A dumpty a day won’t drown you in cholesterol.
People have worried for multiple decades about the cholesterol content of eggs, scrambled, hard-boiled, or otherwise. The yolk of a standard large egg contains around 200 milligrams of cholesterol. That probably sounds like a lot, and until a few years ago, it technically was; until 2015, federal nutritional guidelines did have a recommendation for a dietary cholesterol limit, of which one egg would take up about two-thirds. But contrary to what those numbers may imply, the cholesterol content of eggs isn’t that scary, and there’s science to back that assertion up.
Based on a new study conducted on 178,000 people, consuming a single egg a day has no noticeable effect on one’s cardiovascular health, even in those with preexisting heart conditions. See, the majority of the cholesterol in your body comes from your liver, not from outside sources. When you eat foods that are high in saturated fats, your liver starts pumping out more cholesterol, and that’s when you might have a problem. Eggs, however, are quite low in saturated fat, so the cholesterol that they bring to the table on their own is negligible.
There’s no reason to be afraid of eggs. In fact, in moderation, eggs are great for you. They’re chock full of protein, vitamin D, and choline, which can help you build strong muscles, sturdy bones, and a healthy brain, respectively. Newer studies have also pegged eggs as a good source of lutein and zeaxanthin, which are good for your eyes. An egg a day is a perfectly acceptable part of a balanced diet. Just, y’know, keep it to one egg. Don’t take the Eggscellent Challenge.
