Egg and cholesterol: the secret is the balance in intake

The egg is considered one of the wild foods for those who want to eat a lot of protein – whether to get in shape or have a healthier diet.

But according to a series of six studies published in the scientific journal Journal of the American Medical Association , this food may become a villain over time.

This is because in the egg yolk is found cholesterol, responsible for increasing the levels of fat in the blood. And the more cholesterol, the greater the chances of cardiovascular disease, stroke, heart failure and premature death.

But calm, this requires caution when interpreting, as it is an observational study that found a frequency between the egg and these diseases, but it is not able to determine if there is, in fact, a direct relationship.

In addition, according to the study’s lead author, Norrina B. Allen, in an interview with The New York Times, the effects of cholesterol can also vary from person to person, as they depend on metabolic and genetic factors.

Read more: Egg diet menu

Number of eggs and cardiovascular diseases

According to the study, the amount of eggs you eat will tell you how much chance you have of developing cardiovascular disease .

So come on, each egg has an average of 185 milligrams of cholesterol in its yolk, and through research it was observed that for every 300 milligrams more per day of cholesterol, the chances of cardiovascular disease increase by 17%.

The researchers also found that cholesterol increased the risk of premature death by 18%.

More eggs, less yolks

The idea of ​​the study is not that you stop eating eggs, as they contribute to the body, for example, with amino acids and minerals that are important for the body.

The research authors reinforce that it is possible to ingest them in a healthy way and that it does not increase the chances of cardiovascular diseases. Just have a balance in your diet.

For example, using eggs in salads, which because it is a food with a high amount of protein, can serve as a complement to the meal along with leaves and vegetables, which have less calories.

Read more: How to consume egg in the diet?

In addition, it is also worth remembering that consuming only egg whites is also an option to reduce the amount of cholesterol, since this part of the food has less fat.

But, remember, it is important to maintain a balanced diet.


Cholesterol is generally considered to be the villain of heart health, but it can also be an ally for the proper functioning of the human body, such as the production of hormones and vitamin D.

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