Are eggs really the heart health villains we think they are?
In the 1960s and 1970s, eggs gained a negative reputation, but it’s not necessarily the eggs that might make our Sunday breakfasts less healthy. Popular breakfast additions can clog our arteries much more than the eggs themselves. What products are they?
The role of cholesterol
Cholesterol is a lipid essential for building cell membranes and producing many hormones and vitamins. It is synthesized in the liver and delivered through food.
A high level of cholesterol in the diet is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, leading many people to avoid products high in cholesterol, like eggs. But are they the main culprit?
Cholesterol-rich products
To control cholesterol levels, we should pay attention to other products that often end up on our sandwiches:
Fatty meats. Bacon, lard, sausages, and pâtés are high in cholesterol and saturated fats, which significantly increase cholesterol levels in the blood.
Animal fats. Butter and cream, although tasty, provide significant amounts of cholesterol and saturated fats.
Yellow cheeses, especially rennet cheeses, cheese-like products, and processed cheeses, which are popular sandwich additions, can increase cholesterol intake.
Eggs not so bad?
One egg contains about 185 mg of cholesterol, mainly in the yolk. However, it is essential to understand the difference between cholesterol in the diet and that produced by the body in response to saturated fat intake.
Saturated fats affect cholesterol levels in the blood much more than dietary cholesterol alone.
This means that consuming eggs in combination with products high in saturated fats, such as bacon or buttery toast, can be particularly detrimental. Nevertheless, consuming eggs alone may not be as harmful as once thought.
The American Heart Association states that most people can consume one egg a day. Restrictions mainly apply to people with high cholesterol levels, diabetes, and those at risk of heart failure.
It’s essential to carefully control our diet and avoid combining cholesterol-rich products with those containing high levels of saturated fats. Although eggs contain cholesterol, consumed in moderation and as part of a balanced diet, they can be a safe component of meals.
