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combination of 50 grams beans with 50 grams of corn is better than 100 In a recent study, elderly subjects (more
grams of eggs but not quite as good as beef, as shown in Figure 16. than sixty years old) were assigned to one of
two dietary groups: one group ate three eggs per
PET FOODS day and the other ate the same amount in egg
It is interesting to note that pet foods for dogs and cats are carefully substitutes for a one-month period. The result
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formulated to include the right amounts of essential amino acids. My col- of this study was a significant increase in both
leagues in the College of Veterinary Medicine tell me that the coronary LDL and HDL cholesterol for those who ate eggs,
arteries of pet dogs and cats contain very little atherosclerosis. Unfortu- but the ratio between the two was not affected
nately, people do not have such a carefully formulated diet. significantly. In other words, if the LDL went up,
the HDL did too, thus counteracting the effect of
EggS the higher LDL. The study concluded that dietary
Although maligned in nutritional recommendations, eggs are the most cholesterol provided by eggs does not increase
nutritious and the least expensive protein source in the grocery store. At the risk for heart disease in an elderly population.
only 68 calories, one egg provides about 11 percent of your daily protein There have been a number of studies con-
requirement. Eggs contain a variety of important nutrients including every ducted looking at egg consumption and health
vitamin, mineral and natural antioxidant that your body needs. (Those risks. One at Harvard University included an
nutrients are enough to feed a growing chick so that it hatches healthy, but eight- to fourteen-year follow-up study of approx-
one egg is not enough for you to meet your daily requirement!) Studies imately thirty-eight thousand men and eighty
at many major universities in the U.S. and abroad attest to the egg as an thousand women. There was no statistically
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excellent source of protein. Many in the forefront of anti-aging research significant difference in risk for heart attacks
believe that moderate egg consumption of one per day should be an integral and strokes among people who ate eggs less than
part of a complete anti-aging diet. 8 once a week compared with those who ate more
Because eggs are high in natural cholesterol (210-220 mg of cholesterol than one egg a day. Other studies in a variety of
per egg), there has been a concern that eating an egg would raise one’s settings found no evidence that eating up to an
cholesterol level to unhealthy levels. Restricting egg consumption became egg per day led to heart attacks or strokes. 13,14 The
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a key component in many health-related diets; this is actually a misguided Framingham study has investigated the effect
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recommendation since this has not been shown to be the case. Eating of environmental factors and what people ate on
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an egg raises the total cholesterol score only 2-3 mg/dl in well balanced the development of coronary heart disease since
diets. In healthy young men and women, even two eggs a day had little 1949. No relationship between egg intake and
effect on total cholesterol levels. 11 coronary heart disease incidence was found.

FIGURE 11: The essential amino acids in chicken, FIGURE 12: Comparison of Dairy Products and Soymilk. 1
wheat bread and navy beans. 1

Chicken Navy Beans Wheat kernel American Cheese Cottage Cheese 2% milk Yogurt (skim milk)
Whole Milk Soy Milk (plain)

1. Histidine; 2. Isoleucine; 3. Leucine; 4. Lysine; 5. Methionine g Cystine; 6. Phenylalanine g Tyrosine; 7. Threonine; 8. Tryptophan; 9. Valine g/100g
40 Wise Traditions FALL 2011 FALL 2011 Wise Traditions

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