Eggs, once vilified as cholesterol-laden dietary evils, are being hailed as a nutritional “superfood” in new research showing the breakfast staple can combat overeating, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome.
Several studies presented this week at the Experimental Biology scientific conference in Boston concluded whole egg consumption can boost the overall health of individuals who face higher risks of cardiovascular conditions and obesity.
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"This year's EB program showcased cutting-edge nutrition research with wide-reaching public health implications," said Mitch Kanter, executive director of the Egg Nutrition Center, which promotes egg on behalf of U.S. farmers and egg producers. "Furthermore, many studies underscore a positive role for eggs in the current chronic disease challenges we face."
Among the studies presented this week:
- A study by the University of Connecticut found daily whole egg consumption boosted HDL “good” cholesterol in adults with metabolic syndrome — a series of health factors that collectively raise the risk of heart disease. Researchers found those who followed a low-carbohydrate, and consumed either three eggs per day or an equivalent amount of egg substitutes, had improvements in HDL. "Taken together with previously established benefits of egg intake on HDL profiles, these findings further support the notion that eggs serve as a functional food to reduce cardiovascular disease risk in individuals with metabolic syndrome," said lead researcher Catherine Andersen.
- Researchers at University of Missouri found individuals who eat a high-protein breakfast, including eggs, reported less hunger during the day and were less likely to overeat at other meals. Researchers compared overweight/obese individuals who ate a cereal breakfast, a high-protein egg and pork breakfast, and no breakfast at all. They found the group that consumed the high-protein breakfast reported a decrease in hunger during the day and an increase in fullness compared to the other groups and consumed 400 fewer calories per day over the 12-week study.
- Research from Yale University involving men and women with coronary heart disease found those who ate whole eggs as part of their daily diet experienced no increase in total cholesterol, blood pressure, body weight, or other negative health effects — suggesting eggs can be a part of a heart-healthy diet, even in those with cardiovascular disease.
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