The moment you find out that you have high cholesterol, your first thought is that you have to give up eggs. Eggs have been linked to cholesterol for so long that we ignore the real culprits for high cholesterol levels. But before we move to which foods are worst for cholesterol, let’s take a look at eggs and see how egg yolks affect cholesterol levels.

Will Egg Yolks Raise  Cholesterol Level?

Egg yolks contain a very high amount of cholesterol which is why people were often advised to skip egg yolks if they had high cholesterol. In fact a single medium sized egg contains 186 mg of cholesterol which is almost the recommended upper limit for most people (200 mg). However, recent research shows that the cholesterol in egg yolks does not cause a significant increase in cholesterol in most individuals. Dietary cholesterol is broken down by our digestive systems which is why egg yolks have a minimal impact on blood cholesterol levels.

Are Eggs Good For Cholesterol And Heart Health?

Eggs are good for heart health as they contain several vitamins that lower cholesterol levels and reduce blood pressure. Eggs are a good source of 3 types of vitamin B which has been proven to improve heart health. Vitamin B 2, Vitamin B 12, and folate lower cholesterol levels, improve arterial elasticity, and reduce the risk of heart attacks.

What Foods Increase Cholesterol Levels?

While egg yolk increases cholesterol levels by an almost insignificant margin, there are several foods that can make your cholesterol levels shoot up. Foods high in saturated fat are the worst foods for cholesterol as saturated fats drastically raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. Trans fatty acids are also dangerous as they raise LDL cholesterol levels while simultaneously lowering HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Several research studies also showed that added sugars can increase cholesterol levels so it would be best to limit your intake of sugary foods and sweets.

Can My Lifestyle Affect My Cholesterol Levels?

A lack of physical activity increases LDL cholesterol and decreases HDL cholesterol levels. Exercise twice a day if possible to reduce your cholesterol levels and get healthy. This will also help you lose excess weight. Being overweight or obese has been linked to high cholesterol so if you are overweight, you will need to talk to your doctor about a weight loss plan to lower cholesterol.

You might be tempted to swap out your morning breakfast of eggs and chapatti for a bowl of “healthy” packaged breakfast cereal. This is a huge mistake! Most of these packaged breakfast cereals contain high amounts of saturated fats, trans fats, and plenty of added sugars – basically it’s cholesterol in a box! This is why it is very important to talk to your doctor before you start a new diet to lower cholesterol levels.

Share This Post