Can I eat eggs if I have high cholesterol? (2024)

Can I eat eggs if I have high cholesterol? (1)

People with raised cholesterol often wonder if it’s OK to eat eggs, as egg yolk is rich in cholesterol. Generally speaking, as part of a healthy, balanced diet, it should be fine for most people, as the cholesterol in eggs does not have a significant effect on blood cholesterol.

It’s much more important to limit the amount of saturated fat you eat. Too much saturated fat can raise the cholesterol in your blood. So, most people can eat eggs as long as they are eaten as part of an overall healthy, balanced diet that is low in saturated fat.

If you have familial hypercholesterolaemia, you should limit your dietary cholesterol to 300mg a day, but it is probably better to aim for nearer 200 mg on average.

Find our more about about cholesterol-rich foods

Why eggs are good for you

For most people, eating eggs won’t have a significant effect on your blood cholesterol, and they’re good for you too.

  • They’re packed full of good stuff
    Eggs contain protein, energy, vitamins and minerals which are all good for your body– because they contain everything a chick needs to grow and develop before hatching. Some are fortified with omega 3s.
  • Eggs are fairly low in fat
    Egg yolks contain some fat, but the white hardly contains any. One average egg (58g) contains around 4.6g fat, which is about a teaspoon. Only a quarter of this is saturated fat, the type that raises cholesterol levels in the body.
  • Eggs are full of protein
    The protein in eggs is easy to digest and contains all the building blocks of the proteins your body needs to function.
  • Eggs contain vitamins that can be hard to eat enough of
    Eggs are a good source of vitamins and minerals including vitamin D and the B vitamins – riboflavin, vitamin B12 and folate. Many people don’t get enough of these vitamins in their diet.
  • Eggs are versatile
    You can turn them into quick and easy savoury meals or desserts, or serve them scrambled, poached or boiled with toast and juice for a healthy start to the day.
  • Eggs are a great food for young children
    They are easy to eat, convenient, inexpensive and come in small packages, perfect for small tummies. You can give eggs to children after they are six months old.
  • Eggs are safe to eat
    Thanks to accreditation schemes and better farming methods, salmonella in British Eggs has largely been wiped out. So, not only are they healthy to eat, they’re safe too.
  • Egg allergy is less common than you might think
    Only about 2.5% of infants (less than three out of every hundred) have an allergic reaction to eggs and about half of these grow out of it by the time they reach school age. Around 0.5% of adults have an egg allergy (one in every 200 people).
  • Can I eat eggs if I have high cholesterol? (2)Most eggs meet the British Lion Egg Standard
    Over 90% of the eggs produced in Britain qualify for the British Lion Egg Standard – a mark of quality, freshness and safety that was introduced to reduce salmonella. Eggs with the Lion Quality trademark stamp are marked with a code which shows how the hen that laid it was farmed (free range, organic, barn, caged etc) and allow you to trace the farm it came from.

Learn more about omega 3 fats

Can I eat eggs if I have high cholesterol? (2024)

FAQs

Can I eat eggs if I have high cholesterol? ›

Generally speaking, as part of a healthy, balanced diet, it should be fine for most people, as the cholesterol in eggs does not have a significant effect on blood cholesterol. It's much more important to limit the amount of saturated fat you eat. Too much saturated fat can raise the cholesterol in your blood.

How many eggs can I eat in a day if I have high cholesterol? ›

If you have high LDL cholesterol levels, overweight or obesity, a chronic disease like diabetes, or a family history of heart disease, it may be best to eat no more than 1 egg per day or 4–5 eggs per week. It can be hard to evaluate so many different risk factors on your own.

Did eggs raise cholesterol? ›

Answer From Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D. Chicken eggs are an affordable source of protein and other nutrients. They're also naturally high in cholesterol. But the cholesterol in eggs doesn't seem to raise cholesterol levels the way some other foods, such as those high in trans fats and saturated fats, do.

What are three best foods for lowering cholesterol? ›

Cholesterol-lowering foods
  • Oatmeal, oat bran and high-fiber foods. Foods high in soluble fiber help reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. ...
  • Fish and omega-3 fatty acids. ...
  • Walnuts, almonds and other nuts. ...
  • Olive oil. ...
  • Foods with added plant sterols and stanols.

