Study backs benefits of an egg a day
Eating an egg a day is beneficial as part of a healthy balanced diet, a new nutritional study revealed today.
It is hoped the research may work towards dispelling the popular myth that cholesterol in food directly influences blood cholesterol.
Highlighting the independent nutritional review, Bord Bia has moved to encourage people to eat more eggs as they are nutritious, low in calories, easy to cook and value for money.
“Cholesterol is a key nutrient in people’s diets with many roles including cell formation and digestion,” Dr Sinead McCarthy, author of the nutritional review, said.
“Our review of scientific studies on eggs promotes the consumption of an egg a day provided it is part of a balanced healthy diet that is overall low in fat - with less than 11% of energy from saturated fat, high in fibre and high in fruit and vegetables.”
Bord Bia said Irish consumers are spending around €53m a year purchasing 248 million eggs.
Teresa Brophy, Ireland market manager with Bord Bia, said: “While the report highlights that there is scope to increase egg consumption among the younger age groups and women in particular, egg sales have been increasing in recent years with Irish shoppers spending 12% more on eggs in 2005.
“To support this upward trend, Bord Bia is undertaking a national promotional campaign coinciding with Easter to highlight the benefits of eating an egg a day and providing quick and easy meal ideas for eggs which go beyond the traditional breakfast fry.”
The Irish Heart Foundation has backed the ’An Egg a Day is OK’ national advertising campaign from Bord Bia. As part of the campaign, consumers are encouraged to look for the Quality Assurance Mark when buying eggs.
Edel Duffy, co-author of the nutritional review, said: “Along with their nutritional benefits of protein and iron, the study also highlights the fact that eggs can be considered a ‘functional food’ as they contain components that may have benefits that go beyond basic nutrition.
“This includes carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, which may help to protect against age-related eye diseases. The review also concludes that eggs will play a role in the functional food arena with the potential to incorporate essential nutrients into eggs so that higher consumption levels of these nutrients can be achieved in the general population.”
