In another thread the alleged evils of eggs were discussed. I eat an average of 2 eggs a day for there health benefits. Does the following change any of your minds on eggs?
Brian "chicken farmer" Atkin
Secret Superfoods: Who Knew?
If I had a dollar for every time the conventional wisdom on nutrition has shifted gears, I'd be a rich woman. Remember butter? And how about eggs? First they're evil, now they're our best friends. I've watched the experts flip recommendations on so many foods I've lost count. Some of these foods suffered from bad reputations for years, but are now back on our buddy lists... others were unsung heroes, always good for us but never getting proper credit. I think it is a good idea to periodically revisit some of our cherished beliefs about foods and health, so I spoke with Jonny Bowden, whose recent book,
The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth (Fair Winds Press) has some surprising entries -- and some surprising omissions.
EGGS - GREAT PROTEIN SOURCE
Bowden believes whole eggs are among the finest sources of protein on the planet. "On three of the four methods used by scientists for rating protein quality, eggs score better than milk, beef, whey and soy," he told me. (All four -- milk, beef, whey and soy -- are tied on the other commonly used rating system.) "Whole eggs contain all nine essential amino acids, plus they're loaded with vitamins and nutrients that are excellent for your eyes, brain and heart." Bowden explained that the fear of saturated fat causes people to shun one of the healthiest parts of the egg -- the yolk. "The yolk contains
lutein and
zeaxanthin, two members of the carotenoid family that are emerging as superstars of eye nutrition. And the yolk is also one of the best sources of
choline."
Choline, says Bowden, is a building block for important compounds in the body that help support the heart, brain and liver. "Choline creates
betaine, which helps lower
homocysteine, a risk factor for heart disease. It's part of a compound called
phosphatidylcholine that helps prevent the accumulation of fat and cholesterol in the liver. It's also needed to make
acetyl-choline, which is critical for memory and thought." Incidentally, he didn't perceive the amount of cholesterol in whole eggs as a problem. "Virtually every study has shown absolutely no link between eating eggs and heart disease," he told me.