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2013-06-11
WHY EGGS MAKE A GREAT BREAKFAST CHOICE


Why eggs make a great breakfast choice

 

Consuming whole eggs improves blood lipids like cholesterol and triglycerides in people with metabolic syndrome, a condition commonly associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS according to a review of new research.

Decades of mixed messaging regarding dietary cholesterol have led to avoidance of certain foods, such as eggs, particularly among individuals who are faced with health conditions. However, a recent study published in Metabolism suggests that including whole eggs as part of a weight loss diet may have positive effects on lipoprotein profiles for individuals with metabolic syndrome.

In this study, middle-aged men and women with metabolic syndrome consumed either three whole eggs or an equivalent amount of egg substitute daily as part of a carbohydrate-restricted, weight loss diet. Although participants eating the whole eggs were consuming twice as much cholesterol as they had at the beginning of the study, the researchers observed no effects on total blood cholesterol or LDL cholesterol levels after 12 weeks on the diet. All participants, including those consuming whole eggs, had improved lipid profiles with decreases in plasma triglycerides and increases in HDL cholesterol.

“Eating egg yolks was actually associated with enhanced health benefits in these high-risk individuals,”

explains Dr. Maria Luz Fernandez, lead study author and Professor at the University of Connecticut,

“Subjects consuming whole eggs had greater increases in HDL cholesterol and more significant reductions in the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio than those who ate the cholesterol-free egg substitute.”

PCOS can develop into metabolic syndrome

It is estimated that up to 15% of women suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome which can develop into metabolic syndrome, an increasingly prevalent condition which can affect both men and women.  It is further estimated that 34% of Americans are affected by metabolic syndrome which is a combination of at least three of the following risk factors:

  • large waistline,
  • high triglycerides,
  • low HDL cholesterol,
  • high blood pressure, and
  • elevated blood sugar.(i)

The presence of metabolic syndrome increases the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It is strongly linked to insulin resistance which also accounts for the majority of cases of polycystic ovarian syndrome, and in fact a proportion of PCOS sufferers will go on to develop metabolic syndrome or diabetes, particularly if the condition is left untreated.

A Closer Look at the Incredible Egg

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service has reported that eggs now have 14 percent less cholesterol (down from 215 mg to 185 mg) and 64 percent more vitamin D than previously thought. Naturally nutrient-rich, one large egg provides varying amounts of 13 essential vitamins and minerals, including nutrients that aren’t found abundantly in other foods, including vitamin D and choline. Whole eggs offer every essential vitamin and mineral required for a healthy human, with the exception of vitamin C.

Many of these nutrients reside in the yolk, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, which are antioxidants that may prevent macular degeneration and consequent age-related blindness. While eggs contain only small amounts of these nutrients, research shows that lutein and zeaxanthin from eggs may be more bioavailable, or better used by the body, than from more concentrated sources like supplements.

A recent study published in Food and Function found that daily consumption of egg yolks was associated with increases in plasma lutein, zeaxanthin and ?-carotene in people with metabolic syndrome, which is typically associated with low levels of these important nutrients.