When I was older, my family lived in fear of the demon Cholesterol. This was because my dad had an inflated count and needed to go on a low cholesterol diet and for some reason (possibly my mom’s desire to cook only one dinner a night), we also had to continue. The centerpiece of a low-cholesterol diet was the fear of eggs. Specifically, the egg yolks, which we knew were small yellow cholesterol bombs. We learned how to separate whites and stir egg whisks. Then one day the whole eggs were re-declared well and my dad even learned to turn them around so he could have breakfast every morning.
But apparently the eggs are bad again? “Now,” CNN reports, “A new study with more than 500,000 people has found eating even a portion of a whole egg – with the yellow yoke loaded with cholesterol” [sic] – increases the risk of dying from all causes, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. In fact, the overall risk of death increased by 7% for each additional half whole egg eaten per day, according to the study published Tuesday a PLOS medicine“.
This directly contradicts a Harvard study last year that found that eating one egg a day would be no increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
So what does it give? Can we eat eggs without dying or what? CNN spoke with several experts who noted that the study only asked about egg consumption without considering the other diets of the subjects. Saturated fats have a much greater effect on the LDL (low density lipoproteins) of the blood (also known as bad cholesterol) than foods that actually contain cholesterol, such as eggs.
“If someone replaces eggs with donuts, other refined starches, and sugar or saturated fats, I’d rather they eat eggs,” said Dr. Walter Willett, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at TH Chan School of Public Health School and Harvard Medical Harvard School told CNN. “But for someone who really wants to be in optimal health, putting an emphasis on vegetable protein sources like steel-cut oats and nuts would be a better way to go.”
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He PLOS the study also claimed that replacing egg whites with whole eggs reduced the risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 3%, but CNN experts remained skeptical.
Riyaz Patel, a consultant cardiologist at University College London, thought there was not enough evidence in the study to justify the recommendation to eat egg whites. “I don’t think this study will change the general advice that, for most people, eggs can be eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet, unless they have been told not to. for a specific medical or dietary reason, ”he said.