Diet-conscious breakfast lovers everywhere were handed some bad news last week.
Eggs are once again bad for you, according to a new study published in the medical journal, JAMA.
The study found that people who eat three or more eggs a week have a higher risk of heart disease and early death than those who limit their intake below that amount. Each large egg contains about 180 milligrams of cholesterol.
I was never much of an egg fan, but hopped on the bandwagon this past summer after spending a week at a hotel in Nashville that served scrambled eggs and salsa every day as part of its complimentary breakfast.
Since then, I’ve incorporated the easy breakfast into part of my morning routine at least a few times a week.
So, it was an unpleasant surprise to learn that just one day of my seemingly healthy breakfast — three scrambled eggs — could be shortening my lifespan or leading to a heart attack.
Remember that famous scene in the first “Rocky” film where Sylvester Stallone’s titular character drinks raw eggs every day as part of his boxing training for his big fight? Yikes. Apparently, that’s a heart attack waiting to happen.
Some people, like my co-worker, Bridget, aren’t too crazy about the taste of eggs, but opt to eat them because they think they’re healthy.
I guess those people might rethink their diet plan … until the next study comes out and shows eggs are healthy again.
It’s exhausting to keep up with these ever-changing studies. Is wine, coffee or chocolate good or bad for you? Every time a new study comes out, the answer changes.
A study released over the summer showed that people who drink coffee may live longer than non-coffee drinkers. The results showed numerous health benefits, which directly contradict past findings.
As for wine, one day it’s good for you, one day it’s not. It also depends on what type of wine in some cases.
For instance, those who prefer to wind down after a long day with a glass of red wine over white seem to be the benefactors of recent research, which found that drinking moderate amounts of the former has health benefits, such as a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes.
But for me and others who prefer white wine, there’s a study from several years ago conducted by researchers at the University of Barcelona that found it may be higher in antioxidants than the red variety and have weight loss and anti-aging benefits.
But some experts maintain that the health risks of alcohol far outweigh its benefits.
As for chocolate, dark may be healthy, but don’t overdo it. Dark chocolate may lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and improve cognition. It looks like the “Harry Potter” series may have been onto something with chocolate offered as a remedy to the negative effects of the dementors.
But eating too much of it, as common sense probably dictates, may cancel out those benefits, as added sugar and calories lead to weight gain. Experts from a recent study recommend eating no more than an ounce a day.
All of this conflicting evidence is confusing. Is what we’re consuming helping us or killing us? The only thing inconsistent research is proving is that we’re probably better off on our own.
Eat what you want, but in moderation. It’s not worth it to let the ever-changing results of each new study dictate your life. Where’s the happiness and health benefits from that?
