Nutrition News: Is Eating Egg Yolks as Bad as Smoking?
Oliver Lenz
By now you’ve probably heard about the study claiming eating egg yolks is as bad for your heart as smoking. We just had to weigh in on this!
We’ve already discussed the benefits of eggs. Eating them (yolks and all) offers protein, heart healthy omega-3 fats, plus cell-protecting antioxidants like lutein. Read up on these previous posts:
The subjects used in this study were 60-plus years old (on average) and had recently suffered a heart-related medical incident – not exactly a sample that represents the general population. Furthermore, the researchers failed to account for whether or not these subjects partook in other good-for-your-heart practices like eating fiber and exercising. They also failed to assess the amount of artery-clogging saturated fat these folks ate. Since there’s a large body of research to support that saturated fat affects heart health even more than cholesterol does, it’s pretty important!
Bottom Line: One study doesn’t make a scientific fact, especially a study that didn’t cover all the bases. We recommend not smoking and eating eggs.