If you’ve been diagnosed with high cholesterol, you’ve probably been told to reduce your fat intake, especially watching your cholesterol. But, new research is showing that’s not the best way to lower the cholesterol in your body. In fact, exercise and eating more vegetables is much better; a solution at which the coaches at Custom Health Centers are the experts!

Cholesterol in Food Does NOT Equal Cholesterol in the Body

For years, they taught us that the cholesterol you eat directly turns into cholesterol in your arteries. 

Well, that’s not quite how it works. When you eat fats and cholesterol, they process in your digestive system, and the necessary components get absorbed to use throughout the body. 

The cholesterol in your body, what the doctor tests for, is produced by your liver and is independent of what you eat. Proteins (LDL) wrap around the cholesterol and take it where it needs to be, whether to repair tissue (reducing scars and cellulite), build hormones (estrogen, serotonin, etc.), keep the brain functioning healthily. Other proteins remove it (HDL).

When you start getting build-up in your arteries, it’s not cholesterol’s fault, but sugar’s. Eating too many sugars and having high triglycerides is a better indicator of whether you have a buildup of plaque in your arteries. So, your best bet is to reduce your sugars and eat healthy fats.

5 Reasons Eggs Are Nearly A Perfect Food

So, that leaves us with eggs. For years, they told us “don’t eat eggs because they contain high cholesterol.” And it’s partly true. Eggs do contain a lot of fats and cholesterol. But, as we’re finding out, these are all very healthy for us and support our bodies.

1. Most Vitamins & Minerals

Eggs contain a tremendously high amount of vitamins and minerals, wrapped up in the cholesterol-rich yolk. Vitamin A makes the yellow color of the yolk – the darker the yolk, the more vitamin A. For many people, eating two eggs per day can provide a third to half of all vitamins and minerals you need throughout the day.

Choose eggs that have been raised naturally, preferably from small, local farmers. Chickens that are allowed to run around, eat bugs and behave naturally contain healthier fats and more vitamins and minerals.

2. High in Protein

Eggs are an excellent source of protein, containing a near-perfect blend for our physiology. Eating one to two eggs per day can provide half of the necessary protein a person needs. That means you can spend the rest of your day concentrating on getting in the rest of the fruits and vegetables that make up a healthy diet.

3. Tastes Great

Most people think eggs taste fabulous. We’re designed to like foods that are very nutritious and eggs fit that perfectly. Eggs are extremely versatile, and you can add all sorts of herbs, spices, vegetables to them to increase nutrition and flavor.

4. Easy & Quick To Cook

Different from a lot of meat and vegetables, eggs are quick to cook, and there are many simple preparations. One pan-fried egg usually takes less than 5 minutes. You can boil several eggs for 20 minutes and keep them in the refrigerator for a quick hard-boiled egg snack.

Eggs are a great way to introduce kids into cooking because the results are nutritious and hard to mess up. Children find the speed of cooking works well for them.

5. No Sugar

Eggs have no carbs and no sugar. Many studies have found that people with diabetes to eat two eggs per day have better glycemic control and require less medication to control their diabetes. For people on low-carb diets, eggs are a nutritious staple.

Wrapping it up

Eggs are nutritious and provide many health benefits for you. Most studies show that eating one to two eggs per day increases people's health. Be sure to choose small, local farmers to get your eggs from, and he can make sure you're getting the best quality and the best taste.

February 09, 2021 — Dr. Jason Olafsson