What foods should you avoid if you have high cholesterol? ›

Foods high in (unhealthy) saturated fats include:
  • processed or deli-style meats (such as ham, bacon and salami)
  • deep fried fast foods.
  • processed foods (such as biscuits and pastries)
  • takeaway foods (such as hamburgers and pizza)
  • fat on meat and skin on chicken.
  • ghee, lard and copha.
  • coconut oil.

Should I stop eating eggs to lower cholesterol? ›

Generally speaking, as part of a healthy, balanced diet, it should be fine for most people, as the cholesterol in eggs does not have a significant effect on blood cholesterol. It's much more important to limit the amount of saturated fat you eat. Too much saturated fat can raise the cholesterol in your blood.

Are potatoes bad for cholesterol? ›

Potatoes are rich in soluble fibre, which can be consumed by high cholesterol patients without any confusion. Consuming potatoes not only maintains the cholesterol level, but the body also gets many health benefits. Consumption of potatoes in cholesterol is safe only if you consume it properly.

What can I drink to flush out my cholesterol? ›

Cholesterol is often high due to excessive saturated and trans fat consumption. There are certain drinks that can help maintain an ideal cholesterol level. Some of the best drinks for cholesterol management include green tea, pomegranate juice, citrus juice, soy milk, plant-based smoothies, and red wine.

What is the golden drink that lowers cholesterol? ›

Golden milk, also known as turmeric milk, is a common Indian drink that has recently been gaining popularity in western cultures due to many health claims. It's beautiful bright yellow color is a result of adding turmeric, along with spices such as cinnamon and ginger, to milk.

What are the six super foods that lower cholesterol? ›

  • Legumes. Share on Pinterest. ...
  • Avocados. Avocados are a rich source of monounsaturated fats and fiber, two nutrients that help lower LDL and raise HDL cholesterol. ...
  • Nuts. ...
  • Fatty fish. ...
  • Whole grains. ...
  • Fruits and berries. ...
  • Dark chocolate and cocoa. ...
  • Garlic.
Dec 19, 2023

Are bananas good for cholesterol? ›

The fiber and potassium in bananas can reduce the level of cholesterol and blood pressure. Banana is especially known as a good source of soluble fibre which will gives one a healthy body and good immune system. Grapes get into the bloodstream and carry all the bad cholesterol into the liver where it gets processed.

What are the 5 signs of high cholesterol? ›

You develop symptoms of heart disease, stroke, or atherosclerosis in other blood vessels, such as left-sided chest pain, pressure, or fullness; dizziness; unsteady gait; slurred speech; or pain in the lower legs. Any of these conditions may be linked to high cholesterol, and each requires medical help right away.

Is peanut butter good for cholesterol? ›

Due to its high amount of unsaturated fats, peanut butter may help reduce a person's LDL cholesterol levels. Having optimal LDL levels is linked with a lower risk of heart disease. A 2015 study found that people who had a high intake of nuts may have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality.

Is 3 eggs a day too much? ›

Eating one to three eggs per day can have several health benefits, but this varies from person to person. At this level of consumption, people can expect minimal changes in their cholesterol levels. It is unclear whether there is an upper limit on how many eggs a person can eat per day.

Is 6 eggs a day too much? ›

Six eggs a day is a hell of a lot, no matter how you cut it. An egg has 187 mg of cholesterol, and the recommended limit is 300 mg per day—or only 200 mg if you have diabetes or risk factors for heart disease. “You can definitely go with with one egg a day,” says Maxine Smith, R.D., L.D.

Is 12 eggs a week too much? ›

Results did not show any meaningful change in levels of HDL ("good" cholesterol) or LDL ("bad" cholesterol) between these two groups, suggesting that eating at least 12 fortified eggs each week did not have any negative effects on cholesterol levels.

How to reduce cholesterol in 7 days naturally? ›

A few changes in your diet can reduce cholesterol and improve your heart health:
  1. Reduce saturated fats. Saturated fats, found primarily in red meat and full-fat dairy products, raise your total cholesterol. ...
  2. Eliminate trans fats. ...
  3. Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. ...
  4. Increase soluble fiber. ...
  5. Add whey protein.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rueben Jacobs

Last Updated:

Views: 5664

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rueben Jacobs

Birthday: 1999-03-14

Address: 951 Caterina Walk, Schambergerside, CA 67667-0896

Phone: +6881806848632

Job: Internal Education Planner

Hobby: Candle making, Cabaret, Poi, Gambling, Rock climbing, Wood carving, Computer programming

Introduction: My name is Rueben Jacobs, I am a cooperative, beautiful, kind, comfortable, glamorous, open, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.