Killer Question: Can you eat more than 2 eggs a day?

People have long believed that consuming foods high in cholesterol contributes to your body’s respective cholesterol levels and your risk for heart disease. Since a medium-sized egg contains 186mg of cholesterol, which is 62% of the recommended daily intake, it is not surprising then that eating 2 eggs a day has been rumoured to be the advised dietary limit for many years now.

The saying goes that egg whites contain much less cholesterol than egg yolks, so it is safe to eat the white, but don’t go more than 6-7 egg yolks a week. This is due to the misconception that the amount of cholesterol we consume is directionally proportionate to the total amount of cholesterol in our system, on top of what is produced by the liver every day.

Should we be concerned?

The truth is, we shouldn’t be so worried since the more cholesterol we consume through our diet, the less the liver produces in order to balance out the cholesterol levels in our body. Studies have shown that eating whole eggs and substituting them with egg substitutes result in very few differences in the total amount of cholesterol present in the body, especially if consumed moderately.

Eggs are not only high in cholesterol (the good type, in fact) but also packed with other nutrients such as antioxidants and proteins. Eggs also keep you full longer, which is ideal for people who are trying to lose weight. If you desire to keep yourself healthy, consuming 3 Omega-3 enriched eggs a day has been proven to be a good benchmark, but a little more shouldn’t hurt. To be sure, continue going to your doctor for regular check-ups as the effects may differ from person to person.

The bottom line

So, the question again is, can you eat more than 2 eggs a day? Yes, and feel free to eat the yolk as well. Egg yolks are full of vitamins that enable your body to grow and function well while protecting your body against heart disease (contrary to popular belief), and which egg whites unfortunately do not contain. Since the cholesterol found in egg yolks do not increase overall cholesterol levels in your body, you can safely indulge in the tastiest part of the egg.

Just remember that consuming eggs alone don’t make up the whole idea of keeping healthy. You’ll have to pair your diet with regular exercise in order to keep fit and stay away from heart disease!

Dione Chen

Photo: Getty Images

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