Eggs and Cholesterol
Do eggs raise cholesterol levels?
The relationship between eggs and cholesterol levels in the body is complex. In this article, learn how cholesterol works and how its relationship with egg consumption, which can help you eat a healthy diet.
What is cholesterol and is it harmful?
The liver naturally produces cholesterol, which is a fatty compound in every cell. The body needs cholesterol for several processes, as it is a structural molecule in cell membranes, and the body needs it to produce bile for digestion, vitamin D, and steroid hormones such as estrogen and testosterone.
The liver produces enough cholesterol to meet the body's needs. However, a person can also consume cholesterol in their diet. If someone consumes cholesterol-rich foods, the liver responds by slowing down the production of cholesterol.
This balances cholesterol levels and keeps them steady, which means that dietary sources of cholesterol, including eggs, usually have little effect on blood cholesterol.
The story behind cholesterol and its effects on human health is complex, in part because there are different types of this molecule that work differently in the body. These may lead to health or unhealthy effects when their levels change.
As part of the body's normal processes, molecules called lipoproteins combine with cholesterol to carry it into the blood. There are two types of cholesterol, depending on the type of lipoprotein attached to them. The bad LDL cholesterol and the good HDL cholesterol.
Are eggs unhealthy?
In the past, health care professionals advised people to limit the number of eggs or egg yolks they eat to no more than three per week.
The rationale behind this recommendation was that egg yolks are high in cholesterol.
Early researchers misunderstood the data and mistakenly concluded that dietary cholesterol directly contributes to raising blood cholesterol levels. The researchers later found that this was not true.
Now, in light of recent evidence, health experts are changing their attitudes toward eggs. In the 2015-2020 publication, the recommendation for people to limit their dietary cholesterol intake to less than 300 milligrams per day was overturned. A number of recent studies have confirmed that eating eggs as part of a healthy diet It does not increase the risk of heart disease.
A scientific study of 177,000 people in 50 countries. It did not find any significant associations between egg intake and cholesterol levels, death rates, or major cardiovascular disease. The study also found no significant link between the number of eggs a person ate and their cholesterol levels.
A 2019 study in the journal Circulation found that eating eggs was not associated with ischemic heart disease. Furthermore, the researchers found that replacing red and processed meat with fish, dairy, and eggs was associated with a 20% lower risk of ischemic heart disease.
The American Heart Association published a scientific advisory in 2020 that concluded that healthy people can safely eat a whole egg daily. They also approved two eggs per day for healthy seniors due to the comprehensive nutritional benefits of eggs.
People with certain genetic mutations that affect cholesterol levels may need to follow a low-cholesterol diet in order to maintain healthy levels.
In general, eating eggs is safe for most people. But as with all foods, people should eat eggs in moderation and as part of a balanced diet.
