<p>A new study conducted in China finds that eating an egg a day may lower risk of cardiovascular disease. </p><p>The study found that daily egg eaters had an 18 per cent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, reported CNN. </p><p>The research was published Monday in the journal Heart</p><p>Earlier doctors would warn patients against eating too many eggs, believing that despite containing high-quality protein and other positive nutritional components, they also have high amounts of cholesterol, which was thought might be harmful.rnHowever, according to co-author of the study, Canqing Yu, existing studies on the association between egg and cardiovascular diseases are controversial due to small sample size and limited information. </p><p>Past studies have provided only limited evidence from the Chinese population, "which have huge differences in dietary habits, lifestyle behaviors and diseases patterns," Yu said. </p><p>These are among the reasons why he and his colleagues decided to investigate the relationship between eating eggs and cardiovascular disease. </p><p>The study found slightly more than 13 per cent of adults, ranging in age from 30 to 79, said they ate about an egg a day while just over 9 per cent reported never or very rarely enjoying an egg. Nearly all the participants ate chicken, not duck, eggs, Yu noted. </p><p>Over nearly nine years, the research team tracked this select group. They focused on major coronary events during the study. </p><p>According to Yu, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of deaths in China, which accounted for half of the total mortality. </p><p>"Stroke, including hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, is the first cause of premature death, followed by ischemic heart disease," Yu added.rnDuring the study, researchers found that eating about an egg a day related to a lower risk of heart disease compared with not eating eggs. </p><p>Participants who ate up to one egg daily had a 26 per cent lower risk of hemorrhagic stroke, which is more common in China than in the United States or other high-income countries. Additionally, the egg eaters had a 28 per cent lower risk of dying from this type of stroke. </p><p>Finally, egg eaters also enjoyed a 12 per cent reduced risk of ischemic heart disease. </p><p>Based on the results, Yu said, eating eggs in moderation -- less than one a day -- is associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases, especially hemorrhagic stroke. </p><p>Story source /Journal reference: Heart </p><p>Note : Content may be edited for information purposes </p>