Recent Study Confirms Eggs Don’t Increase Risk of Stroke

Eating high cholesterol foods will not increase your blood cholesterol significantly. Despite the studies that say eggs are bad, and then the next week they say eggs are good, we have remained consistent in our message that eggs aren’t what is raising your cholesterol. A new study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, confirms that eggs don’t increase risk of stroke.

The study followed data on 1,950 men from Finland over 21 years, and found that the men who ate an average of six eggs a week weren’t at any higher risk of stroke than men who only ate an average of two. But wait we have been told eggs are bad. Why aren’t the men who ate more eggs at higher risk and why should we believe studies like this when others tell us to avoid cholesterol-laden foods?

The idea that cholesterol is bad and therefore eating cholesterol is bad is based on the premise that cholesterol blocks the arteries, and that leads to a stroke. That’s wrong. Cholesterol is actually an agent for repairing and rebuilding. You need it! What is actually happening is damage has been caused by inflammation, and the cholesterol is there to repair the artery. Want to learn more about the myth of cholesterol clogging arteries? Check out my article on that.

Cholesterol is actually a good thing and the body’s natural way of healing itself. People who are at risk for stroke will have higher cholesterol numbers but that is because the body is mounting a defense to help heal the body. Your cholesterol will go up to respond to many stresses in the body as it is also the building block for your steroid hormones.

Eggs Aren’t the Reason Your Cholesterol is High

Did you know that only 10-20% of the cholesterol in your body comes from diet and exercise? The rest of it is made by your liver. So, the foods you eat don’t control the amount of cholesterol in your blood. The liver does! Why does your liver make cholesterol if it’s so bad for you? That’s the important question! The bottom line is – it’s not bad for you. Your body needs it for nerve and brain function. In fact, every cell in your body is surrounded by a cell membrane made of cholesterol. That’s why your body makes it.

Your body makes 2,000- 3,000 milligrams of cholesterol a day. An egg has 187 milligrams of cholesterol, and a serving of shrimp has 189 milligrams of cholesterol. Those are small numbers compared to how much cholesterol your body makes. If your body makes the majority of cholesterol, what good would giving up all those yummy foods do? If they aren’t on your allergy list then eggs, shrimp and other whole foods that contain cholesterol have a lot of nutritional benefits.

Eggs Don’t Increase Risk of Stroke

Eggs aren’t bad! Don’t miss out on healthy foods because of the misconception that they cause high cholesterol. Those misconceptions were built because they didn’t look at how the body functions and what the purpose of cholesterol is. This recent study confirms what we have been saying- eggs don’t increase the risk of stroke.