How can consuming eggs protect the heart?
A few eggs each day are usually okay for most people. However for some groups, the sum might be different.
Popular and incredibly healthy, eggs are a nutritional source of protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Many people consume eggs frequently, if not daily, in regions of the world. As they are economical and conveniently accessible.
You might have heard at some time that eating eggs raises your risk of developing heart disease, which is the top cause of mortality worldwide. This myth has been spread for many years by medical and nutrition associations as well as health official. This has caused some people to avoid eating eggs.
Without a doubt, eggs contain more cholesterol than many other foods. They do, however, also contain a wealth of advantageous bioactive substances and other disease-preventing elements. According to the study, eating one to three eggs each week reduces cardiovascular disease risk by 60%.
In fact, the study discovered that people who consume four to seven eggs a week have a 75% decreased risk of acquiring cardiovascular disease. However, sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical characteristics was taken into account. They only discovered a protective impact for consuming one to three eggs each week. The authors came to the conclusion that eating eggs may have a preventive effect against cardiovascular disease.
Do eggs raise cholesterol levels?
Egg consumption may not increase your risk of heart disease or its risk factors, such as inflammation, artery stiffness, and elevated cholesterol levels. Reported by recent observational studies and meta-analyses.
Similar results are noted in a few randomised controlled trials (RCTs). They are regarded as the gold standard of scientific research due to their capacity to minimise bias.
For instance, a small RCT discovered that consuming 2 eggs or a 1/2 cup (118 mL) of liquid eggs for breakfast had no appreciable impact on blood cholesterol levels when compared to a high-carb, egg-free breakfast.
Eating 6 to 12 eggs per week did not have a negative impact on total blood cholesterol levels or risk factors for heart disease, according to RCTs in adults with diabetes. Instead, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was elevated.
Good cholesterol is referred to as HDL. Higher HDL levels are good because they eliminate other forms of cholesterol from the blood. Low density lipoprotein(LDL) cholesterol is referred to as the bad cholesterol since it increases your chance of developing heart disease.
Overall, there are still questions regarding the precise way that eggs affect cholesterol and risk of heart disease and death. Further human research are required, most experts agree, in order to better answer these queries.
How many eggs is it safe to eat per day?
It’s becoming more and more obvious that different people are at different risk when it comes to eating too many eggs. However, we continue to understand more about how eggs interact with cholesterol and chronic diseases.
The number of eggs you can consume safely each day depends on a number of variables. This includes your genetics, family history, egg preparatrion, your general diet, and even where you reside.
Furthermore take into account the total quantity of cholesterol in your diet from sources other than eggs. You might have more place for eggs in your diet if it has a reasonably low cholesterol content. Nonetheless, it could be better to reduce your egg consumption if your diet is higher in cholesterol.
Some study indicates that 1-2 eggs per day can be safe for a healthy adult with normal cholesterol levels. Also, no substantial underlying heart disease risk factors is recorded. It might even be advantageous to your heart health and be healthy.
According to a research, eating up to three eggs per day increased LDL and HDL levels and LDL-to-HDL ratio. Nonetheless, experts may be hesitant to advise eating more than two eggs every day, with many still advising sticking to one.
Eating 2–7 eggs per week helped maintain high HDL cholesterol levels and decreased the risk of metabolic syndrome, according to a study on Korean people. A daily egg intake of two or more did not, however, provide the same level of protection.
Metabolic syndrome include weight increase around the midsection, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high blood fat levels. They work together to raise the risk of chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease.
Are eggs good for heart health?
Health, in Dr. Zivkovic’s opinion, is dependent on one’s overall diet rather than just a few specific foods.
Can eggs be a component of a heart-healthy diet that is consistent with heart disease prevention? Completely. Do they represent the best option for everyone? No.”
It is accurate to say that eggs are a good source of selenium, vitamin B12, and vitamin B2, all of which are cardioprotective, according to Routhenstein. She continued by saying that the vitamin B2 and B12 they contain can aid in bringing homocysteine levels back to normal, as high levels can contribute to artery plaques. The selenium in eggs, according to Routhenstein, also aids in preventing oxidative stress, a major factor in heart disease.
