Scientists have egg on face as new research proves eggs ARE good for you – in time for Easter

March 28, 2024 - PRLog -- Until the 1960s, many people in the UK, Europe and the USA would 'go to work on an egg' every day, to quote a popular 1950s British advertisement.

However, in 1968, the American Heart Association announced a dietary recommendation that people should consume no more than three whole eggs per week. It was an egg-shattering announcement.

According to recent studies, however, misunderstood data formed the basis of the research the AHA's recommendation was built on.

Dr Avinash Hari Narayanan (MBChB), Clinical Lead at London Medical Laboratory, says: 'Egg consumption in the US and the UK slumped after scientists in the 1960s began to warn that eggs were high in cholesterol and, therefore, bad for your heart.

'A paper in the journal "Nutrients" reveals the studies used pharmacological levels of cholesterol in the diet, amounting to far more eggs than people would normally eat. In fact, clinical feeding studies had people eating six eggs per day for six weeks.

'The key error in these early studies was the reliance on the measurement of total plasma cholesterol as a marker of risk. In other words, the studies focused on total blood cholesterol levels. We now know that what really matters is not total amounts, but the levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol as opposed to "good" HDL cholesterol, and the ratio between them.

'An analysis of recent research published in the "Canadian Journal of Diabetes" reveals the majority of modern studies have found that egg consumption does not affect major cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. In fact, the latest research shows that eating up to 12 eggs a week has no impact on LDL "bad" cholesterol and, moreover, four out of the six recent studies analysed found that egg consumption was linked to an increase in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (that's HDL "good" cholesterol).

'Aside from increasing our levels of HDL "good" cholesterol, eating eggs brings other health benefits. Boiled eggs are small but nutritious packets of food. One large egg provides your body with many nutrients, such as protein, calcium, vitamins, iron and potassium.

'For anyone worried about their heart health and their cholesterol levels, a finger-prick general health blood test can monitor our heart health, liver & kidney function, bone health, iron levels, diabetes (HbA1c) and cholesterol.

'London Medical Laboratory's General Health Profile blood test can be taken at home through the post, or at one of the many drop-in clinics that offer these tests across London and nationwide in over 120 selected pharmacies and health stores. For full details, see: https://www.londonmedicallaboratory.com/product/general-health