An egg a day keeps the doctor away, say experts
EGGS aren’t as that bad, as many people would like to believe.
Food and nutrition experts from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), the chief dietitian of the Philippine Heart Center and representatives of Nutritionist-Dieticians’ Association of the Philippines all agree that daily egg consumption does not pose any risk to people with normal health.
These same groups are behind the “The Good Egg” campaign, together with primary advocate Sarimanok Poultry and its mother company Univet Nutrition and Animal Healthcare Co., the Philippine Egg Board, and the Bureau of Animal Industry, which is pushing for the vital role eggs play in addressing protein-deficiency issues in the country, especially among young children and mothers.
Once-daily egg consumption poses no health risk to normally healthy adult Filipinos, said former FNRI director Dr. Celeste Tanchoco, citing earlier studies dispelling the link between eggs and cardiovascular disease.
Eggs are one of the best and most affordable sources of protein. In fact, eggs are a vital part of the FNRI’s banner program called Pinggang Pinoy, a food plate program which aims to promote balanced diet among Filipinos.
But Filipinos wrongly perceive eggs to be unhealthy, and thus should be eaten only in minimum. A study by Insight Asia showed that there is a very low egg consumption rate in the country (60 per capita egg consumption), as compared with neighboring Asian countries.
Among the myths on egg consumption, four are listed as among the top concerns of many people:
1 Eggs cause high blood, stroke and heart attack.
The study “Effect of Egg Consumption on Lipid Profile among 30- to 60-year-old Filipino Adults,” which was taken part by Tanchoco concluded that an egg a day doesn’t contribute to the rise in blood lipid level.
2 Egg yolk is full of cholesterol. Current American Heart Associa- tion (AHA) guidelines suggest that most people can enjoy an egg a day—as long as they watch their overall cholesterol intake. Egg yolks contain 214 to 220 milligrams of cholesterol—AHA recommends consumption of no more than 300 milligrams of cholesterol a day.
3 Eggs are high in calories, and that eating them can lead to obesity. According to Tanchoco, calorie for calorie, eggs are a nutrient-dense food. She said eggs are good sources of protein—a single egg supplies about 10 percent of one’s daily-needed protein—vitamins A, B2, B12, D and K, carotenoids and choline.
4 Eggs are bad for middle-aged people and seniors. But according to Philippine Heart Center chief dietician Perla Esguerra, what people need is a well-balanced diet and exercise. “There is no such thing as a bad food, only bad diet and bad preparation.”
Thus, before people put bad judgment to eggs in general, maybe they should think twice and ask the experts.