An Egg a Day Maybe Fine For You After all, a New Study Says

A new study concludes that eating one egg a day may not significantly increase your cholesterol levels or risk of heart disease. Based on three large studies involving nearly 178,000 people found that eating one egg a day did not increase risk for cardiovascular disease or death, even among those with a history of heart disease or diabetes. 

Eggs and Cholesterol — How Many Eggs Can You Safely Eat?

In fact, a whole egg contains all the nutrients needed to turn a single cell into an entire chicken. However, eggs have gotten a bad reputation because the yolks are high in cholesterol. But cholesterol isn’t that simple. The more of it you eat, the less your body produces. For this reason, eating a few eggs won’t cause a high rise in cholesterol levels.

Health experts now say that eating foods high in saturated fat can cause the liver to produce too much cholesterol. Despite their cholesterol component, eggs are low in saturated fats and are generally considered nutritious. An egg — which has about 78 calories — is considered a good source of protein, vitamin D, and choline. The cholesterol-rich yolk also contains substances that help the eyes: lutein and zeaxanthin, which stave off cataracts and macular degeneration. The American Heart Association now recommends one egg a day (or two egg whites) as part of a healthy diet.

Content source: Oxford Academic: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, January 21