Eggs and Cholesterol

[Geramiah]

I just love eggs. I have at least one per day for breakfast - usually boiled, sometimes poached, scrambled or fried. There used to be a school of thought that eggs raised your cholesterol. However I have read - in the Atkins Diabetes book - that it only raises your HDL (good cholesterol) and so eggs are actually a good thing - full of protein etc.

Anyone have any other information or thoughts on this?

Thanks

Gerry

[Penny]

Not sure how this fits in Gerry, but my husband has eaten 2 eggs almost every day of his life. He just had heart surgery, but he was 70 and it was the first time he has had any major illness. His cholesterol has always been much higher than mine. I might eat 2 eggs a week, sometimes not even that. I have very low cholesterol, always have, and I have had 3 major illnesses and at a much younger age. Husband just started Zocor, and his cholesterol has dropped almost as low as mine, in 3 months. Go figure.

[princesslinda]

Since i've had the big-D, i've tried to eat low-carb, so eggs have become my friends....which has been a hard change to make since I never cared for them. I have scrambled eggs in butter for dinner a couple nights a week now. I googled benefits of eggs, and came up with this interesting read:


10 Health Benefits of Eggs

1. Eggs are great for the eyes. According to one study, an egg a day may prevent macular degeneraton due to the carotenoid content, specifically lutein and zeaxanthin. Both nutrients are more readily available to our bodies from eggs than from other sources.

2. In another study, researchers found that people who eat eggs every day lower their risk of developing cataracts, also because of the lutein and zeaxanthin in eggs.

3. One egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids.

4. According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, there is no significant link between egg consumption and heart disease. In fact, according to one study, regular consumption of eggs may help prevent blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks.

5. They are a good source of choline. One egg yolk has about 300 micrograms of choline. Choline is an important nutrient that helps regulate the brain, nervous system, and cardiovascular system.

6. They contain the right kind of fat. One egg contains just 5 grams of fat and only 1.5 grams of that is saturated fat.

7. New research shows that, contrary to previous belief, moderate consumption of eggs does not have a negative impact on cholesterol. In fact, recent studies have shown that regular consumption of two eggs per day does not affect a person's lipid profile and may, in fact, improve it. Research suggests that it is saturated fat that raises cholesterol rather than dietary cholesterol.

8. Eggs are one of the only foods that contain naturally occurring vitamin D.

9. Eggs may prevent breast cancer. In one study, women who consumed at least 6 eggs per week lowered their risk of breast cancer by 44%.

10. Eggs promote healthy hair and nails because of their high sulphur content and wide array of vitamins and minerals. Many people find their hair growing faster after adding eggs to their diet, especially if they were previously deficient in foods containing sulphur or B12.

[MJB]

The incredible, edible egg. Although I've been taking Lipitor for some time (20mg down from 40) my lipids are all down to normal levels only since becoming diabetic and changing my diet and exercise.

Part of that change is I eat 2 eggs every morning, usually fried in EVOO.

Going back about 3 years, the last time my lipids were normal is when I was doing Atkins, and yes, at that time I ate a lot of eggs and a lot of fatty meat.

Eating "normal", that is a lot of carbs, before I was dx'd threw my weight and lipids all out of whack.

If there is one lesson I've learned well it is to do what works for you.