Science Regular egg consumption healthier than previously thought

Study: Eggs can reduce risk of cardiovascular disease

Eggs still have a bad reputation in some people's health. According to experts, however, they bring various health benefits. A new study has even shown that daily consumption of eggs can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Elevated cholesterol levels can be dangerous

Cholesterol is often much too high, especially among people in industrialized countries. An elevated cholesterol level can lead to diseases of the vessels, with possible consequences such as a heart attack or stroke. Affected individuals are often advised to change their diet to lower their levels. Above all, lower egg consumption is often cited here. But according to many health experts, the years of warnings about eggs and butter in connection with high cholesterol levels are no longer valid. In a new study, researchers even come to the conclusion that moderate egg consumption can be good for the heart.

Some people find eggs extremely unhealthy. However, a new study has shown that moderate egg consumption is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. (Image: alexandco / fotolia.com)

Eggs are apparently healthier than expected

Although eggs have long been suspected to increase cholesterol in the human body, recent research has shown that many health professionals have avoided such warnings.

Often the positive ingredients are highlighted: chicken eggs contain important proteins and valuable minerals such as iron and zinc and vitamins A, E and K..

According to a new study, the daily breakfast egg is even healthier than previously thought.

According to the British-Chinese research team, "moderate consumption of eggs" has been associated with a lower incidence of heart disease in a long-term study of half a million Chinese people.

The results of the scientists around Professor Liming Li and Dr. Beijing University Health Science Center's Canqing Yu was recently published in the journal Heart.

Lower risk of cardiovascular disease

According to a Science Daily report, the researchers used data from a study that looked at nearly half a million Chinese between 30 and 79 years of age over a period of almost nine years.

Analysis of the results showed that daily consumption of ice was associated with a "lower risk of cardiovascular disease".

In addition, daily egg users had a 26 percent lower risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

No sure conclusions about cause and effect

However, the journal Science Daily also notes that the study was an observational study so that no firm conclusions about cause and effect can be drawn.

Nevertheless, the authors concluded: "The present study finds a link between moderate egg consumption (up to 1 egg / day) and a lower cardiac event rate."

And: "Our results provide scientific evidence for the nutritional guidelines regarding the consumption of eggs for a healthy Chinese adult."

Appeal and criticism

Cardiovascular disease, which kills 17.7 million people every year, is the leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to the experts, each year, cardiovascular disease causes nearly one third (31 percent) of all deaths worldwide.

The study of researchers from Great Britain and China was also well received by colleagues from other countries.

According to CNN, Caroline Richard, Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, said that the new study "delivers a similar message" as their own reports suggest that "the risk of eating eggs is greater a cardiovascular disease does not increase ".

However, there are indications that consuming eggs could increase the risk of diabetes.

"In this study, they did not rate the risk of developing diabetes, which may be because diabetes is a recent disease in the Chinese population and there is no good documentation of who they are," said Richard.

However, other scientists, who were also not involved in the current study, were somewhat more critical and pointed out that other factors, such as increased prosperity in China or physical activity, contribute to the better health of the population. (Ad)