How many eggs can I safely eat? - Harvard Health (2024)

FAQs

How many eggs can I safely eat? - Harvard Health? ›

While recent studies still don't offer a consistent answer, the average healthy person likely suffers no harm from eating up to seven eggs per week. In fact, eggs are a nutritious food. They are relatively low in calories and saturated fat, and rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals.

These foods are known to increase heart disease risk and should be eaten sparingly. Most healthy people can eat up to seven eggs a week without affecting their heart health.

For most healthy adults, it's safe to eat 1–2 eggs a day depending on how much other cholesterol is in your diet. If you already have high cholesterol or other risk factors for heart disease, it may be best to eat no more than 4–5 eggs per week.

And research has confirmed that eggs also contain many healthy nutrients: lutein and zeaxanthin, which are good for the eyes; choline, which is good for the brain and nerves; and various vitamins (A, B, and D). In fact, just one large egg contains 270 international units (IU) of vitamin A and 41 IU of vitamin D.

Most healthy adults can consume 4 eggs per day with no problems at all. How many eggs you consume depends on your size and daily caloric needs, but 4 eggs a day is not too many.

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.

There is no specific number of eggs that a person should eat as part of a healthy diet. There may be some health benefits to eating a certain number of eggs, but more research into how many eggs a person should eat per day is necessary.

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.

If you're trying to cut back on calories, choose poached or boiled eggs. These cooking methods don't add any extra fat calories, so the meal will be lower in calories than fried or scrambled eggs or an omelet.

Eating 10 or more eggs per day is also not recommended because a healthy diet should be varied and diverse. It should be made-up of different types of foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, other protein sources and dairy products.

What do cardiologist say about eating eggs? ›

“Eggs are fine, but limit the total amount to one per day, averaged over a week, without going into extreme excess in one day.” In this article, Dr. Natarajan shares more about the latest research on eggs and cholesterol and how to incorporate eggs into a heart-healthy diet.

About 60% of the calories in eggs are from fat—much of which is saturated fat. Eggs are also loaded with cholesterol—about 200 milligrams for an average-sized egg. That's more than double the amount in a Big Mac. Fat and cholesterol contribute to heart disease.

Eggs not Linked to Increased Triglycerides and LDL/HDL.

According to a 2020 review, eggs contain substances such as trimethylamine-N-oxide, omega-6 fatty acids, and arachidonic acid, which can promote inflammation. However, a 2019 study on adults found no connection between egg consumption and inflammatory biomarkers in the blood.

"I typically recommend eggs as a healthy fat and protein source as part of [clients'] meals," he said. "I will recommend three to five eggs, depending on their current caloric needs and activity levels. Some people may not need as many eggs if they're smaller or less active."

Summary. Eggs are a wonderful source of nutrition. Two to three eggs a day can be safely eaten as long as they are eaten as part of a healthy diet.

Can you eat more than 10 eggs a day? Consuming 10 eggs per day is not recommended. Eggs are very high in protein, which is a nutrient that can impair kidney function and increased the risk for kidney stones if overly consumed.

This means that eating one or two eggs per day is generally safe for most people but eating 12 eggs per day would exceed the recommended limit by far. Another potential risk of eating too many eggs is salmonella poisoning, which is caused by bacteria that can contaminate eggs.

The Heart Foundation currently sets no limit for healthy people when it comes to how many eggs you can eat per day. The key is enjoying them, as part of a healthy and balanced diet. That being said, there are some limitations to those who are more sensitive to consuming dietary cholesterol, as outlined below.