“Don’t eat eggs daily, you’ll increase your cholesterol level.” We’ve always been told to limit our intake of eggs to lower our risk for high cholesterol. Heart disease is linked to high cholesterol levels and happens to be the number one cause of death for Americans. So to know that eggs are higher in cholesterol than most foods, it makes perfect sense to avoid them, right? Well, not exactly. There are two components of cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) which causes high cholesterol levels and high density lipoprotein (HDL) which is associated with healthy levels of cholesterol. You should aim to have low LDL levels and higher HDL levels for a good cholesterol reading. Research shows that a diet high in saturated fats increases blood cholesterol levels. Eggs have long been associated with high cholesterol because they contain a higher amount compared to other foods but research shows otherwise. Since 75% of blood cholesterol is produced by the liver, a diet lower in saturated and trans fats is much more effective in achieving a good cholesterol level than avoiding foods with a higher concentration of it. So on the contrary, do not steer clear of eggs. They are a great low calorie source of protein, vitamins B12 and E, riboflavin, folate and iron. Enjoy your eggs, just don’t slather them with saturated fats and trans fats opt for healthy monosaturated olive oil instead. For more information check out this article from the Harvard School of Public Health, they know what they’re talking about.
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