Eating eggs or omelettes every day may harm heart health, researchers report.
Nutrition experts from the University of Massachusetts Lowell have tracked the diets, health and lifestyle habits of nearly 30,000 adults across the U.S. for as long as 31 years.
Accordingly, they found that the risk of heart disease and death increases with the number of eggs an individual consumes, due to the cholesterol.
This is a strong study because the modelling adjusted for factors such as the quality of the diet,said study co-author Katherine Tucker, a biomedical and nutritional sciences professor.
Even for people on healthy diets, the harmful effect of higher intake of eggs and cholesterol was consistent.
Specifically, the researchers found that each additional 300 milligrams of cholesterol consumed beyond a baseline of 300 milligrams per day was associated with a 17 per cent higher risk of cardiovascular disease and an 18 per cent higher risk of death.
Current U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans do not offer advice on the number of eggs individuals should eat each day.
But prior to 2015, it was recommended that individuals consume no more than 300 milligrams of cholesterol a day.
One large egg contains nearly 200 milligrams of cholesterol, roughly the same amount as an eight-ounce steak.
while other foods that contain high levels of cholesterol include processed meats, cheese and high-fat dairy products.
In light of the findings, Dr. Tucker insisted moderation is key.
Eating several eggs a week is reasonable,she stated, before noting that eggs contain nutrients beneficial to eye and bone health.
But I recommend people avoid eating three-egg omelettes every day. Nutrition is all about moderation and balance.