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Ahhh…..the incredible, edible egg. A food surrounded by so much misunderstanding and controversy.
One day it’s the worst possible food to eat and the next day it’s the best possible food to eat.
So what’s the deal with eggs? Should you include them in your diet or not?
Yes Eggs Are Part Of A Healthy Diet
For years eggs have topped the list of foods not to eat because they are loaded with cholesterol. In fact one medium sized egg contains approximately 200 mg of cholesterol. Some “health” related organizations have recommended that you should consume no more than 300 mg of cholesterol per day.
So if you eat one medium sized egg per day then you’ve just about had your cholesterol fill for the day. You then better stay away from any other meats, butter, cheese, shrimp, etc. because they all contain cholesterol.
Doesn’t make sense, does it?
The reason that cholesterol had been given such a bad rap is that it was believed to be linked to cardiovascular disease. The “assumption” for years was that the dietary intake of cholesterol from our food would increase the cholesterol levels in our blood, clog our arteries and lead to a heart attack.
This false thinking of cholesterol being “evil” has gone unchallenged for years!
In fact I’m willing to bet that me sharing with you that it’s ok for you to consume cholesterol makes you feel uncomfortable. That’s because this false belief of cholesterol being bad for you has been indoctrinated into the deepest parts of your psyche by your doctors and big Pharma (who by the way has made a MASSIVE amount of money on this misinformation about cholesterol).
Well folks, I’ve been saying it for years but this is not how cholesterol works in the body. Dietary consumption of cholesterol has only a modest impact on elevating cholesterol levels in the body and has little effect on the risk of cardiovascular disease (http://bit.ly/1SBfyHM ).
In fact a February 10, 2016 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that egg consumption or cholesterol consumption in general was not associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease.
On page 90 of a 572 page report the United States Department of Agriculture noted in their Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015-scientific-report/PDFs/Scientific-Report-of-the-2015-Dietary-Guidelines-Advisory-Committee.pdf ) that “Previously, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended that cholesterol intake be limited to no more than 300 mg/day. The 2015 DGAC will not bring forward this recommendation because available evidence shows no appreciable relationship between consumption of dietary cholesterol and serum cholesterol, consistent with the conclusions of the AHA/ACC report. Cholesterol is not a nutrient of concern for overconsumption.“
YES!! They have finally seen the light!
Let me be clear: Your body needs cholesterol to properly function!
In fact cholesterol is so important that your body makes its own cholesterol.
Cholesterol is a precursor to vitamin D and the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone, which play a role in reproductive health. Cholesterol is part of every cell membrane (the outer coating of your cells) and also helps your body to make bile which is a substance needed to properly digest fats.
So don’t be afraid of eggs or cholesterol.
In fact what research is finding is that low grade inflammation, generally caused by the consumption of processed carbohydrates and sugar, is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
So when selecting your morning breakfast pick the cholesterol rich egg over the processed cereal, toast, bagel, pancake, doughnut or muffin every time.
Your heart will thank you!
And if you should consume too much dietary cholesterol then your body will intelligently move the cholesterol to the right place via HDLs and LDLs in order to eliminate the excess via the bile. This is why having a healthy functioning digestive system is of the utmost importance.
Be sure to include eggs and other cholesterol rich foods into your diet if you desire good health. Just remember that you can have too much of a good thing so don’t go overboard. It’s all about a good healthy balance!
As always, I hope this information has served you and will take you one step closer to your desired health goals.
Did you like this information? If so, please be sure to let me know what you liked by sending me an email at DrKirk@PerformanceHealthandChiro.com or leave me a comment on Facebook. I would love to keep the conversation going.
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