What does your cardiologist say about eggs?

[6miths]

As pointed out, we have had this discussion here before. A nice although somewhat long article in The Guardian summarizes things nicely. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/apr/07/the-sugar-conspiracy-robert-lustig-john-yudkin

I don't think it is safe to say that saturated fats are 'bad' for us when they are eaten in whole foods. Most highly processed foods probably are but especially those that were once corn, cane, beet or maybe even grain. And yes it is important to watch portion size but mounting evidence suggests that it is highly processed carbs that knock our ability to control our intake out of wack.

 

[Bamaman]

My wife and I only eat eggs used in baking, etc. We don't like'em.

As far as high cholesterol goes, that's a reason to have periodic blood tests. A good chemistry panel tells if you have a problem, and you can track it over time to see what direction your cholesterol is going.

 

[braumeister]

Pasture Raised: is a term used by regenerative farms and means hens are raised outside on pasture. This is what you see when you read about hens in their natural habit."

The type to look for, then, is "pasture-raised."

I'm another believer in the value of pasture raised eggs; that's all I buy. Well worth the extra cost IMHO. You get the right ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 acids.

Another criterion is that the label also means the hens have enough outdoor room to forage for those tasty bugs. Typically at least 100 square feet per bird.

 

[Irishgirlyc58]

Eggs are one of the healthiest foods there are.

I do recommend pastured eggs, if you can find them. Better than the generic grocery store variety. Less likely to cause allergic reactions (some people are allergic to components found in the egg whites), better treatment of the chickens, and natural chicken diet. Avoid "vegetarian-fed" eggs. Chickens aren't vegetarians. "Free range" sounds nice, but Big Ag has made it so the label is pretty meaningless. If the chickens are housed in a big warehouse the whole day, but they have a little door through which they can access a tiny area of grass, that's enough to qualify as "free range." "Cage free" is similarly meaningless.


p.s. I just got this in an email from my local rancher (from whom I get my pastured eggs). Thought I'd copy and paste here. He is clarifying what the labels mean:

"Free Range: according to the USDA only means the chicken is “allowed” access to the outside. They are still crammed inside buildings with a small door(s) that opens to a few feet of outside space. The sad truth is the hen does not know the door(s) exist because the chicken would have to know how to open the door(s). Many producers use deceptive pictures of hens foraging outside on their cartons.

Cage Free: simply means the hens are not in boxed cages. However, they are still confined inside very small and closed off buildings. They get no sunlight or access to the outdoors. They spend their day standing in their own filth.

Vegetarian Fed: well, the problem is chickens (like humans) are natural carnivores. It eats flesh to include bugs, insects, mice, etc. Hens are not vegetarians. This hen is raised on industrialized feed (probably GMO) and is never allowed outside.

Pasture Raised: is a term used by regenerative farms and means hens are raised outside on pasture. This is what you see when you read about hens in their natural habit."

The type to look for, then, is "pasture-raised."

My son was just telling me the other day that some states have laws against filming the chickens so they can continue to say free range or cage free when really what is happening is as you state here.

Thanks for the information on pasture raised. I will look for that.

 

[aja8888]

When we lived in Ca in the 1980's, we had two Rhode Island Red hens in out yard that liked to stay around my daughter's Quarter horse. Those two hens never went in the chicken coop I built but liked the hay barn instead during the day, and at night, being in the horse stall on the horse's back. Every morning, there were two to four eggs somewhere in the yard! Best eggs one ever ate!

One hen liked me and used be at my side when I was doing chores. The other, stayed away. Chickens do have personalities.

 

[jollystomper]

Nutritional "science" is upside down about so much. Maybe some day, the dieticians and medical profession as a whole will catch up. It'll probably be after we're all dead, though (alongside the millions they've already sent to an early grave with their advice), so it's best to do your own homework in this area.

You brought to mind a clip from one of my favorite movies as a kid, Sleeper:

 

[Toast]

+1 for only buying pasture raised eggs. Healthier and more humane. That is the only type we purchase. Typically, DH and I eat about 2 dozen eggs per week.

 

[Chuckanut]

My son was just telling me the other day that some states have laws against filming the chickens so they can continue to say free range or cage free when really what is happening is as you state here.

Thanks for the information on pasture raised. I will look for that.

It's important that the hens are allowed to express and live their physiological diversity.

 

[RetiredHappy]

Like walking through a tunnel of poison trying to find my "Big Biscuit Shredded Wheat". I've really learned to love those. I know my exact portion, and it has only one ingredient. Still a lot of carbs, so usually 1 biscuit per week (half serving) for me.

