When fat accumulates excessively on the walls of our arteries and in our blood, it is said that we suffer from high cholesterol. This condition has become a common problem today, triggered mainly by increased obesity and by eating an inadequate and unhealthy diet.
Reducing cholesterol to average values is very important since the high presence of lipids in the arteries can cause them to harden, increasing the risk of suffering from heart disease. Diet is the best ally to achieve this, but sometimes we have doubts about certain foods. Do you wonder if you can eat eggs if you have high cholesterol? In this FastlyHealarticle we answer it.
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Eggs: yes, but in moderation and intelligence
Eggs are very rich in quality proteins, also providing essential vitamins such as A, group B nutrients, vitamin D or E, and various minerals that make it a complete nutritional option. However, its yolk, which for many is the most delicious of this ingredient, contains a high percentage of fats that we must take into account to add this ingredient to the diet in a sensible way and with caution.
Eggs contain 213 mg of cholesterol per yolk, a high amount for such a little food; however, not all the cholesterol we eat in what we eat goes directly into our blood, and many of these lipids are eliminated. But how much fat a day can I eat if I suffer from this condition?
Amount of cholesterol to eat per day
Specialists recommend that any healthy person ingest less than 300 mg of cholesterol per day, so we must control saturated fat consumption very well to guarantee our well-being. But those who suffer from high lipids in the blood should reduce their intake: less than 200 mg a day is recommended, this means that you should not abuse the egg, but it is not the only thing you have to pay attention to.
All cardiologists and specialists agree that what hurts cholesterol are foods rich in saturated fat and that eggs are not the primary food to watch out for, although we do have to eat them in moderation. The recommendation is to always eat this food without the yolk since the white is entirely harmless and offers an excellent nutritional contribution.
If you can’t imagine your life without the yolk, you can eat an egg a day 2 or 3 times a week. The best way to eat it will always be in light preparations: scrambled eggs with little oil, omelets with little oil, boiled or poached eggs, etc.
An egg a day, is it crazy?
Some people do not imagine their breakfast without eggs, and eliminating this food from their diet costs them a lot; however, if you have high cholesterol, your goal is to lower it as soon as possible, and if you do not want to give up eggs you will have to learn to eat it wisely. Some considerations are:
- If you eat an egg a day, it is only 1; you cannot eat omelets made with several eggs, cakes, pastries, desserts that contain these ingredients, etc.
- To eat an egg a day, you will have to moderate the intake of other foods rich in saturated fat to compensate: forget about dairy products (at least those rich in fat), zero sausages, no junk food, and meat in little quantity and lean. If you don’t do it like this, there will be no way to lower your cholesterol.
- Do not consume them fried frequently, or you will be harming your health; you should opt for lighter preparations such as those mentioned above.
It is best to be moderate, eat the white frequently and consume eggs only a few times a week, always in modest quantities, that is only one unit.
Say goodbye to saturated fat.
Health professionals insist that, although it is essential to pay attention to foods such as eggs and not abuse them, other much more powerful enemies of high cholesterol can prevent it from falling, so we must remove them from our diet, no doubt. Some of them are:
- Fried foods of all kinds.
- The pastries, cookies, and sweets.
- Those high in saturated fat include chorizo, salami, sausages, butifarras, etc.
- Junk food: pizzas, hamburgers, and French fries, among others.
- The viscera.
- Seafood and very high-fat cuts of meat.
- Whole dairy.
It is best to minimize these ingredients in the diet, consuming them only occasionally and in low amounts. Don’t miss our article with five recipes to lower cholesterol and the best foods to increase good cholesterol if you want more dietary recommendations.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Can I eat eggs if I have high cholesterol? We recommend that you enter our category of Blood, heart and circulation .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.