You might have heard that eating too many eggs will cause high cholesterol levels, leading to poor health.
Researchers have examined the science behind this myth again, and again, and again – largely debunking the claim.
A new study suggests that, among older adults, eating eggs supports heart health and even reduces the risk of premature death.
Researchers examined data from a large, ongoing study that is following older adults and tracking their health (the ASPREE study).
In their analysis of more than 8000 people, they examined the foods people usually eat and then looked at how many participants died over a six-year period and from what causes, using medical records and official reports.
Researchers collected information on their diet through a food questionnaire, which included a question about how frequently participants ate eggs in the past year:
- never/infrequently (rarely or never, 1-2 times per month)
- weekly (1-6 times per week)
- daily (daily or several times per day).
Overall, people who consumed eggs 1-6 times per week had the lowest risk of death during the official study period (29 per cent lower for heart disease deaths and 17 per cent lower for overall deaths) compared to those people who rarely or never ate eggs.
Eating eggs daily did not increase the risk of death either.