I checked out what is Big Biscuit Shredded Wheat, 20g for 1 biscuit for breakfast plus milk is really not too much carb.

My breakfast now runs closer to 20g to 25g carb in the morning and even 30g carb if I am heading out for a round of golf after breakfast.

 

[JoeWras]

I checked out what is Big Biscuit Shredded Wheat, 20g for 1 biscuit for breakfast plus milk is really not too much carb.

My breakfast now runs closer to 20g to 25g carb in the morning and even 30g carb if I am heading out for a round of golf after breakfast.

Yeah, it was only a lot when I was trying to be in ketosis. Now that I dropped a few pounds, I'm gonna go with 2 biscuits next breakfast.

It's funny how you find something you once hated and now love. During the pandemic shortages, we were forced to buy these since everything else was sold out. Now it is my favorite cereal. Very basic and simple with the most minimal of processing.

I mostly have egg days for breakfast, but I also like a little variety.

 

[RetiredHappy]

I nixed all oatmeal for years but when I went back to look at the labels, it is really not bad. I have never liked sweeteners in my oatmeal anyway and I had always gone with "plain" oatmeal although I do add milk in to cook it. I use Fairlife, where one cup has only 6 gm carbs, half of regular brand milk.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I agree with ER Eddie. I eat everything in moderation. Drug company are making a fortune trying to push everyone that’s older on statins which I wouldn’t touch with a 10 ft pole. Now it appears that they are constant lowering the BP thresholds to put more people on those. It’s been shown that people naturally have higher BP as they age. I have been on BP medication for 18 years like most of my mom’s side of the family where diet and exercise doesn’t make a bit of a difference.

 

[Dash man]

I agree with ER Eddie. I eat everything in moderation. Drug company are making a fortune trying to push everyone that’s older on statins which I wouldn’t touch with a 10 ft pole. Now it appears that they are constant lowering the BP thresholds to put more people on those. It’s been shown that people naturally have higher BP as they age. I have been on BP medication for 18 years like most of my mom’s side of the family where diet and exercise doesn’t make a bit of a difference.

Without my BP meds my BP would be near stroke territory. I’m on a statin not because of high cholesterol, but because of a high cardiac calcium score of 1,036. You might reconsider statins if you had my health history.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I might Dash man. I just think that statins are very over prescribed but some people need them. My BP was in stroke range at age 50 despite being thin and exercising daily. But doctors are being pushed to over prescribe them also.

 

[euro]

6 eggs/wk? Sometimes I have 6 eggs/day.

Same here! Eggs are a perfect food.

 

[euro]

Without my BP meds my BP would be near stroke territory. I’m on a statin not because of high cholesterol, but because of a high cardiac calcium score of 1,036. You might reconsider statins if you had my health history.

Very, very true! Yes, statins are overprescribed but they do have a solid,, lifesaving place for many people.
Incidentally, all statins are now generic, so the primary pharma companies don't make THAT much profit on them. True, not much direct expenses either, except, unfortunately, marketing (congress never should have made prescription drug TV ads legal back in the 90-ies, but that's a discussion for another thread).

 

[BackcountryMe]

I have spoken to three cardiologists and each one told me something different. Since my cholestrol is only borderline high and I don't need medication one told me to cut eggs out, another said no more than six per week, another said they really don't know so eat them in moderation.

You will not get high cholesterol from eating eggs. It doesn't work that way.

That said, you should buy high quality eggs. Don't shop on price. Find pasture raised organic. They are very good for you!

 

[Joggernot]

I nixed all oatmeal for years but when I went back to look at the labels, it is really not bad. I have never liked sweeteners in my oatmeal anyway and I had always gone with "plain" oatmeal although I do add milk in to cook it. I use Fairlife, where one cup has only 6 gm carbs, half of regular brand milk.

Our oatmeal consists of instant oatmeal with a scoop of vanilla flavored protein powder added after it's cooked. Gives a sweeter taste without the sugar. Milk helps too, but water is fine for me.

 

[d]

granny says

i live by my very old grandmother's advice: everything in moderation, including moderation itself.

 

[mijoy]

What they say today is different from they said yesterday and different from what they'll say tomorrow.

Eat and be merry!

 

[Koolau]

I've had 3 cardiologists and none has mentioned eggs. They've all been "statin" pushers - and I have to admit my numbers are amazing following statin use. Also, each of the 3 has had different opinions about what is acceptable heart rate, BP (either systolic or diastolic), weight, exercise, supplements, etc. IOW no one really knows but they all have their own opinions about just about everything - except eggs! YMMV