Eggs are among the most nutritious foods on the planet. The nutrients in a whole egg contain all the building blocks needed to turn a single fertilized cell into an entire baby chicken.

But what about all that cholesterol?

The yolks happen to be high in cholesterol and many people believe that their blood cholesterol will raise from eating too many egg yolks.

Mainstream nutrition professionals often recommend that we limit our egg consumption to 2-6 whole eggs per week. However, most of them say we can eat more eggs than that… as long as we make sure to throw away the yolks.

This is pretty much the worst thing you could do, because the yolks contain almost all the nutrients. The whites are mostly just protein.

Many studies have looked at whole egg consumption and blood cholesterol levels. In one study, 70% of people who ate eggs have no effect.

In the other 30%, egg yolks raise HDL (the good) cholesterol and turn the LDL particles into the large, fluffy kind which is not harmful.

In fact, many studies have looked at whole egg consumption and heart disease risk in healthy people and found no association between the two.

Additionally, let’s not forget that eggs have many amazing benefits.

They’re loaded with high quality protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, almost every nutrient your body needs.

They’re also very high in choline, a brain nutrient that 90% of people don’t get enough of. They contain Lutein and Zeaxanthin, powerful antioxidants that are highly protective for the eyes and lower the risk of several eye diseases.

Eggs are also among the most weight loss friendly foods you can eat.

This might come as a surprise but a study carried out by the Rochester Center for Obesity Research found that eating eggs for breakfast helps limit your calorie intake all day, by more than 400 calories. This is due to the increased feeling of fullness you get from eating whole eggs.

So how many egg yolks and whites should you eat? Well it depends on your goals. One large egg contains 70 calories so anywhere from 2-4 per meal will be sufficient.

Yours in health

Tarryn Thompson

Nutrition Coach

This blog was inspired by Kris Gunner from Authority Nutrition