News: Are egg yolks as bad as smoking?

If you reach for eggs as healthy breakfast choice, you might not like the results of a new study, which suggests eating egg yolks is as bad as smoking.

The study, published in the journal Atherosclerosis, has found that eating egg yolks contributes to build-up of plaque on artery walls, in much the same way smoking does.

The research showed that plaque buildup increases linearly with age after age 40, but increases exponentially for egg eaters and smokers.

‘What we have shown is that with aging, plaque builds up gradually in the arteries of Canadians, and egg yolks make it build up faster – about two-thirds as much as smoking,’ David Spence, a professor of Neurology at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and the director of its Stroke Prevention and Atherosclerosis Research Centre at the Robarts Research Institute, said in a press release. ‘In the long haul, egg yolks are not okay for most Canadians.’

Earlier studies take different sides of the egg debate. A 2008 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition linked egg consumption to cardiovascular disease and increased risk of mortality, while a 2011 study from Harvard showed that consumption of up to seven eggs per week can be part of a healthy diet (except for those with diabetes).

With so many conflicting studies, it’s hard to say what the healthiest choice is, but learning about the different types of eggs can help you make an informed decision.

What do you think? Does all the uncertainty surrounding eggs make you change your egg-eating habits?

-Katharine Watts, Associate Web Editor

Related:
‘ How healthy are the eggs you’re eating?
‘ Eggs taking a beating
‘ Why are so many people eating vegan?