Are Eggs Healthy For Me?

September 30th, 2014

Eggs, or more specifically egg yolks, and their relation to cholesterol have been constantly debated in the scientific and nutrition worlds for over 20 years now.  The most recent studies show there is no added cardiovascular risk when eating eggs in moderation.  Current thinking is that eggs do contain cholesterol and some of it is in a form that could raise the LDL or “Bad” cholesterol.  However, for some unknown reason, we cannot absorb all the cholesterol in eggs when they pass through our digestive tract.  In fact, in a few studies, eggs were shown to raise the HDL “Good” cholesterol.

There are many essential vitamins and minerals (including vitamin D, B12, Folate) found in eggs that can actually protect against heart disease.  I definitely think eggs provide a rich source of nutrients in a form that is easy to digest.  At this time, I would recommend limiting the intake of egg yolks to no more than 2 in a day if you have no medical problems, and no more than 1 yolk per day if you have diabetes or high cholesterol.  Obviously if you eat eggs with bacon or cheese, the added cholesterol from those ingredients would negate the health benefits of the eggs.  Bottom line:  Enjoy your eggs in moderation!