Debunked myth: The eggs are not bad for the heart of diabetics

Eggs are not bad for the health of diabetics, in fact they are an important source of protein for our body: 12 eggs a week for a year do not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Eating up to 12 eggs a week for one year does not increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. This is what researchers at the University of Sydney have claimed, publishing their study in the journal American Journal of Clinical Nutrition entitled "Effect of a high-egg diet on cardiometabolic risk factors in people with type 2 diabetes: the Diabetes and Egg (DIABEGG) Study-randomized weight-loss and follow-up phase". What does this mean?

Eggs and diabetes, first test. It has always been said that you should not eat too many eggs a week because they are dangerous for our health, especially for the health of people with type 2 diabetes; in fact, this food would increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. To understand if this food myth was realistic, the Australian researchers asked two groups of participants to eat 12 eggs and less than 2 eggs a week for three months, while maintaining their normal diet. From the data collected, no differences emerged regarding markers indicating the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Eggs and diabetes, second test. In the second test, the same participants were asked to follow a specific weight loss diet for three months during which they ate the same amount of eggs as the previous months (so a group 12 a week and the other less than two per week). And so they then continued for the next six months, always obviously followed by the researchers. Also in this case, the collected data did not show significant differences among the participants. "Unlike what is normally recommended about egg consumption for people with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, our research indicates that people should not give up eggs if they are part of a healthy diet," explains Dr. Fuller, author of the study.

Healthy diet, the real secret. The real secret is in fact a healthy and balanced diet: in this case, in fact, the experts have replaced the saturated fats, such as butter, with other monounsaturated or polyunsaturated ones, such as avocado and olive oil.

Eggs and cholesterol. In short, eating eggs is not dangerous for our cholesterol levels, as well as for diabetic subjects, and since eggs are an important protein source, and they have benefits for heart and eye health, and help regulate carbohydrate intake and fat, and are good for pregnant women, they should not be excluded from our diet.