New insights on eggs and cardiovascular wellness from a heart surgeon

The question of eggs for heart health, which has puzzled medical experts and consumers may finally have an answer. Despite years of warnings, one cardiovascular surgeon suggests eggs deserve a place in a heart-healthy diet in a social media message to his million+ followers.

Dr. Jeremy London, addressing more than one million social media followers and Fox News Digital, explained that eggs were unfairly criticized in past decades, particularly by the American Heart Association (AHA).

"Eggs took a really bad rap," London told Fox News Digital. "That whole narrative really softened" in 2015 because the data "didn't bear itself out."

London points to a fundamental shift in understanding how dietary cholesterol affects heart health. "Dietary cholesterol really doesn't impact our overall cholesterol as much as we think it does," he said.

The AHA has updated its position on eggs and heart health. In the new recommendations, healthy adults with normal cholesterol levels can consume one egg daily, while older adults with normal cholesterol levels can consume two eggs daily.

The nutritional benefits of eggs extend beyond protein content, according to London. "A regular egg has about five to six grams of protein," he said, adding that eggs are also "packed with minerals" and "micronutrients" including vitamin D, vitamin B12, selenium and choline.

London describes eggs as a "God-made product" and emphasizes their role as "an excellent source of protein." He notes that eggs have proven far from the health risk they were portrayed as "in the '70s and '80s."

When considering eggs for heart health, the type of eggs may matter. London believes there are potential benefits to consuming eggs from free-range chickens. "Just like 'we are what we eat,' everything we put in our mouths then is the building blocks for ourselves," he said. "The same is true for the chickens."

Often avoided by health-conscious consumers, the egg yolk actually contains significant nutritional value. "The majority of the dietary benefit actually comes from the yolk," London said. He combines whole eggs with additional egg whites to increase protein content while maintaining the benefits of the yolk.

However, London stresses the importance of considering individual dietary needs. "It's challenging to study a single food," he said, emphasizing that it's "really critical to understand the entire diet" of an individual.

London concludes that consuming eggs remains a personal choice, advising his followers to "Listen to your body, follow your biomarkers, and create a nutritional plan that is absolutely right for you."

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