Is there a more controversial food than eggs?
Sure, there is plenty of debate over the merit of pineapple on pizza, or varying reactions over coriander or anchovies, but when it comes to health concerns the humble egg certainly punches above its weight when it comes to scientific opinion.
A new study from the University of South Australia is the latest to weigh in on the debate, and it is not good news for egg lovers.
According to the research, excess egg consumption can increase your risk of diabetes.
The research found that people who regularly consumed one or more eggs per day (equivalent to 50g) increased their risk of diabetes by 60 per cent.
The Heart Foundation guidelines do not set a limit to the number of eggs that you should eat in a week.
However, the Heart Foundation does suggest a maximum of seven eggs per week for those with high LDL cholesterol, type 2 diabetes or existing heart disease.
The University of South Australia’s Dr Ming Li says the rise of diabetes was a growing concern and it was important to find dietary links to the problem.
“Diet is a known and modifiable factor that contributes to the onset type 2 diabetes, so understanding the range of dietary factors that might impact the growing prevalence of the disease is important,” Dr Li said.
The study, which was conducted in partnership with the China Medical University, studied 8545 Chinese adults with an average age of 50 years.
It found that that those with higher long-term egg consumption (greater than 38g per day) had a 25 per cent greater chance of developing diabetes.
“Furthermore, adults who regularly ate a lot of eggs (over 50g, or equivalent to one egg, per day) had an increased risk of diabetes by 60 per cent,” Dr Li explained.
The effect was also more pronounced in women than in men.
Dr Li added that more research was needed to explore causal relationships between eggs and diabetes.
The science, though, does seem to favour moderation when it comes to eating eggs.
Last year, YourLifeChoices reported on a study that showed eating too many eggs was linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
That study suggested eating just 300mg of dietary cholesterol was associated with a 17 per cent higher risk of heart disease and that eating three to four eggs per week came with a 6 per cent higher risk.
How many eggs do you eat per week? Do you think that eating eggs is good or bad for your health? Do you think moderation is the key when it comes to eggs?
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