As of: March 27, 2024, 2:12 p.m
By: Andreas Beez
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Professor Hans Hauner is one of Germany's most renowned nutritionists.
© TU Munich
No more than one egg per week: The new recommendation from nutrition specialists is causing an Easter egg dispute.
A top Munich doctor disagrees.
Surname |
Professor Dr. Hans Hauner |
Old |
68 years |
Expertise |
Internist, specializing in endocrinology and diabetology |
position |
Head of the Else Kröner-Fresenius Center for Nutritional Medicine with locations at the Rechts der Isar University Hospital and the Weihenstephan Science Center |
Scientific successes |
Several awards, including the German Obesity Society Research Prize |
Awards and commitment |
Member of the Leopoldina, which is the National Academy of Sciences. It includes 189 Nobel Prize winners. Among other things, she advises the federal government. |
How many Easter eggs can we eat with a clear conscience?
© O. Diez/Imagebroker/Imago
According to the German Nutrition Society (DGE), we should eat a maximum of one egg per week in the future.
But in the opinion of the renowned Munich nutritionist Professor Hans Hauner, this advice belongs in the organic bin.
“I am unhappy about the new recommendation,” says Hauner in an interview with Münchner Merkur and tz.
“Eggs are a valuable food and an integral part of our eating culture in Central Europe.”
This is the background to the Easter egg dispute
The background to the Easter egg dispute: This month the DGE published its updated nutritional recommendations.
The main point here is that, according to the findings of numerous studies, a predominantly plant-based diet is significantly healthier than a diet containing many animal products, especially sausages and red meat.
As a result, the expert panel gives the rule of thumb that you should not eat more than 300 grams of red meat from beef, pork or lamb and no more than one egg per week.
Experts are hotly debating the one-egg rule
Since then, experts have been discussing the one-egg rule - especially before Easter.
“Should we tell our patients that they have to choose whether they eat their only Easter egg on Easter Sunday or Easter Monday?
Such nonsense,” says a Munich doctor indignantly in an interview with our editorial team.
Professor Hauner also emphasizes: “Now over the Easter holidays you can eat a few Easter eggs.” According to the top Munich scientist, you can treat yourself to up to three eggs a week with a clear conscience.
Low risk from high cholesterol content
But what is actually so harmful about eggs that they have to be rationed?
There is always a debate about cholesterol content.
High blood lipid levels are considered one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, such as vascular damage resulting in heart attacks and strokes.
Prof. Hauner also admits this: “The only small problem is the high cholesterol content of 200 to 250 milligrams per egg, which can slightly increase cholesterol levels and thus the risk of cardiovascular diseases if a large amount of eggs is consumed.” Nevertheless Eggs are a “valuable food,” says Hauner.
Many heart specialists also rate the danger posed by eggs as rather manageable - as long as you don't eat too many of them.
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German Society for Nutrition also takes ecological aspects into account
But the German Nutrition Society has taken not only health but also ecological aspects into account in its one-egg rule: “The portion specification of one egg per week is not based on a limit for health reasons, e.g.
B. cholesterol.
“It is an amount that is sufficient for nutrient intake and health, at the same time does not pollute the environment more than necessary and corresponds to the average consumption habits of the German population,” explains the DGE.
In the “Kölner Stadtanzeiger” the DEG expert and ecotrophologist Astrid Donalies is more specific: “In terms of CO₂ emissions and land use, animal products predominantly perform worse than plant products.”
Top Munich scientist Hauner: “Eggs from regional free-range farming are not an ecological problem”
Nutritionist Hauner counters this: “In my opinion, the ecological impact of egg consumption is low.
Eggs from regional products under reasonably reasonable conditions (free range) do not pose an ecological problem. I therefore find it difficult to understand this recommendation.”
Expert committee rows back with a view to the Easter holidays
At least with a view to Easter, the DGE is now backtracking a bit: “Even if the new food-related nutritional recommendations of the German Nutrition Society only eat one egg per week, e.g.
B. As breakfast eggs or fried eggs, several eggs can be eaten at Easter.
Eggs contain important nutrients such as biologically high-quality protein, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins A, D and B vitamins as well as minerals." And further: "If several eggs are occasionally consumed per week, this has no influence on the risk of cardiovascular diseases , as long as you eat an overall health-promoting diet.”
German Society for Nutrition: Eggs to your heart's content are not recommended
However, unlimited consumption of eggs is not recommended as part of a plant-based diet, the DGE continues.
“As animal foods, they can supplement the menu and be part of a health-promoting diet.”