I was recently flipping through an older copy of VegNews Magazine (I am really loving this magazine these days). I came across a small little article about eggs that caught my eye. We don’t eat eggs alot in our house, but I do usually have a few in my fridge. There was a time in my life when I was eating eggs EVERY SINGLE DAY. Each day I would come home from the gym and eat my recommended protein of 1 whole egg and 2 egg whites along with a bowl of cooked oats. I think I must of done this for at least 5 years! I remember when I wanted to start changing my eating habits one of my thoughts was, “Well what do I eat for breakfast now?” – I think I’ve come a long way 🙂
Here’s the article I read (VegNews July/August 2009)
It’s No Yolk
“Recent findings from a long-term research project by Harvard Medical Shcool links egg consumption with increased risk for Type 2 diabetes. Subjects who ate an average of one egg per day were 58 to 77 percent more likely to develop the disease than those who do not consume chicken ova. The study of 57,000 adults found that the high cholesterol content in eggs raises blood sugar and insulin levels, leaving those with a genetic dispostion to diabetes at greater risk for developing the disorder. However, the results also suggest that any foods high in cholesterol are likely to promote the development of diabetes, and researchers recommend that those at risk for the disease limit cholesterol in their diets. While all animal products are high in cholesterol, plant foods are naturally cholesterol-free. Research done by Dr. John McDougall and others indicates that Type 2 diabetes can be prevented and reversed with a vegan diet.”
I am shocked at how long I was eating at least one egg per day. I am saddened that neither of my trainers, nor any of my fitness magazines every mentioned the possible health risks of eating so many eggs. All I was told was that it was an ideal source of protein. Not once were any plant-based proteins placed in the meal plans that they prepared for me. I was about to write the word MADDENING, but in truth it is just SADDENING, because I don’t think they knew any better.
I remember something that Veteran Mommie told me about eggs. She said, “Have you ever tried cleaning egg yolks off a plate after it has been sitting for a while? That’s cholesterol, and it’s just as hard to clean it out of our bodies.” There are so many sources of information out there that it is difficult to filter through it all. We are in a “high-protein” fad right now, and people are believing what they read and hear about low-fat protein. It is sad that we are sicker that we have ever been and still so many people don’t understand why. Sure, there are some minor reasons affecting our health (lifestyle, pesticides, emissions, stress etc) but the main reason (by far) is the food choices we are making. We can do better, and once we do we will start to see results!
Source: WFM 1-10