There are several reasons why you might want to start eating eggs every day if you haven’t already. They can reduce inflammation, help you build muscle, and boost your immune system. A recent study also found that in addition to benefiting your body, eggs might also be what your brain craves thanks to the fact that they can improve cognitive function.
The study that was published in Nutritional Neuroscience involved 79 participants between the ages of 18 and 75 years. Tests were conducted with the participants that assessed cognitive function at different points during the trial.
The findings showed that while eating eggs, and, as a result, NWT-03 egg protein hydrolyzate, did not appear to help participants improve in regards to psychomotor vigilance testwas associated with better performance during the anti-cue reaction time test.
“This is a very exciting study because it delves into the beneficial chemical makeup of eggs and how egg protein hydrolyzate, which results from the breakdown of egg protein, can benefit health.” Kiran Campbell, RDHe says Eat this, not that! “It points out that the hydrolyzed NWT-03 component has the ability to enhance cognitive function within the executive function domain. The executive function domain is responsible for self-regulation, creativity, attention span, reasoning, memory work, inhibitory control and mental health, flexibility, among other brain functions”.
“However, while the findings are positive and promising, it is difficult to say whether the benefits come strictly from the egg protein itself, as eggs have other components that have been shown to be beneficial for brain health and cognitive function.” says Campbell. “This is specifically within the yolk. For years, we used to think that consuming too many whole eggs, including the yolk, which is high in dietary cholesterol, was bad for your health. However, over the past decade or more, we now know that blood cholesterol level has little to do with dietary cholesterol intake.”
“Egg yolk also contains valuable health-promoting phytonutrients such as hill, lutein and zeaxanthin. These nutrients may also be associated with improved cognitive function based on several studies,” adds Campbell.
At the same time, Campbell says, “While the research is promising, the focus still needs to be on an overall pattern of healthy eating that includes everything the body and brain need to function at optimal capacity. This includes a diet consisting of on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein, while limit added sugarsand saturated and trans fats.
“How often you fuel your body is also very important when it comes to cognitive function,” explains Campbell. “If you don’t give your brain what it needs to function, you’ll feel sluggish, unable to focus, and have a hard time concentrating on everyday tasks. By following a consistent daily eating pattern, which is typically breakfast, lunch, dinner, and maybe a snack or two, you can keep your body and brain from depleting the nutrients it needs and prevent adverse events.”
Desiree O
Desirée O is a freelance writer covering lifestyle, food and nutrition news, among other topics. Read more about Desiree
