Do You Eat Eggs Every Day? Experts Explain What It Means for Cholesterol

Eggs have spent years under suspicion because one large egg contains about 200 milligrams of cholesterol, almost all of it in the yolk. But current understanding is less alarming for most people.

According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, dietary cholesterol usually has less effect on total and LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol than the amount and type of fat people eat. Research also suggests that eating up to one egg a day is not associated with a higher risk of heart disease among healthy people.

The American Heart Association says healthy adults can include one whole egg each day as part of a balanced diet. Eggs provide protein, vitamins and minerals, along with choline, which supports normal brain and nervous-system function. They also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants associated with eye health.

What accompanies the egg may matter more than the egg itself. Eggs served with vegetables and whole-grain bread are not the same as a breakfast with bacon, sausages, large amounts of cheese or butter. Foods high in saturated fat can have a greater effect on LDL cholesterol than the egg alone.

People with elevated LDL cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes or other risk factors should be more cautious and adjust their egg intake according to their diet and their doctor’s recommendations. For most healthy people, however, there is no automatic reason to remove eggs from the daily diet solely because they contain cholesterol.