The Reason Eggs Are Controversial (And Why You Should Eat Them)
Scientists may disagree about eggs, but most evidence is in favor of eating them
Trying to keep up with eggs’ nutritional reputation (they’re good for you, they’re bad for you, they’re good for you again) is whiplash-inducing.
The constant debate centers almost exclusively around the high cholesterol content found in egg yolks. One medium-sized yolk contains 186 mg of cholesterol — 62% of the recommended daily intake. The yolk also happens to be where most of an egg’s nutrients are located. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are found here, as are minerals like iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. Depending on the chicken’s feed, omega-3 fatty acids can also sometimes be found in the egg yolk.
Yes, eggs are high in cholesterol. That much is indisputable. What is frequently disputed is whether dietary cholesterol (the type of cholesterol found in food) affects blood cholesterol (specifically LDL levels, aka “bad” cholesterol). This is the point where research spirals.
In a 2019 study, Dr. Neal Barnard, the president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, reviewed 211 studies dating back from to 1950s up to the most recent data available, all of which looked at how eggs affect blood cholesterol…
