Cholesterol: Should I eat the whole egg or just the whites?

d_Mode
d_Mode Posts: 880 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I've noticed when I eat an egg or two, I'm always over on my cholesterol for the day. Does it really matter?
My cholesterol is good, last check-up back in OCT, I was at 125.

Just curious...thoughts anyone?
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Replies

  • GettingMooreInShape
    GettingMooreInShape Posts: 80 Member
    You're fine so long as your blood cholesterol levels remain low.

    The nutrition community has found that eating high amounts of cholesterol-laden foods MAY have an impact on blood cholesterol levels in some individuals. However, most of the population experiences no change in blood cholesterol due to diet.
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
    Whole egg I say
  • mrsamanda86
    mrsamanda86 Posts: 869 Member
    As long as your levels are good, then eat the yolk for sure, it's the best part!
  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    The whole egg is delicious! :)
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Eat the whole thing! Starving kids in (insert country here) would love to have those yolks!
  • d_Mode
    d_Mode Posts: 880 Member
    Many thanks to all of you!
  • beastmode_kitty
    beastmode_kitty Posts: 845 Member
    Have the whole egg. They are now discovering that having egg yolks actually help with your good cholesterol. If you make scrambled eggs, try one whole egg and then some egg whites mixed in. I do that, and its super yummy :) minus the guilt.
  • rosemary98
    rosemary98 Posts: 632
    Have the whole egg. They are now discovering that having egg yolks actually help with your good cholesterol. If you make scrambled eggs, try one whole egg and then some egg whites mixed in. I do that, and its super yummy :) minus the guilt.

    yes, the egg yolk has gotten a bad name for no good reason. the yolk is where nearly all the protein is as well as vitamins and minerals. go for the whole egg!
  • ElizabethFuller
    ElizabethFuller Posts: 352 Member
    The yolk's the yummy part! Eat it all, they're very nutritious.
  • d_Mode
    d_Mode Posts: 880 Member
    Have the whole egg. They are now discovering that having egg yolks actually help with your good cholesterol. If you make scrambled eggs, try one whole egg and then some egg whites mixed in. I do that, and its super yummy :) minus the guilt.

    I do eat the eggs and the yolk, I just get freaked out because of the cholesterol macro in my diary. I may just take it off, I hate seeing it red. Plus, my cholesterol is good.

    I was at 975 back in October 2010. October 2013, I'm at 121 and no longer taking any meds.
  • Showcase_Brodown
    Showcase_Brodown Posts: 919 Member
    Have the whole egg. They are now discovering that having egg yolks actually help with your good cholesterol. If you make scrambled eggs, try one whole egg and then some egg whites mixed in. I do that, and its super yummy :) minus the guilt.

    I do eat the eggs and the yolk, I just get freaked out because of the cholesterol macro in my diary. I may just take it off, I hate seeing it red. Plus, my cholesterol is good.

    I was at 975 back in October 2010. October 2013, I'm at 121 and no longer taking any meds.

    The cholesterol you get from your diet will likely end up having very little or nothing to do with your serum cholesterol. Don't worry about dietary cholesterol. I say eat the whole egg.
  • d_Mode
    d_Mode Posts: 880 Member
    Thank you BigTallJay
  • Maxibris
    Maxibris Posts: 61 Member
    YES!

    The yolk is the healthy part: it's where all the proteins and vitamins are. There is some protein in the whites but it's actually about 90% water.
  • paleojoe
    paleojoe Posts: 442 Member
    http://www.incredibleegg.org/health-and-nutrition/egg-nutrients/nutrient-chart

    For some extra protein the white is fine... but for complete nutrition nothing beats the whole thing =)
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    You're fine so long as your blood cholesterol levels remain low.

    The nutrition community has found that eating high amounts of cholesterol-laden foods MAY have an impact on blood cholesterol levels in some individuals. However, most of the population experiences no change in blood cholesterol due to diet.

    This ^^ For most people, it's fine. For a few unlucky folks, it's not fine. As long as you are having your cholesterol checked regularly, you will know if it's a problem for you.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Have the whole egg. They are now discovering that having egg yolks actually help with your good cholesterol. If you make scrambled eggs, try one whole egg and then some egg whites mixed in. I do that, and its super yummy :) minus the guilt.

    I do eat the eggs and the yolk, I just get freaked out because of the cholesterol macro in my diary. I may just take it off, I hate seeing it red. Plus, my cholesterol is good.

    I was at 975 back in October 2010. October 2013, I'm at 121 and no longer taking any meds.

