Good Egg to Bad Egg
During the 1950s and 60s, the UK’s Egg Marketing Board ran an advertising campaign using the slogan ”Go to work on an egg”. The idea behind the campaign was to promote eating eggs for breakfast as the best way to start the day. That’s when the government were happy for us to believe eggs were good for you.
However, in 1988, comments made on TV by then Junior Health Minister, MP Edwina Currie led to an immediate and dramatic fall in egg sales. She made the comment that; “Most of the egg production in this country, sadly, is now affected with salmonella”. This managed to demonise the humble egg for a number of years that followed. Edwina ended up getting the sack over the backlash from the farming community. However, her comments were later found to be justified. The incident was essentially a catalyst that resulted in the UK’s egg producers cleaning up their act.
Bad Egg to Good Egg
However, things weren’t going too well for eggs in the 1990s either. The experts then told us that we should limit the number of eggs we eat to three to four a week. This was because they contained relatively high levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol. However, the misconceptions around eggs and cholesterol largely stemmed from incorrect conclusions drawn from research of the day.
Essentially, it concluded that dietary cholesterol contributed to raised blood cholesterol levels. However, in the early 2000s, major world health organisations, including the UK’s Department of Health, changed their advice on eggs. There is now no recommended limit on how many eggs a person should eat, as long as they combine the consumption with a varied diet.
So eggs are now back in vogue, and why wouldn’t they be? If there’s one food that deserves to be called a superfood – it has to be eggs. Exceptionally nutritious, high in antioxidants and weight-loss friendly, eggs are also cheap, and can be an ideal accompaniment to almost any dish.
The Nutritional Value of an Egg
- Eggs contain 13 vitamins, including vitamins A, B2, B12 and D.
- Eggs and are one of only a few foods that contain vitamin D. The vitamin is critical for good bone health and immune function.
- A large egg provides 6 g of high-quality protein but only contains around 75 calories.
- Most of an egg’s nutrients, in the form of riboflavin and selenium, are found in the yolk.
- Eggs contain the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. These are believed to be responsible for maintaining good eye condition.
- Eggs provide all nine ‘essential’ amino acids in exactly the right proportions need to maintain optimal health.
- Eggs are one of only a few foods that contain choline. The essential nutrient can protect against heart and liver disease.
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