Eggs: whites vs yolk

Lefriedline
Lefriedline Posts: 61 Member
edited September 24 in Food and Nutrition
Ok, so every morning I wake up and make my 2 soft boiled eggs. Then I enter it into myfitnesspal. Then I look and I am already 124mg over on my cholesterol goal. I know that most of the cholesterol is contained in the yolk--but also from what I read a lot of the nutrients are as well. Plus, I NEED the yolk. I can't stand just the taste of the whites.
Is this cholesterol in the yolk going to do anything too detrimental to my weight loss goal? I have never had the doctor say anything about my cholesterol so I'm not too worried about that aspect at the moment. Anyone have any info or suggestions? Thanks!

Replies

  • MassiveDelta
    MassiveDelta Posts: 3,271 Member
    Unless you are prone to high cholesterol or the rest of your diet is high. The amount you get from 2 eggs is not going to kill you. Eggs are filled with good nutrients. If you are really concerned Make your 2 eggs but remove the yolk from one of them. Better yet go in and have a cholesterol screening done and ask your Dr. if two eggs a day will kill you?

    :)
  • Lefriedline
    Lefriedline Posts: 61 Member
    Yeah the rest of my diet is not too high. It is just shocking to see that little cholesterol number in red all day before I've even started my day really! :) I think I will start removing the yolk from one just to make myself feel better!
    Thanks!!
  • grouch201
    grouch201 Posts: 404 Member
    Here's an article you may find interesting:

    http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=126

    From this article and other things I've read, eggs are one of the best sources of nutrients and protein out there, and all those nutrients (besides the protein) are in the yolk. I say eat the whole thing as long as you're cooking them well and not having 12 of them a day.
  • Buckeyt
    Buckeyt Posts: 473 Member
    The link between dietary and serum cholesterol is still not very well understood. Plenty of studies showing that egg consumption is raises your HDL level. That's the key factor if you really want to worry about cholesterol. Your overall number is practically meaningless.


    Tim
  • hpsnickers1
    hpsnickers1 Posts: 2,783 Member
    The cholesterol in eggs is the good kind. Upping your good cholesterol can lower your bad cholesterol. If I do an omelet or scrambled I will usually do one full and two white. I have eaten hard boiled egg whites. I have to salt them of just scarf them down.

    I think you're ok with 2 eggs. And when you remove the yolk you're only removing 2g of protein. There is more than that in the egg white.
  • I just watched on the early show that unless your cholesterol is high you should also eat the yolk because it is full of nutrients.
  • _Lisa_
    _Lisa_ Posts: 61
    Dr. Oz says (lol) unless you already have problems with cholesterol, egg yolks in moderation (not like 5 everyday) are very good for you.
  • BullDozier
    BullDozier Posts: 237 Member
    Yeah the rest of my diet is not too high. It is just shocking to see that little cholesterol number in red all day before I've even started my day really! :) I think I will start removing the yolk from one just to make myself feel better!
    Thanks!!
    I agree with what others are saying about the value of the yolk. I think you'd be better off having both yolks, and stop tracking colesterol on a daily basis. As others have pointed out, the link between colesterol consumption and colesterol levels is not conclusive.
  • Thank goodness for Crestor and Niaspan ... I do like my eggs a couple times a week.
  • wriglucy
    wriglucy Posts: 1,064 Member
    The cholesterol in eggs is the good kind. Upping your good cholesterol can lower your bad cholesterol. If I do an omelet or scrambled I will usually do one full and two white. I have eaten hard boiled egg whites. I have to salt them of just scarf them down.

    I think you're ok with 2 eggs. And when you remove the yolk you're only removing 2g of protein. There is more than that in the egg white.

    I'm not an expert...but I don't think the cholesterol in egg yolks is the good kind. I agree with massivedelta. Just cut out one of the yolks. And...like he said too....unless you're prone to high cholesterol because of family reasons, that isn't going to hurt you. Just like diabetes and high blood pressure. You cannot get them by eating too much sugar or salt, respectively. You get them...only if you eat too high amounts of them and are PRONE to them.

    I don't think the yolks will kill you if that's you max cholesterol for the day. Granted, I would maintain your regular check ups.
    Have you tried egg beaters? To me...plain egg whites are kind of ...blah. And if I dump the yolks on everyone, I feel like I'm wasting so much. Egg beaters, or the generic, taste good to me! The do tend to be a little higher in sodium, not excessive though...because that is an area that I have to watch.
    Good luck!
  • BullDozier
    BullDozier Posts: 237 Member
    If you're going to only eat half an egg, just eat the yolk:

    http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/Egg_Yolk.html
  • mamaDaisyJ
    mamaDaisyJ Posts: 395
    There are several types of cholesterol that make up the overall number.
    Recently, my doctor told me I needed to increase my good cholesterol (HDL) and that would, in turn, reduce my bad cholesterol (LDL). He also did make a point to tell me to continue eating my hard boiled eggs (whole), and this would help increase my good number....
    I don't know your situation or anything, but I figure if the doc says to eat the eggs to increase the good one, eggs can't be that bad.
    Regarding weight loss, compare the calories, as the amount of cholesterol intake doesn't seem to have an effect on weight. And the yolks are more calorie dense. Though weight can be a factor in high levels....
  • wriglucy
    wriglucy Posts: 1,064 Member
    I know the jury is still out on this...at least on here. But I've been trying to find some research, which is hard to find. But I did find this from webmd, that says that the yolks can add to high cholesterol.

    http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/tc/high-cholesterol-cause

    It doesn't say if it's the good or bad cholesterol, but I'm just assuming bad. May not be...I don't know. You can decide:)
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