LONDON: Researchers have long known that eggs are brimming with protein and essential amino acids and provide us with every vitamin we need, apart from vitamin C.
That’s because starting the day with a three-egg omelette could make people more charitable, according to new research into how diet affects behaviour.
Now, though, researchers at the Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition in The Netherlands have found that a compound found in eggs acts on brain chemicals, including serotonin, to make men and women donate twice as much to charity. The research found that high levels of tryptophan, or TRP, an essential amino acid, are found in eggs, fish and milk. It plays a key role in the production of serotonin, a brain chemical which is involved in mood and social behaviour, including co-operation and friendliness. Low levels have been associated with social isolation and aggression.
“For the first time, we investigated whether the administration of a compound contained in food such as fish, eggs, soy and milk, can promote charitable donating,’’ said the Dutch research team.
“Our study is the first demonstration that charitable donating can be enhanced by serotonin-related food supplements.’’
In the research, 32 men and women were put through a number of tests and examinations. Then, 16 were given a powder containing 0.8g of TRP, roughly the same amount as found in three eggs, and 16 were given a placebo powder.
