Friday, February 20, 2009

Study: No limit to eating eggs

Despite the belief that eating more than three eggs a week is troublesome, a study says there is no limit to the number of eggs one can eat.

Previous studies had linked eggs to high blood cholesterol levels, leading to cardiovascular diseases. A new study, however, reports that limiting one's egg intake has little impact on cholesterol levels.

According to the study published in the British Nutrition Foundation's Nutrition Bulletin, the amount of saturated fat in the daily diet (fatty meat, full fat dairy products and cakes, biscuits and pastries) has a greater effect on blood cholesterol levels compared to dietary cholesterol.

Other factors such as smoking, obesity and physical activity can influence blood cholesterol levels and the subsequent risk of developing heart diseases, adding that only one third of the cholesterol in the body comes from the diet.

Many individuals can eat eggs everyday as part of a balanced diet without being concerned about subsequent health problems.