18 January, 2012
Stay Alert – Eat an Egg
New research at Cambridge University in the UK has found that going to work on an egg may be sound advice: scientists
there have discovered that egg proteins help people stay awake and alert during the working day.
The study, published in the November 2011 issue of the journal Neuron, suggests that specialised cells in the brain are able to translate different diets into different patterns of activity
– and also measure dietary balance.
The research team focused on cells called orexin-hypocretin neurons that transmit signals for wakefulness and energy.
Too much glucose sugar suppresses orexin-hypocretin activity, causing after-meal sleepiness as experienced during the
“3pm slump”. Reduced orexin-hypocretin activity can also result in narcolepsy – a disorder marked by the sudden onset of
sleep – and has been linked to weight gain. Protein-rich meals on the other hand are more effective at promoting
wakefulness and arousal.
The Cambridge team found that protein components of the type found in egg whites stimulated the neurons much more than
other nutrients, the amino acids in the egg whites appearing to stop glucose from blocking the cells.
Senior study author, Dr Denis Burdakov, says further: "We found that activity in the orexin/hypocretin system is
regulated by macronutrient balance rather than simply by the caloric content of the diet, suggesting that the brain
contains not only energy-sensing cells, but also cells that can measure dietary balance."
British Egg Information Service nutritionist Dr Carrie Ruxton says: “This study provides yet more proof that eggs are a
superfood. As well as being rich in vitamins, minerals and protein, eggs make us feel fuller for longer after meals,
thus helping with weight control. This latest study confirms the benefits of the special proteins found in eggs. Another
good reason to go to work on an egg!"
ENDS