吃个鸡蛋再上班有助保持清醒

Scientists have found that egg proteins, specifically those found in the white, help us stay awake and feel alert.

They are much more effective than carbohydrates found in the chocolates, biscuits and sweets often relied on for a quick energy boost.

Cambridge University researchers looked at how nutrients affect the brain cells that keeping us awake and burning calories.

A mixture similar to the protein content of egg whites activated these cells, triggering the release of the stimulant orexin.

Sugar, however, blocked the release of orexin.

Researcher Dr Denis Burdakov said: "Research suggests that if you have a choice between jam on toast, or egg whites on toast, go for the latter."

"Even though the two may contain the same number of calories, having a bit of protein will tell the body to burn more calories out of those consumed."

The findings were published in the journal Neuron.

The slogan "Go to work on an egg" was used in a 1960s advertising campaign by the Egg Marketing Board.

More recently researchers for the British Nutrition Foundation, part-funded by the poultry industry, concluded that the type of cholesterol found in eggs has minimal effect on raising the risk of heart disease.

Previous research has shown that, contrary to popular perception, it is healthy to go to work on an egg.据英国《每日邮报》11月17日报道，科学家发现，鸡蛋中特别是蛋清中所含的蛋白质能够帮助我们保持清醒、感到警觉。

它们比我们平时用来快速提升能量的巧克力、饼干和甜品中所含的碳水化合物更加有效。

剑桥大学的研究人员观察了营养物质是如何影响我们的脑细胞以使我们保持清醒和燃烧热量的。

一种与蛋清中所含的蛋白质相类似的混合物质激活了这些脑细胞，引发了使人兴奋的促食素大量释放。

糖类则会阻碍促食素的释放。

研究员丹尼斯•布尔达科夫说：“研究建议，如果让你选择用果酱或者蛋清涂抹在吐司上，请选后者吧。”

“虽然这两种食品包含一样多的热量，但是蛋清中多的那一点蛋白质能够促使身体燃烧掉比已消耗的还要更多的热量。

这一研究成果发表在《神经元》杂志上。

“吃个鸡蛋再上班”的口号是上世纪六十年代英国禽蛋销售委员会的销售广告攻势中所使用的宣传语。

最近，由家禽业提供部分资金支持的英国营养基金会研究人员得出结论，他们发现，鸡蛋中所含的这种类型的胆固醇对增加心脏病风险的影响最小。

此前的研究已经表明，与一般流行的看法相反，事实上吃个鸡蛋再去上班是一种非常健康的方式。