Keto Means
Photo by Angela Khebou Pexels Logo Photo: Angela Khebou

Are 3 eggs a day too much?

Three eggs a day is perfectly fine to eat, but it is important to look at the rest of the diet. If your background diet is high in saturated fat this can affect the degree to which blood cholesterol is increased when more dietary cholesterol is eaten.

When does autophagy start?
When does autophagy start?

between 24 to 48 hours Studies involving animals suggest that autophagy may begin between 24 to 48 hours of fasting. Not enough research has been...

Read More »
Can I cheat on keto once a month?
Can I cheat on keto once a month?

The bottom line. You should avoid cheat meals and days on the keto diet. Consuming too many carbs can kick your body out of ketosis — and it takes...

Read More »

by Anne Myers-Wright RD/APD

Posted on Feb 8, 01:45 PM in Health and Well Being and Weight Concerns. No comments. When they coined the phrase, “good things come in small packages”, they definitely must have been thinking about eggs. When it comes to nutritional value, eggs are action-packed with good quality protein, vitamins, minerals and healthy omega -3 fats. Despite this, the health benefits and risks of eating eggs have been debated for many years. The elephant in the room has always been that a single large egg contains around 187mg of cholesterol.

The Cholesterol Issue

In the past, we were told to restrict the number of eggs we eat in a day, because people thought that foods high in cholesterol raised blood cholesterol, leading to heart disease. In fact, in most healthy people, eating more dietary cholesterol has little effect on blood cholesterol levels. Most cholesterol in the blood is actually made by the liver. The liver has a clever way of balancing how much cholesterol is in your blood by producing more or less depending on how much is coming from your food. Saturated and trans-fats in the diet have a bigger impact on blood cholesterol. An egg contains only about 1.5 g of saturated fat and no trans-fat at all.

How many eggs are safe?

The CSIRO in Australia (1), has shown that if eggs are eaten daily (2 eggs a day over 12 weeks) as part of a kilojoule controlled weight loss diet there are no negative effects on cholesterol levels. Similarly, a number of US studies (2) have shown that when 3 eggs a day are included in the diet there is even an improvement in blood cholesterol profiles because of the healthy omega 3 fat content. There have been some questions around egg intake for people with Type 2 Diabetes. A new study published in December last year (3) showed that for people with Type 2 Diabetes, including two eggs a day in the diet over twelve weeks had no negative impact on cholesterol levels. So it looks like at least 2-3 eggs per day is safe to eat.

What’s the catch?

Three eggs a day is perfectly fine to eat, but it is important to look at the rest of the diet. If your background diet is high in saturated fat this can affect the degree to which blood cholesterol is increased when more dietary cholesterol is eaten. The key here is, therefore, to make sure that your eggs are being eaten as part of a healthy diet that’s also low in saturated fat.

Summary

Eggs are a wonderful source of nutrition. Two to three eggs a day can be safely eaten as long as they are eaten as part of a healthy diet.

References:

1. Australians’ usual egg consumption. Analysis of the CSIRO Healthy Diet Score 2016. Prepared by: Gilly Hendrie, Danielle Baird, and Manny Noakes 2. DiMarco DM et al. 2017. Intake of up to 3 Eggs/Day Increases HDL Cholesterol and Plasma Choline While Plasma Trimethylamine-N-oxide is Unchanged in a Healthy Population .Lipids 3. Njike VY et al. 2016. Egg ingestion in adults with type 2 diabetes: effects on glycemic control, anthropometry, and diet quality-a randomized, controlled, crossover trial. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. Dec 22;4(1)

How much cardio do I need to lose belly fat?
How much cardio do I need to lose belly fat?

To shed that stubborn belly fat, you should work your way up to 30 to 60 minutes of moderate-intensity activity four to five times a week. That...

Read More »
Does cucumber burn belly fat?
Does cucumber burn belly fat?

Cucumbers are considered as extremely low-calorie foods made up of 96% water. 100 grams of cucumbers add up to just 45 calories. They are packed...

Read More »

How long can a fat person survive without eating?

Your body can meet the majority of your calorie requirements from stored fat, but total starvation is fatal in 8-12 weeks, regardless of initial body weight.

Asked by: Annie Martoni, by email

Within one or two days of your last meal, your body will have exhausted all the glycogen stored in the liver and muscles. Most of your energy requirements will be met by breaking down stored fat into ketones, but brain cells and red blood cells can't metabolise ketones, so their glucose requirements must be met by breaking down muscle. Even if you have lots of body fat left to burn, you can still starve to death if you don't have enough muscle because vital muscles like the heart will have been weakened to the point where they stop working. For this reason, doctors normally consider 40 to 50 per cent weight loss as life-threatening, regardless of your initial body weight. Total starvation is normally fatal in eight to 12 weeks. In less extreme cases, however, where you are still receiving some calories - particularly if these calories include a high proportion of protein - being fat will help you survive much longer, because your body will be able to meet the majority of your calorie requirements from stored fat. Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.

Is mayonnaise healthier than Miracle Whip?
Is mayonnaise healthier than Miracle Whip?

Which one is healthier? Although Miracle Whip is lower in fat and calories, mayonnaise is less highly refined and may be the healthier choice....

Read More »
Will wine kick me out of ketosis?
Will wine kick me out of ketosis?

Carbohydrates Contained in Alcoholic Beverages Many alcoholic beverages like beer, certain wines, and cocktails with mixers are loaded with...

Read More »
How do you clean old feces out of your colon?
How do you clean old feces out of your colon?

Blog Detox by drinking more water. The easiest way to detoxify your colon is to drink more water. ... Detox by dieting. Diuretic foods and herbs...

Read More »
Will drinking water reduce protein in urine?
Will drinking water reduce protein in urine?

Can drinking water reduce protein in urine? No, drinking more water won't treat proteinuria. Drinking more water will make you pee more, so there...

Read More »