Nutritionists Safe: Eggs and Cholesterol – Why You Can Bite into Your Breakfast Egg Without Worry
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Montag, 15.04.2024, 12:55
Eggs raise cholesterol levels – a common myth that confuses many people. Uwe Knop is of the opinion: Concerns about the cholesterol content of eggs are unfounded and the DGE’s current nutritional recommendations should be questioned.
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Do eggs really increase blood cholesterol?
“Health apostles” who are concerned about public health repeatedly warn against the second or even the first breakfast egg because eggs provide a particularly high amount of cholesterol. This is associated with the risk that egg consumption will increase cholesterol levels to an unhealthy extent.
But that is and remains a myth: “This concern is unfounded. The cholesterol content of an individual food has little influence on the cholesterol level in the blood. “Essentially, cholesterol metabolism is genetically determined, i.e. inherited from the family,” confirmed the cardiovascular physician Prof. Dr. in April 2024. Ulrich Laufs from the Scientific Advisory Board of the German Heart Foundation.
About the expert Uwe Knop
Uwe Knop, born in 1972, is a qualified nutritionist, author, and speaker for lectures at professional associations, companies and at medical training courses. His book “Successfully lose weight and stay slim” was published by Springer-Verlag.
So no one needs to be afraid of eggs, even though the DGE recently recommended only one egg per week?
Correct – there is no scientific evidence that eating eggs causes or promotes disease. There is also no scientific answer to how eggs specifically affect cholesterol levels. What is certain is that the cholesterol level in the blood is primarily regulated by the liver not through the intestines and diet. The body only absorbs a third of cholesterol through food. Two thirds of the blood fat is produced by the liver itself. This is also why there is no scientifically proven “egg upper limit” that poses a health risk. In general, the DGE’s new recommendations are nothing more than mathematical calculation games with no practical relevance. No healthy person needs dietary rules.
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And what about other foods containing cholesterol?
They have long been considered unproblematic – even though cholesterol itself can increase the risk of calcified arteries and thus of stroke or heart attack if it accumulates in large quantities in the blood. That’s why the myth that eggs etc. are “bad for the heart” lasted for a very long time – but as early as 2015, American scientists made a 180° turn in their recommendations: Since then, they no longer consider cholesterol from food to be a health risk.
As a result, official US dietary advice no longer warns against foods and meals high in cholesterol – simply because there is “no significant connection between cholesterol in foods and blood cholesterol levels.” German heart researchers also see it that way. The topic has been “over and done with” for almost ten years.
Book recommendation (advertisement)
“Successfully lose weight and stay slim” by Uwe Knop
So eggs also fit into a healthy diet?
In any case. But only if you really like eating eggs and tolerate them well. In general, the following applies: the healthiest diet is always absolutely individual – and completely independent of individual foods. Because nobody needs eggs. It is therefore much more important to listen to your own body, to know and pay attention to hunger and satiety and, above all, your individual tolerance.
The best recommendation tailored to your individual needs is the most natural form of nutrition of all: intuitive eating. There are no bans, waivers or other “requirements” about what you can and should do. With intuitive eating, everyone is their own “nutrition coach” – and that is the optimal way. The basic credo is: There are as many healthy diets as there are people every person is different. Good to know: There is no evidence for any of the better eater hypes currently being bandied about, such as low-carb, vegan or paleo, as the “best diet in the world”.
This text comes from an expert from the FOCUS online EXPERTS Circle. Our experts have a high level of specialist knowledge in their subject area and are not part of the editorial team. Learn more.