Strong Anti Egg Letter, by physician, in Washington Times

October 11, 2000

The Washington Times

October 10, 2000, Tuesday, Final Edition

LETTERS; Pg. A14

Breaking the egg revival

Much like a bad penny, supposedly " The egg is back " (Food, Oct. 4).

However, as a prevention-oriented physician, I assure you that eggs even

without the extra, hidden ingredients of salmonella enteritis and other

food-borne illnesses cannot be part of a healthy diet.

One factor confusing matters is a study, published in the Journal of the

American Medical Association in April 1999, suggesting a daily egg would not

increase many people's risk of heart disease or stroke. The egg industry

trumpeted the study with an ecstatic public relations flurry. Little wonder,

since annual U.S. egg consumption per capita hit a recorded low of 233 in

1991, down from 402 in 1945, though upticking slightly to 245 in 1999.

However, the egg industry and news coverage misconstrued the significance of

the study, which tracked individuals on a typical American meat- and

dairy-centered diet. On such a diet, eating an egg a day, or not, probably

won't make much health difference. For that matter, eating a tablespoon of

lard once in a while probably wouldn't make much difference.

Does that exonerate lard or eggs? On the contrary, Dr. Frank Hu, the Harvard

epidemiologist who led the study, emphasized the necessity of avoiding fatty

foods in favor of grains, fruits and vegetables. The study mainly

demonstrated that the typical American diet is so unhealthy that tossing in

an egg here and there may make as much difference as throwing a match into a

burning building.

The truth is, eggs are high in cholesterol and fat, with no dietary fiber.

Eggs are an artery-clogging cholesterol bomb, packing 215 milligrams per

large egg plus 5 grams of fat, much of it saturated. Ideal cholesterol

intake, zero, is easily achieved on a vegan diet, free of eggs and other

animal products.

What is really incredible about eggs is how cynical agribusiness interests,

and some misguided cookbook authors, continue promoting them, much to the

detriment of public health.

RICHARD F. GARTNER, M.D.

Haiku, Hawaii

Recommended Posts