I grew up early in life to believe that eating eggs may make children prone to stealing. Then, it was  not part of our meals. Late in my higher school days with knowledge contrary to this belief, I could not afford egg consumption. Recently one of my childhood friends came and I saw him visibly laden with all cardiovascular risk factors, then I needed to educate him.  He acknowledged and yielded to my advice except that on egg consumption. His reason being that when he was young he could not afford eating eggs and that it will be satanic to be placed on egg restriction now that he can afford it.

Our esteemed readers, food consumption and cardiovascular diseases are not all about restriction but moderation. Now that my friend can afford eating eggs will that be a license for him to eat in excess? Some of us will mix about four eggs with sodium glutamate in the name of flavors, put ‘sardine’ and fry with groundnut oil.

All these will still go with bread and milk –rich tea. I see most of them within and outside the country with their necks folded as a sign of affluence. Please watch it, ‘silent killer’ diseases may be at the door. Be that as it may, this weeks article is on, the real fact about egg.

Cholesterol, Saturated Fat and Heart Disease
Two commonly talked about types of blood cholesterol include LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol and HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is considered ‘bad’ because it is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, whereas HDL cholesterol is considered ‘good’ because it is thought to help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Cholesterol and saturated fat often occur together in the same foods. Contrary to past confusion over which is responsible for raising blood cholesterol levels, it is now known that a diet high in saturated fat causes increased levels of LDL cholesterol, and that dietary cholesterol has a comparatively small effect. Interestingly, eggs contain cholesterol, but they are low in saturated fat.

Nutritional value of egg
Eggs are a nutritionally dense food, being high in protein and containing a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. They are high in cholesterol, but low in saturated fat.

Eggs contain protein and fat, but merely a trace of carbohydrate, and no fiber. Even though eggs are high in cholesterol, they are low in saturated fat. An egg contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, but the precise amounts found vary depending on the breed of laying hen, the diet of the hen, and the conditions under which it was reared. A medium sized egg contains around 80 calories.

Protein in Eggs
Protein is made up of compounds known as amino acids. Nonessential amino acids can be synthesized by the body in sufficient enough quantities to take care of the body’s growth and repair needs. Essential amino acids must be obtained from foods in the diet because the body cannot manufacture them.

Eggs contain all of the essential amino acids that humans need and in the right amounts needed for tissue growth and repair. Nutritionally speaking an egg is a complete, high quality protein. Join us next week for more. till then maintain a healthy heart. You can also call 08072000017.