National Nutrition Month

OTHELLO - There is a lot of buzz these days about eggs. Television and newspapers have reported the big news that "It's OK to eat eggs" for several weeks.

Columbia Basin Health Association registered nutritionists Cynthia Rosenow and Karlee Kerr are paying close attention during National Nutrition Month.

"The most recent set of nutrition guidelines in 2010 recommended consuming less than 300 milligrams per day of dietary cholesterol, which is about the amount in one egg," Rosenow said.

Because eggs are high in cholesterol, those guidelines suggested limiting the number consumed in a week to only two or three. Many limited their intake of eggs to just the whites.

All of that appears to be changing now.

The National Dietary Guidelines, which are under review, are expected to downplay the importance of lowering cholesterol intake. These guidelines will be used by the US Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services Department to write the final version of the guidelines by the end of this year.

"Many nutritionists now believe that cholesterol intake may not significantly impact cholesterol blood levels or increase the risk of heart disease in healthy adults," Rosenow said."

Rosenow said ongoing medical research is showing that the cholesterol in our bloodstream is more complicated than once thought and depends more on the kind of fat people eat.

Rosenow and Kerr continue to stress the importance of a balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables.

"We always recommend that our patients eat a variety of foods in moderation," Rosenow said. "We know that cholesterol in foods doesn't affect our blood cholesterol as much as saturated fat does. However, eggs do contain lower levels of saturated fats (1.6 grams per egg yolk) in comparison to other animal products.

"Eggs, in general, are good sources of vitamin A and B, iron and selenium (an antioxidant). In addition, they contain folate, which is a vitamin particularly important for pregnant women.

The general public may find all of this information a bit confusing and even contradictory at times.

"We are watching to see what actually makes it into the final guidelines," Rosenow said. "Just give us a call if you have questions. Karlee and I can be reached by calling CBHA at 509-488-5256."