіѕhlу; you muѕt alwаys train ωithin youг limits by using an aррropriate resistancе and eхerciѕes that you are caрablе of doing.
    Tο keep onе mοtivatеd it is іmportant to
    alternate the actiνities afteг оne tο two weеks.



    Hеre is mу blοg post ... blops2.pl

    ReplyDelete
  6. It improvеs blooԁ and oxygen flow to the musclеs that аre reсovering from the
    ρrіor haгd ωorkout. We knoω
    bеcause they have done so for mіlliоns of other peoplе.
    The deciѕive factоr is that men ωоuld ωant to show themselveѕ аs hot and rock ѕolid befοrе the
    fashionаble lаdieѕ as ever.

    Alsο viѕit my ωeb site fitness tips articles
    My page :: fitness tips abs

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ιn thіs competitіve wοrlԁ, news іnformation іs like κnowledge гecοurses that educate us about vаrious ωorld widе aсtivities and thе actіvity within the society,
    even in the surгounԁing еtc.
    Іnԁeeԁ, internet is the best souгce of because it is easily aсcessible
    and fast. Above all the Hindi news websitеѕ іs a rеal boom for the ωorld.


    my website ... latestdailynews.tumblr.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Infоrmation that infοrms the public and maκes them goоd citizens
    iѕ thе kinԁ of quality information thаt onе can be ρгoud to call news, and
    if іt evеr goеs completely out of stуle,
    may the Lord hеlр us, for it will be the enԁ of civіlizatіon аs we know it.
    Resеaгches have also fоund the Βroccoli аlso contаins necessary
    enzymеs such aѕ myrosinase in іt.
    Committeе оn Gulf War and Health: Health Effects of Serving in thе Gulf War, Update 2009.



    Take а lоοκ at mу web blog; Latest Daily News

    ReplyDelete
  9. Awesome blog! Do you have any tips and hints for aspiring writers?
    I'm planning to start my own blog soon but I'm a little lost on everything.
    Would you recommend starting with a free platform like Wordpress or go for a paid option?
    There are so many options out there that I'm completely overwhelmed .. Any ideas? Thanks a lot!

    My web blog ... darlizclip.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. In this competitive world, news information is like
    knowledge recourses that educate us about various world wide activities and the activity within the society, even in the
    surrounding etc. He tells the tale of a young boy, a tot, who was
    riding a toy car near the railroad crossing. The reliable reviews on business and forecast about products and services.


    my blog post; More hints

    ReplyDelete
  11. If you have a website, you can use Google Trends for
    your website traffic to increase as well. The effects of
    what they see, read and hear are having a devastating affect on our society today.
    Thus they can choose from the many available sources.


    Here is my homepage ... Latest Daily News

    ReplyDelete
  12. The advantage about the funny pictures is that you can watch
    them along with the family. Funny Sports Moments would be create in
    every field of life. Many of the paintings have a tendency to use
    a signature in order to improve a funny message that's shown in the photo.

    Also visit my website; www.bonglob.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your payments will not only get to you faster but it
    will provide you with a history of your earnings for your records.
    The reason this is important is because you will have a stronger knowledge
    base and bag of tricks to keep you going on the rougher
    days. Get your heart rate up with a quick burst of fast movement.


    Feel free to surf to my web site ... please click the following internet page

    ReplyDelete
  14. Inspiring story there. What happened after? Thanks!

    Here is my web site - fitness tips of the day

    ReplyDelete
  15. you'll be able to choose out your funny image as per your want and interest. But be sure to have the old removed first; otherwise the new will not come into play. Recent research found that stressfull life can increase the speed of progression of AIDS in HIV- positive patients.

    Here is my weblog ... just click the next website

    ReplyDelete
  16. The final step toward making your funny picture or video popular
    is to find the right distribution. With this amazing app Write Pad,
    You can take notes by. Locate a respected joke internet
    site that allows you to make use of the offered jokes which means you won't need to worry about email viruses.

    My weblog; http://ukbasketballcourts.com/c-park/groups/easy-programs-of-funny-pictures-across-the-usa

    ReplyDelete
  17. White biotechnology is for the business field and the marine biotechnology for
    all sea life. It happens when our body cannot
    excrete sufficient insulin or when cells cannot react with insulin and subsequently glucose inside our blood is being accumulated and excreted from urine.
    Bioaugmentation is the procedure chosen if the treatability study of
    groundwater comes back with no signs of degradation, or an extended time before degradation is found.



    Here is my web blog Click At this website

    ReplyDelete
  18. Or maybe you look at it from a monetary standpoint and decide
    that Guy Ritchie and Madonna divorce was worse because they were married so long and have children
    and there is a lot of money involved. You can give tips to the workers in the salon, restaurants where
    the star visit frequently. The singer will not be charged for her public intoxication, but her boyfriend
    was charged a $30,000 bail fee to release himself after he was
    tested positive for driving under the influence.

    Feel free to surf to my web site: latest celeb news

    ReplyDelete
  19. That is a great tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere.
    Simple but very accurate informationÖ Many thanks for sharing this one.
    A must read post!

    Also visit my web blog; interesting news

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hello, this weekend is nice designed for me, since this moment i am
    reading this enormous informative piece of writing
    here at my residence.

    My page - übersetzung türkisch deutsch online

    ReplyDelete
  21. Parking, in a few cities and towns, is actually a significant problem for businesses.
    On the top of this, truth be told there is a hutch in which the desk might be reduced when in use.
    The territory has over 25% of the world’s nickel resources.


    Feel free to surf to my web-site mount hawthorn

    ReplyDelete