"But wait, I thought that…"

The title of today’s post is something I hear all too often. A response that was usually preceded by something I said like “eggs are a great food, yes even the yolk” or “a handful of mixed nuts makes for a great snack.” The truth is, 5 or 10 years from now I may be saying the opposite. Why? RESEARCH. Something that I want nothing to do with, but am glad that there are people out there who do it. By research I’m talking about studies, methods, analysis, etc. Like I said, I have zero desire to delve in it, mostly I suppose because I’m not patient enough… or it could be that I just don’t like math. Either way, there are those out there who do it for a living and I thank them.

How about the “egg controversy” anyways… first, eggs were ok to eat. Then, only the whites were ok to eat because the yolks contain cholesterol. Well, RESEARCH now shows that the bigger contributor to our cholesterol levels comes from saturated fats (those found in animal meats, coconuts, cheeses, etc.). As a matter of fact, of the dietary cholesterol that we consume, our bodies only actually abosrb about half of it. This isnt to say that we shouldnt restrict our cholesterol intake, because although saturated fat seems to be a bigger culprit, it still has an affect (or is it effect… I can never remember that one). To be exact, aim to consume 300 mg or less of the stuff each day and you’ll be kosher. One recent study suggested that the whole egg controversy may have originated from the fact that eggs are often eaten with other foods that are high in saturated fat such as sausage, bacon, and butter.  FUN FACT… cholesterol only comes from foods with an animal origin. Another reason to eat more fruits and veggies!

As for the “mixed nuts make a great snack” thing, it’s a bit simpler. Nuts are a great source of monounsaturated fats (the ones that are good for the ticker), protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals. Problem is that because they are such a great source of healthy fats, they contain a bunch of calories. Gram for gram, in terms of calories, saturated fat and monounsaturated fat are equal… both tipping the scale at a hefty 9 calories per gram. That’s opposed to carbohydrates and proteins who ring in at a mere 4 calories per gram. Take home message? Enjoy them… in small amounts (think a small handful). FUN FACT… walnuts contain more omega 3 fatty acids as well as more antioxidants than any other nut. Ah what the heck, one more FUN FACT and then I’ll let you get back to acting like you’re being productive at work…. Need to get you daily dose of selenium for the day?… eat 1 Brazil nut and your there.

Til next time….