In the news

Hooray for eggs!

            The nutritional value of eggs is considerable. Besides being an excellent source of complete protein (that which contains all nine of the amino acids that the body cannot manufacture) eggs are rich  sources of vitamins, minerals and eye-healthy lutein and zeaxanthin.

Eggs have been maligned for decades in the (false) belief that their cholesterol content leads to heart attack and stroke. Your dietary intake of cholesterol  — within limits – has no effect on your blood cholesterol because of a feedback mechanism in the liver which reduces its production of cholesterol when dietary cholesterol increases. Eggs do not raise blood cholesterol but EGG HELPERS do.

An international study has confirmed these facts. Asians who usually eat their eggs boiled, poached, scrambled, in an omelette or sunny side up with no extras had lower rates of cardiovascular disease even though their per capita egg consumption is higher than Americans’. The latter, who usually accompany their butter-fried eggs with ham, bacon, sausage or hash browns had higher rates of cardiovascular disease. Frying also converts cholesterol to cholesterol oxidation products, which are associated with arterial plaque formation.

Having said that, I admit that our traditional Sunday brunch for more than sixty years has consisted of bacon and eggs. On other days when we eat eggs for breakfast they are soft-boiled, scrambled or in an omelette – no other saturated fat-containing stuff. In fact, probably the healthiest egg dish that you can enjoy is a veggie omelette made with frozen chopped vegetables. And  instead of using butter we add a tablespoon of olive oil to the eggs before pouring them over the formerly frozen veggies in a non-stick pan. And yes, the olive oil is a healthy bonus.

(Sigh!) Timing is everything. As I write this the price of eggs has skyrocketed because chicken flocks are being destroyed because of the presence of avian flu in nearly every state. We now pay about $6.00 a dozen – some stores are charging as much as $15.00!

Be reassured that avian influenza, the dreaded bird flu, has not affected humans in the U.S. The only reported case is a chicken handler who was asymptomatic but was tested because the avian influenza virus was found in his flock.

Lifestyle

            Sister André, a French nun, recently passed away at the age of 118. She experienced an asymptomatic COVID infection one year ago. At the age of 108 she finally stopped working, saying that “working …makes you live…” Sister André also admitted to enjoying a glass of wine and a little chocolate every day. That’s my kind of girl!