Stop demonizing eating of eggs – Health Director
Madam Florence Idrisah, the Dormaa Municipal Director of Health Services, has appealed to Ghanaians to stop “demonizing the consumption of eggs, ” due to its numerous nutritional value.
“For many decades, eggs have been unfairly demonized because of the cholesterol in them, they must be bad for the heart. Eggs are high in cholesterol, but eating eggs does not have adverse effect on cholesterol in the blood for the majority of people. They contain various other trace nutrients that are important for health”, she emphasized.
Madam Idrisah made the appeal during the Municipal commemoration of the 58th Independence Anniversary Parade at the Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu the First, Sports Stadium, which occasion was used to observe the “Municipal Egg Day”.
The Municipal Egg Day, which entered its second year this year, is an initiative by Mr. Gordon Asubonteng, the incumbent Municipal Chief Executive, to help promote the local consumption of eggs, and the patronage of poultry products in the Municipality, which is a very popular area for poultry farming.
Cooked eggs were given to members of the public who attended the parade ceremony, all in an effort to whip up public interest for the consumption of the product, and disabuse the minds of people from the negative propaganda surrounding the consumption of egg.
The Municipal Health Director enumerated several benefits derived from eating eggs, including raising the High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), which is good cholesterol, and preventing lower risk of heart disease, stroke and other health problems, and egg contains choline which helps in the building of cell membranes and has a role in producing signaling molecules in the brain, along with various other functions.
“In one study, two eggs per day for six weeks increased HDL levels by 10 per cent”, she said.
Madam Idrisah said eggs turned Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), from small, dense to large, which is linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, contains lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that have major benefits for eye health and omega-three enriched eggs, which help reduce blood triglycerides.
“Eggs are fairly high in quality animal protein and contain all the essential amino acids that human need. Many studies have looked at egg consumption and the risk of heart disease and found no association. However, some studies have found an increased risk in people with type two (2) diabetes”, she reiterated.
She said eggs also tend to make individuals eat fewer calories, and helps in the loss of weight, stressing they are also” cheap, easy to prepare, goes with almost any food and taste awesome”.
Source: GNA