Eggs and Cholesterol – They’re Actually Good for You!

Eggs and cholesterol? Are egg yolks bad for you? Second question, when did people start eating one part of a food and throwing away the other?
The reality is that everyone wants to be fit and healthy.

The quest for fitness will make most try just about anything or disregard certain things including egg yolks. Let’s demystify eggs and figure out whether egg yolks are bad for you.

The Anatomy of Eggs

Eggs come from poultry, usually chicken, and they have valued sources of protein. Eggs contain two parts; the yolk and the egg white are the parts of an egg.

High-quality egg yolks appear bright orange in color and not yellow. Egg yolks contain vitamins K, A, E and D.

Egg yolks also contain sufficient levels of Omega-3 fats. Egg yolks contain more vitamin b12, folate, choline nutrient, zeaxanthin antioxidants and lutein antioxidants compared to the egg white. However, the egg whites have the most amount of protein compared to egg yolks. Egg yolks are also cholesterol-dense as well as rich in saturated fat.

Eggs and Cholesterol – is Bad for You?

As much as you have heard that egg yolks are bad for you; you must have also heard that cholesterol is not good for you.
One egg contains 210 milligrams of cholesterol, and for the longest time, the U.S Dietary Guidelines recommendation was not to exceed 300 milligrams of cholesterol daily This changed, with recent studies showing the benefits of cholesterol within the body.

The notion that cholesterol is bad started back in the 50s with research done by Dr. Ancel Keys. However, cholesterol has several health benefits to the body including the regulation of protein pathways helping with cell signaling.

The body is made up of trillions of cells, which need to interact with each other to perform various bodily functions. Cholesterol is also known to interact with intercellular protein and enable cell interactions to take place. For example, cholesterol helps in the formation of bile acids that play a crucial role in digestion.

The brain is said to contain 25% of the body’s cholesterol. Cholesterol plays a crucial function in forming connections between the neurons found in the brain. This, in turn, enables you to learn, think and create memories.

Lastly, when you eat cholesterol-dense foods, it does not translate to having high cholesterol within the body.

Summary: Have your Eggs and Eat the Yolk – Eggs are healthy and contain a matrix of nutrients

Eggs are easily one of the most nutrition-rich foods you could eat at any given time.

Of importance, is the number of eggs you eat daily as opposed to the cholesterol level. “Too much of anything is poisonous,” and the same applies to eggs.

Most nutrition plans recommend having eggs raw, but you can have your eggs in just about any manner you wish. However, to benefit most from its rich nutrients, it is recommended that you have your eggs lightly cooked.

The brain is said to contain 25% of the body’s cholesterol. Cholesterol plays a crucial function in forming connections between the neurons found in the brain. This, in turn, enables you to learn, think and create memories.

Lastly, when you eat cholesterol-dense foods, it does not translate to having high cholesterol within the body.

Bottomline:

Eggs and egg yolks, in particular, are not your enemy. They won’t raise your cholesterol level unless you take too much of them too often. So go on and happily have your eggs for breakfast to take full advantage of their nutrients. Have them with your meals whenever you want for a great boost of nutrients that are great for your brain! 

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