    975?? Wow, that is quite an impressive change. My hat is off to you, sir.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    If youre concerned take out the yolk from now until your new blood work and see if it has any effect. More than likely not, I'm very curious you are able to check your cholesterol after eating eggs how are you able to do that? Are there home testing kits now?

    oops see you meant you diary
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    If youre concerned take out the yolk from now until your new blood work and see if it has any effect. More than likely not, I'm very curious you are able to check your cholesterol after eating eggs how are you able to do that? Are there home testing kits now?

    There are. But you wouldn't eat an egg and immediately test like you might with a glocose monitor.
  • Akimajuktuq
    Akimajuktuq Posts: 3,037 Member
    1. Eat the whole egg.

    2. Start researching about cholesterol. What most people think is a load of over-simplified bs. Even though the myths of cholesterol have been thoroughly busted, the belief that cholesterol is "bad" just seems to persist against all odds. One of the reasons for this is the proliferation of processed foods on the market that have no cholesterol/saturated fat so they are labelled "heart healthy" when nothing could be further from the truth.

    3. If you want to test cholesterol get informed on exactly what kinds of tests to ask for. There are many kinds of cholesterol and total cholesterol is meaningless as a measure of health. LDL and HDL numbers alone also do not show the whole picture.

    4. Stop tracking cholesterol. There are more important things to track. If most of your cholesterol is coming from eggs and animals (pref. grass fed or wild), it's actually HEALTHY. I refuse to let MFP tell me that I am doing wrong when I am actually doing right. My health is all the proof that I need.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,265 Member
    Have the whole egg. They are now discovering that having egg yolks actually help with your good cholesterol. If you make scrambled eggs, try one whole egg and then some egg whites mixed in. I do that, and its super yummy :) minus the guilt.

    I do eat the eggs and the yolk, I just get freaked out because of the cholesterol macro in my diary. I may just take it off, I hate seeing it red. Plus, my cholesterol is good.

    I was at 975 back in October 2010. October 2013, I'm at 121 and no longer taking any meds.
    Total cholesterol of 121 is like toddler and children's numbers.
  • GadgetGuy2
    GadgetGuy2 Posts: 291 Member
    I do eat the eggs and the yolk, I just get freaked out because of the cholesterol macro in my diary. I may just take it off, I hate seeing it red. Plus, my cholesterol is good.

    I was at 975 back in October 2010. October 2013, I'm at 121 and no longer taking any meds.

    So, given your problem in the past that could lead to heart disease and stroke, the better question would be:

    How much cholesterol can I eat (i.e. what is moderation for me)?

    Watch your serum levels of "Cholesterol" (i.e. LDL, HDL, tri-glycerides). I quoted the word cholesterol to distinguish it as a general label of the fats that can be bad (LDL, tri-glycerides) and good (HDL).

    Moderation is a concept dieters need to understand better. Lots of people think you CAN'T have this or you MUST have that. Reality is a lot of foods can be nutritious, in moderation. Conversely, too much of a good thing can be bad (e.g. fatty foods).

    I also avoided the statin meds.....thru diet and exercise. As a strong general statement, the changes I made to my diet were portion size, not foods (though I eat a lot less junk now for a different reason other than weight loss).

    BTW....I eat eggs, but in moderation. Eggs, I like very much, but can not eat them if I choose. BACON.....OMG......BACON is my downfall. So, once a month (and a touch of bacon fat on my veggies, the help them go down).

    Moderation.....NOT Can I or Can't I.
  • just_Jennie1
    just_Jennie1 Posts: 1,233
    Eating a whole egg really has nothing to do with what your cholesterol numbers are.

    Your hormones dictate what your overall cholesterol levels are.
    Watch your serum levels of "Cholesterol" (i.e. LDL, HDL, tri-glycerides). I quoted the word cholesterol to distinguish it as a general label of the fats that can be bad (LDL, tri-glycerides) and good (HDL).

    Good point. LDL's and HDL's aren't your cholesterol. They are LIPOPROTEINS.

    Your body NEEDS cholesterol for it's normal functions. High cholesterol occurs when normal hormone production is failing. Fix the hormone levels and your cholesterol will come down.
  • Wetcoaster
    Wetcoaster Posts: 1,788 Member
    THey are talking about it here too

    http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=158651733
  • d_Mode
    d_Mode Posts: 880 Member
    Have the whole egg. They are now discovering that having egg yolks actually help with your good cholesterol. If you make scrambled eggs, try one whole egg and then some egg whites mixed in. I do that, and its super yummy :) minus the guilt.

