Andrea Giancoli

You’re not alone. The controversy comes from the fact that eggs contain very high levels of dietary cholesterol (over 200 milligrams per egg). Current dietary guidelines state you shouldn’t eat more than 300 milligrams daily -- yet eating just one egg leaves you close to the daily limit, while two launch you over.

The good news is we now understand that dietary cholesterol (the kind you get from food) doesn’t raise blood cholesterol the way we once thought it does.

While there aren’t any official guidelines for how many eggs you can eat, consuming one or two a couple of times per week is generally okay -- as long as the rest of your diet is sensible. However, if you have high cholesterol, diabetes or heart disease, you should ask your doctor about eating eggs, since you may be affected by dietary cholesterol.

The bottom line: Eggs pack a powerful nutrition punch.

One large egg only contains about 70 calories. (Smaller varieties contain even fewer calories.) Eggs are also a good source of protein, zinc and vitamins A, B and D. They’re loaded with luteins and zeaxanthins, which help prevent macular degeneration -- a serious age-related eye disorder that causes blindness. Plus, a breakfast that includes eggs keeps you feeling full longer. So for most people, eating eggs is OK.

 

Andrea Giancoli has a master's in public health and is a registered dietitian in Hermosa Beach, Calif. She is also a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.

 

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Health - Are Eggs Good or Bad for You?