While it’s true that each egg yolk contains 200 mg of cholesterol, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to see your cholesterol levels spike if you eat eggs.
“Foods high in saturated fat have a bigger impact on your cholesterol,” says Nutritionist Sharon Richter, RD, “because your liver manufactures cholesterol from the saturated fat you eat, not from the cholesterol in your diet.”
Sharon Richter is a registered dietitian with a private nutrition practice in New York City.
References
American Heart Association. (2017). New federal guidelines may lift dietary cholesterol limits.
FoodData Central. (2019). Egg, Grade A, large, egg yolk. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
LeWine, H. (2022). How many eggs can I safely eat? Harvard Health Publishing.
Why trust our experts?
Written by:
Lauren Smith, MALauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.
Reviewed by:
Brian Clista, MDDr. Clista is a board-certified pediatrician who works in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a National Health Service Corporation Scholar in the inner city of Pittsburgh for 11 years.