    I do eat the eggs and the yolk, I just get freaked out because of the cholesterol macro in my diary. I may just take it off, I hate seeing it red. Plus, my cholesterol is good.

    I was at 975 back in October 2010. October 2013, I'm at 121 and no longer taking any meds.

    975?? Wow, that is quite an impressive change. My hat is off to you, sir.

    Major diet change and tons of bicycling! I've done over 1100 miles since mid-July!
  • d_Mode
    d_Mode Posts: 880 Member
    I do eat the eggs and the yolk, I just get freaked out because of the cholesterol macro in my diary. I may just take it off, I hate seeing it red. Plus, my cholesterol is good.

    I was at 975 back in October 2010. October 2013, I'm at 121 and no longer taking any meds.

    So, given your problem in the past that could lead to heart disease and stroke, the better question would be:

    How much cholesterol can I eat (i.e. what is moderation for me)?

    Watch your serum levels of "Cholesterol" (i.e. LDL, HDL, tri-glycerides). I quoted the word cholesterol to distinguish it as a general label of the fats that can be bad (LDL, tri-glycerides) and good (HDL).

    Moderation is a concept dieters need to understand better. Lots of people think you CAN'T have this or you MUST have that. Reality is a lot of foods can be nutritious, in moderation. Conversely, too much of a good thing can be bad (e.g. fatty foods).

    I also avoided the statin meds.....thru diet and exercise. As a strong general statement, the changes I made to my diet were portion size, not foods (though I eat a lot less junk now for a different reason other than weight loss).

    BTW....I eat eggs, but in moderation. Eggs, I like very much, but can not eat them if I choose. BACON.....OMG......BACON is my downfall. So, once a month (and a touch of bacon fat on my veggies, the help them go down).

    Moderation.....NOT Can I or Can't I.

    I like this...and am all about moderation now. Being diabetic I have learned to cut back on everything. I measure and weigh my food and use jogging and bicycling as my way of working out.

    My triglycerides back then were >4000...as of Oct I've brought them down to 181. My HDL was a bit low but my LDL was good.
  • conniemaxwell5
    conniemaxwell5 Posts: 943 Member
    Have the whole egg. They are now discovering that having egg yolks actually help with your good cholesterol. If you make scrambled eggs, try one whole egg and then some egg whites mixed in. I do that, and its super yummy :) minus the guilt.

    I do eat the eggs and the yolk, I just get freaked out because of the cholesterol macro in my diary. I may just take it off, I hate seeing it red. Plus, my cholesterol is good.

    I was at 975 back in October 2010. October 2013, I'm at 121 and no longer taking any meds.

    If you don't have a need to track your cholesterol intake, I would take it off. I did the same with sodium. I have low blood pressure and my doctor actually recommended increasing my sodium and I hated seeing it in the red as well so I took it off.
  • d_Mode
    d_Mode Posts: 880 Member
    Have the whole egg. They are now discovering that having egg yolks actually help with your good cholesterol. If you make scrambled eggs, try one whole egg and then some egg whites mixed in. I do that, and its super yummy :) minus the guilt.

    I do eat the eggs and the yolk, I just get freaked out because of the cholesterol macro in my diary. I may just take it off, I hate seeing it red. Plus, my cholesterol is good.

    I was at 975 back in October 2010. October 2013, I'm at 121 and no longer taking any meds.

    If you don't have a need to track your cholesterol intake, I would take it off. I did the same with sodium. I have low blood pressure and my doctor actually recommended increasing my sodium and I hated seeing it in the red as well so I took it off.

    Yeah, I probably will. Like you, I hate seeing my sodium too. I'm almost always over and neither my doctor or nutritionist have told me I need to be tracking them. I just thought I would on my own to get an idea of foods I should and shouldn't be eating. :)
  • Rocbola
    Rocbola Posts: 1,998 Member
    Skip the egg entirely.
  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    Skip the egg entirely.

    what a helpful response
  • Jenn_N_SC
    Jenn_N_SC Posts: 15 Member
    i had blood work done before i started eating better, and was given the option of changing my lifestyle or starting meds. i starting eating better, with a breakfast ritual of the whole egg. tests 6 months later showed that my bad cholesterol had dropped and my good cholesterol had increased which is a good thing. the only bad part about the yolk is it is higher in fat than the white. if your trying to do a extremely high protein/extremely low fat diet, skip the yolk.

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