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Question:
If you are a healthy person in her sixties, what is a safe number of eggs one can eat each week?
Answer:
Eggs can be part of a healthy dietin moderation. Eggs have gotten a bad rap in the past because of their high cholesterolcontent. A single egg contains around 210mg of dietary cholesterol. The American Heart Association recommends consuming no more than 300mg/day of cholesterol.
The jury is still out on whether there is a direct link between dietary cholesterol, which is found in the foods we eat, and the blood cholesterol, which is made by our bodies.Many factors affect our blood cholesterol levels. These include family history, diet, age and whether we exercise or smoke. In terms of diet, there is some evidence that suggests our intake of saturated fatand trans fat has a greater influence on our blood cholesterol levels than the cholesterol we eat everyday.
Eggs are a good source of protein and contain more than a dozen vitamins and minerals. All the cholesterol and fat in an egg is found in the yolk. Egg whites contain slightly more protein than egg yolks. To get the most out of your egg allowance, it is easy to reduce the yolks in recipes. You can use two egg whites and one yolk to make your morning omelet, for example. It will also help to try and have vegetables and low fat cheese with your eggs rather than bacon or sausage.
So, enjoy eggs in your weekly diet, but like everything in life, moderation is key. If you are in general good health, seven eggs per week should be fine.
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