However, according to Dr. Zivkovic, interventional studies have shown that eggs “do not increase total cholesterol, and can, in fact, boost the cholesterol efflux capacity of HDL [cholesterol] particles.”
But for some people who are at risk for heart disease, the high cholesterol and choline content of eggs may be an issue, according to Routhenstein. So, while eggs may be allowed in a heart-healthy diet, the intake should be kept to a minimum. To reduce risk as much as possible, the entire diet should be examined.
Risk could vary for different groups
It’s crucial to remember that some evidence still suggests that eating a few eggs a day is unsafe for the majority of healthy adults, especially for certain demographics.
One study found a marginally increased risk of heart attacks among nearly 200,000 US veterans who ate just 1 egg daily. The effect was greater in people who were overweight or diabetic, indicating that general health state affects the number of eggs that are safe to consume.
Similarly, eating 2-4 eggs per week may significantly increase dietary cholesterol intake in adults from Europe and Korea and raise risk of heart disease, particularly in those with diabetes.
Using a sample of more than 100,000 U.S. adults, another study discovered that older persons who consumed more than 5–6 eggs per week had a 30% higher chance of developing heart disease. Yet, there is no assurance that the elevated risk is brought on by eggs alone.
Regardless of egg consumption, the risk of heart disease rises with age because of factors including fat accumulation and artery hardening. Hence, while determining how many eggs are acceptable to consume, it’s necessary to take your general situation and health status into account.
If you have high levels of LDL cholesterol, are overweight or obese, suffer from a chronic illness like diabetes, or have a family history of heart disease, it may be better to limit your egg consumption to one 1 per day to 4-5 per week.
It can be challenging to independently assess so many diverse risk variables. So, the best approach to determine how many eggs are safe to consume each day or week may be to consult with a doctor, dietician, or other qualified healthcare expert directly.
Is better to eat only egg whites?
One big egg typically has 200 mg of cholesterol. In the yolk, the cholesterol is concentrated. As a result, some individuals consume only egg whites in order to consume less cholesterol while still obtaining an excellent supply of lean protein.
Despite the yolk’s high cholesterol level, you shouldn’t completely ignore it. The egg’s yolk is also the component that is rich in iron, vitamin D, carotenoids, and other nutrients.
Several of the health-promoting properties of eggs, including decreased inflammation, elevated HDL cholesterol levels, and enhanced metabolic health, are assumed to be a result of these bioactive substances.
Health benefits of eggs
Eggs are inexpensive, adaptable, a fantastic source of lean protein, and simple to make. In addition, they provide numerous health advantages that go beyond the discussion of their cholesterol content. Eggs are particularly:
- Rich in minerals and vitamins. especially the B vitamins, selenium, and choline.
- Abundant in antioxidants. Antioxidants aid in defending the cells in your body against the harm wrought by free radicals and their connected chronic illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease.
- Believed to enhance several heart disease biomarkers. They include inflammatory indicators like interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein levels in the blood.
- Filling and could support weight loss. Eggs may be more satisfying than breakfast foods high in carbohydrates, such as cereal, because they include a lot of lean protein. This may help you feel fuller for longer and consume less calories throughout the day.
Finally, there are numerous tasty methods to prepare eggs. They go well with breakfast burritos, frittatas, and omelettes that are loaded with vegetables. They can also be cooked by just boiling, frying, or poaching. Or you can add them to shakshuka, stir-fries, sauces, baked products, salad dressings, and more.
The only restrictions on egg preparation are those imposed by your creativity and palate.
REFERENCES:
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cardiovascular-disease-eating-eggs-weekly-lower-risk
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-many-eggs-should-you-eat
- https://medicaldialogues.in/mdtv/cardiology/videos/can-eating-1-3-eggs-per-week-help-protect-the-heart-106965
- https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/behind-the-headlines/eggs-and-heart-disease
- https://scitechdaily.com/how-eating-eggs-can-protect-against-heart-disease-and-improve-heart-health/
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