How Eating Eggs Really Affects Your Cholesterol
Over the years, eggs have been a no-go for people worried about spiking their cholesterol levels. But could this concern be a misunderstanding over how cholesterol is processed in the body?
Experts say that your body's overall cholesterol levels won't be drastically affected by a morning egg here or there. In fact, the more cholesterol you intake through your diet, the less your body will naturally release, according to Healthline.
It's a fact that eggs do naturally contain high amounts of cholesterol. In fact, a single egg contains over 60% of the recommended cholesterol daily intake, with the majority being from the egg yolk.
However, the cholesterol in eggs doesn't appear to effect our cholesterol in the same way as other foods, according to experts at the Mayo Clinic.
It is also important to note the difference between "good" cholesterol and "bad" cholesterol. The good news is, research has found that consuming eggs increases the body's "good" cholesterol, while there were no significant increases found in total or "bad" cholesterol.
How many eggs can you eat daily?
Studies have been conducted over the years on the health effects of different numbers of eggs consumed. Medical experts state that as many as seven eggs per week poses no harm — that's one a day for all you egg enthusiasts out there! However, those with type 2 diabetes may be at a higher risk for heart disease and should consider eating less eggs as a part of their regular diet (via Mayo Clinic).
The belief that this breakfast staple increases risk of heart disease may not even be directly related to the eggs themselves. Experts say it's the preparation of the eggs that's key. Adding too much butter, salt, or additional foods such as greasy breakfast meats are the real unhealthy culprits.
So the good news is, you don't necessarily have to automatically veto eggs from your breakfast menu. Most people can continue to enjoy eggs in moderation and reap some additional nutrition benefits. However, if you're concerned about your cholesterol intake, you can swap out eggs for egg whites or egg substitutes.