Consuming one egg daily will not increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a new study. Following a diet that is low in dietary cholesterol helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study's findings were originally published in the journal Circulation.
When too much cholesterol is present in the blood, it can cause the arteries to become thick and hard. This can cause one to suffer from heart disease and stroke. The American Heart Association suggests a heart-healthy diet can reduce dietary cholesterol. This type of diet also contains polyunsaturated fats that can help keep healthy levels of LDL.
"Saturated fats - mostly found in animal products such as meat and full fat dairy, as well as tropical oils - should be replaced with polyunsaturated fats like corn, canola or soybean oils," Jo Ann S. Carson from UT Southwestern Medical Center in the United States, told a news portal. Adding, "Foods high in added sugars and sodium (salt) should be limited."
Researchers of the study found there is a link between dietary cholesterol and higher levels of artery-clogging LDL. "Consideration of the relationship between dietary cholesterol and CVD risk can't ignore two aspects of diet. First, most foods contributing cholesterol to the US diet are usually high in saturated fat, which is strongly linked to an increased risk of too much LDL," Carson told a news portal. Adding, "Second, we know from an enormous body of scientific studies that heart-healthy dietary patterns, such as Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets are inherently low in cholesterol."
Meanwhile, a Northwestern University study claims consuming too many eggs could increase the risk of heart disease and premature death. "The take-home message is really about cholesterol, which happens to be high in eggs and specifically yolks," study author Norrina Allen, an associate professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told a news portal. Adding, "As part of a healthy diet, people need to consume lower amounts of cholesterol. People who consume less cholesterol have a lower risk of heart disease."
So, should you avoid eggs? Experts say consume them with restraint. "We want to remind people there is cholesterol in eggs, specifically yolks, and this has a harmful effect,"Allen told a news portal. Adding, "Eat them in moderation."
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