Egg yolk is one of the richest sources of dietary cholesterol, hence the fact that it has long been demonized.
Boiled, hard, fried… Everyone has their preferences but the egg remains an essential food on our plates. A good thing for health because the egg is a food that contains a lot of good nutrients. Starting with its high protein content (12.7 g/100 g). “Egg white albumin is considered the reference protein, that is to say the one which contains all the essential amino acids in optimal proportions” explains Nathalie Negro, dietitian-nutritionist, Manager of the Nutritional Center of the Thermes de Brides-les-Bains. With around 15g of protein in two eggs, this product rivals the consumption of a small minced steak.
The egg also provides all the B group vitamins essential for the proper functioning of our body. It also contains vitamin D which is useful for bone health and the proper functioning of our immune system. It is a source of minerals, “the most significant being phosphorus and calcium, very useful for the constitution of our bones, and iron” indicates the dietitian. It contains “good fats”, omega 3, 6 and 9 which are essential for the proper functioning of the brain, since they are part of the composition of cell membranes, and useful in combating the development of cardiovascular diseases. And it is low in calories.
With a contribution of 398 mg of cholesterol, egg yolk is one of the richest sources of dietary cholesterol, hence the fact that it has long been demonized. An American study published in the medical journal JAMA found a link between the consumption of foods high in cholesterol and the development of cardiovascular disease. This risk increased depending on the quantity consumed. But as a reminder, only 30% of cholesterol comes from food and 70% is made by the liver.
If it has long been recommended to limit yourself to consuming 2 to 4 eggs per week, today, scientists have revised their position. “In France, official recommendations set the consumption for healthy adults, children from 10 years old and seniors, who have an increased need for protein, at one egg per day, or 7 per week, in absence of particular pathologies” specifies our interlocutor. For people suffering from high cholesterol, diabetes or cardiovascular disease, caution recommends consuming 3 to 4 eggs per week. It’s already pretty good, those who love them agree!