51视频 Expert Stresses Moderation, Balance in Daily Diet
06/03/2019
Contact: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu and Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
LOWELL, Mass. 鈥� The risk of heart disease and death increases with the number of eggs an individual consumes, according to a 51视频 nutrition expert who has studied the issue.聽
Research that tracked the diets, health and lifestyle habits of nearly 30,000 adults across the country for as long as 31 years has found that cholesterol in eggs, when consumed in large quantities, is associated with ill health effects, according to Katherine Tucker, a biomedical and nutritional sciences professor in 51视频鈥檚 Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, who co-authored the analysis. The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study results come as egg consumption in the country continues to rise. In 2017, people ate an average of 279 eggs per year, compared with 254 eggs in 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.聽
Current U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans do not offer advice on the number of eggs individuals should eat each day. The guidelines, which are updated every five years, do not include this because nutrition experts had begun to believe saturated fats were the driving factor behind high cholesterol levels, rather than eggs, according to Tucker. However, prior to 2015, the guidelines did recommend individuals consume no more than 300 milligrams of cholesterol a day, she said.聽
One large egg contains nearly 200 milligrams of cholesterol, roughly the same amount as an 8-ounce steak, according to the USDA. Other foods that contain high levels of cholesterol include processed meats, cheese and high-fat dairy products.
While the new research does not offer specific recommendations on egg or cholesterol consumption, it found that each additional 300 milligrams of cholesterol consumed beyond a baseline of 300 milligrams per day was associated with a 17 percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease and an 18 percent higher risk of death.聽
Eating several eggs a week 鈥渋s reasonable,鈥� said Tucker, who noted they include nutrients beneficial to eye and bone health. 鈥淏ut I recommend people avoid eating three-egg omelets every day. Nutrition is all about moderation and balance.鈥澛�
Research results also determined that study participants鈥� exercise regimen and overall diet quality, including the amount and type of fat they consumed, did not change the link between cholesterol in one鈥檚 diet and risk of cardiovascular disease and death.聽
鈥淭his is a strong study because the modeling adjusted for factors such as the quality of the diet,鈥� Tucker said. 鈥淓ven for people on healthy diets, the harmful effect of higher intake of eggs and cholesterol was consistent.鈥澛�
Researchers at Northwestern University鈥檚 Feinberg School of Medicine collaborated with Tucker on the study.聽
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