Many have questioned whether people with cholesterol really should not eat eggs? The question arises because the high cholesterol content in eggs is believed to increase the risk of people with high cholesterol developing heart disease. To find out the facts, see the following explanation.
Eggs are indeed difficult to remove from the daily diet of Indonesian people. Apart from having a delicious taste, cheap price, and easy processing, eggs are also enriched with nutrients that are beneficial to health, such as protein, vitamin A, vitamin B, folate, vitamin D, minerals, such as iron, potassium, calcium, and zinc.
Although high in nutrition, eggs also contain high cholesterol. In one egg, there are about 185-200 mg of cholesterol. This is what makes some people reluctant to eat eggs for fear of getting high cholesterol.
Suffering from this condition will require the sufferer to comply with many things, including having to be careful in choosing food. Without a good diet, high cholesterol can increase the risk of serious complications such as cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease and stroke.
Can Cholesterol Sufferers Eat Eggs?
The answer is yes, as long as eggs are not consumed too much. Most of the cholesterol in eggs is contained in the yolk, while the cholesterol content in the white is relatively low.
However, because the cholesterol in eggs is considered dangerous, many people with high cholesterol are afraid to eat eggs. One reason is that the high cholesterol content in eggs is believed to increase the risk of heart disease, especially for people who already have high cholesterol.
In fact, however, this is not necessarily true. Cholesterol levels in the blood are not so influenced by the cholesterol obtained from the consumption of eggs alone. What actually affects blood cholesterol levels more is the habit of consuming saturated fat and trans fat, which are widely contained in the following foods:
- Fatty meat
- Cheese
- Butter
- Ice cream
- Chicken skin
- Innards
Some studies even explain that consuming no more than 4-5 eggs per week is still safe for people who have high cholesterol. If you are still worried, people with high cholesterol can eat only the whites of the eggs which are proven to be low in cholesterol.
Foods that are Good for High Cholesterol
Eating eggs is still relatively safe for people with high cholesterol. However, it would be better if the consumption of eggs is accompanied by a healthy diet and intake of other nutritious foods that can lower cholesterol levels in the blood, namely:
- Fruits, such as avocados, apples, grapes, oranges, and strawberries.
- Vegetables, such as spinach, mustard greens, cucumber, carrots, onions, and okra.
- Legumes, including soybeans, almonds, and peanuts.
- Grains, such as chia seeds andflaxseed.
- Foods that are high in omega-3s, such as fish, shellfish, and nuts and seeds.
- Dark chocolate or dark chocolate.
To determine what types of foods are good for you to consume to maintain cholesterol levels in your blood, you can consult a nutritionist. In addition to adopting a healthy diet, be sure to regularly check your cholesterol levels as recommended by your doctor.