Good news for the omelet lovers among us: eggs may be finally vindicated from their historic association with high cholesterol. In a new study, researchers found that eggs actually aren’t the cholesterol-raising culprits they have long been thought to be. Rather, it’s the bacon or sausage that we tend to enjoy alongside that is at fault here.
In a world-first study, researchers examined the independent effects of dietary cholesterol and saturated fat on LDL cholesterol (the “bad” kind), finding that eating two eggs a day—as part of a high cholesterol but low saturated fat diet—can actually reduce LDL levels and lower the risk of heart disease.
Even though eggs are admittedly high in cholesterol, in separating the effects of cholesterol and saturated fat, researchers found that the high dietary cholesterol from eggs, when eaten as part of a low saturated fat diet, really doesn't raise bad cholesterol levels. So it turns out: saturated fat is the real problem here, and that exists in abundance in many breakfast meats.
So go crazy: whether scrambled, hardboiled, or sunny side up, go ahead and eat those eggs—guilt free. Just take it easy on the breakfast sausage.
Go Deeper: