Eggceptionally fatty

| 3 June 2010
minute reading time

Are eggs really that high in cholesterol or are they actually a healthy food? The authors of an article published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology warn that the amount of cholesterol in one egg (a single large egg yolk contains approximately 275 milligrams) exceeds the maximum recommended daily amount. The amount is 200 milligrams for people at risk of cardiovascular disease but as the article says cutting down on cholesterol when you already have health problems might be too late. The researchers also found that people who consumed as much as one egg a day had doubled the risk of developing diabetes compared to people consuming less that one egg a week. If you think it doesn’t seem right, bear in mind that it normally takes 21 days for an embryo to turn into a chick inside an egg so the egg needs to be packed with all the nutrients for this energy demanding process!

Spence et al., 2010. Dietary cholesterol and egg yolks: not for patients at risk of vascular disease. Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 26 (9) e336-9.

About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.

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