Is It Healthy to Eat Eggs Every Day?
Eggs are a very popular food option. This popularity is based on many factors. Eggs are delicious, easy to make, and also contain a lot of nutrients. Despite all of these positives concerning eggs, there is a raging need to understand the limit as to the daily consumption of eggs. This article seeks to proffer a solution to this need as it answers the question “Is it healthy to eat eggs every day?
Overview of the Nutritional Contents of Eggs
Eggs are one of the most nutritious foods that we eat as humans. They contain a sizable amount of protein, antioxidants such as zeaxanthin and lutein, and also choline, which is important for proper cell development. However, despite all of these nutrients, many people are scared of eating eggs every day because of their cholesterol levels. While the egg white component of the egg contains protein and other nutrients, the egg yolk is largely a deposit of cholesterol. This is the reason why many people eat the egg white and leave out the yolk. However, there is a lot attached to cholesterol apart from its bad reputation.
Eggs and Cholesterol
Some studies have indeed concluded that high levels of cholesterol are bad for your heart and overall health. These studies, although with mixed and unclear evidence, showed that it increases the risk of heart diseases. However, cholesterol is equally needed in the body.
Cholesterol is a structural molecule that is needed for the healthy development of the cell membrane. It also assists in the development of hormones such as testosterone, cortisol, and estrogen. Due to this level of importance, the body, through the help of the liver, produces enough cholesterol for these activities.
So when you eat foods that produce cholesterol, the liver reduces the level of cholesterol produced. This helps to balance the cholesterol level in the body and ensures that it doesn’t get too high to cause a health issue. Regardless of this fact, it is still important that you regulate the amount of cholesterol-rich foods that you consume.
So How Many Eggs Can You Eat in a Day?
Given that eggs contain about 62% of the Recommended Daily Intake for cholesterol, many health professionals have suggested that the daily intake of eggs be limited to 1 – 3. This recommendation is gotten through a study where participants were divided into two groups, and the first group took between 1 and 3 eggs daily while the other group took egg substitutes.
At the end of the study, it was discovered that people that took eggs had the level of good cholesterol, HDL, increases while the level of the total or bad cholesterol LDL, and remained unchanged in most people (some people experienced a considerable increase). The amount of antioxidants in the body also increases considerably.
This means that it is safe and healthy for an average person to consume about 3 eggs in a day. This recommendation stands as long as the person doesn’t have an underlying health issue that increases the health risk posed by cholesterol.
In Conclusion
Eggs are rich in nutrients that are good for you and can be a moderately part of a heart-healthy diet at every stage of life.