If you like eating eggs, then I’ve got good news for you!
The myth that eating eggs increases cholesterol levels has been busted!
According to a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Surrey and published in the Nutritional Bulletin of the British Heart Foundation, eating eggs has virtually no effect on cholesterol levels. In other words, eating eggs does not raise your cholesterol level.
The researchers reviewed several different studies on eggs and nutrition and concluded that eggs did not contribute to the body’s cholesterol levels. Although eggs are a high cholesterol food, the researchers note that only one-third of the body’s cholesterol comes from your diet.
Bruce Griffin, one of the researchers, had this to say:
“The ingrained misconception linking egg consumption to high blood cholesterol and heart disease must be corrected. The amount of saturated fat in our diet exerts an effect on blood cholesterol that is several times greater than the relatively small amounts of dietary cholesterol.”
“The UK public does not need to be limiting the number of eggs they eat,” Griffin said. “Indeed, they can be encouraged to include them in a healthy diet, as they are one of nature’s most nutritionally dense foods.”
Victoria Taylor of the British Health Foundation had this to say:
“We recommend that eggs can be eaten as part of a balanced diet. There is cholesterol present in eggs, but this does not usually make a great contribution to your level of blood cholesterol. If you need to reduce your cholesterol level, it is more important that you cut down on the amount of saturated fat in your diet from foods like fatty meat, full fat dairy products, and cakes, biscuits and pastries.”
So there you have it. Eggs are a healthy and nutrient dense food that DO NOT raise your cholesterol, so enjoy them regularly and don’t feel so guilty the next time you eat them!
Have a great day!
Dr. Chris Frykman
Sources for this story include: news.bbc.co.uk.