Figure out the dietary effects of cholesterol on eggs and how eggs can be included in your diet.
Many people like to eat eggs for breakfast. However, with the increasing number of people who need to watch their cholesterol, many people are worried about doing so because they don’t want to raise their cholesterol levels.
There are a number of things to consider when deciding whether to include eggs in your diet.
Effect on Egg Cholesterol #1:
First of all, according to the American Heart Association, “People with high LDL blood cholesterol levels or who are taking a blood cholesterol-lowering medication should eat less than 200 mg of cholesterol per day.” (1).
How does it affect cholesterol?
Since an egg contains 213 mg of cholesterol, those on a low cholesterol diet shouldn’t eat whole eggs due to the cholesterol eggs contain. However, this cholesterol is located in the yolk, so it is still possible to eat egg whites without getting any cholesterol eggs to contain.
Effect on Egg Cholesterol #2:
When it comes to those with normal cholesterol levels, eggs are fine to eat in moderation since they are low in saturated fat (containing only 2 grams) and cholesterol recommendations for these people are to stay under 300 mg per day.
How does it affect?
This means that if you eat the cholesterol eggs contain, you should limit other sources of cholesterol that day. In most people, saturated fat is what causes cholesterol levels to go up, so it is better to eat eggs, which are higher in dietary cholesterol than to eat beef (which has less cholesterol but way more saturated fat).
Effect on Egg Cholesterol #3:
Regardless of whether or not you have high cholesterol, there is research that shows that the cholesterol eggs contain might not be as bad for you as previously claimed. In a study by the University of Connecticut, “data indicate that most people’s bodies handle the cholesterol from eggs in a way that is least likely to harm the heart.” (2)
How does it affect cholesterol?
Not only there was an increase in the bad cholesterol eggs contain, but also good cholesterol. The bad cholesterol particles were also larger than average, which makes them less likely to harm people because they aren’t as likely to get through artery walls and add to the plaque that clogs them.
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References:
(1) “Common Misconceptions About Cholesterol”, http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3006030#Item_7, updated 04/04/08
(2) “Reevaluating Eggs’ Cholesterol Risks, Science News Web Edition, http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/7301/title/Reevaluating_Eggs_Cholesterol_Risks