In the past, the act of eating eggs was once considered unhealthy, and even equated with smoking And although there are studies that disprove this idea, the prejudice against food is still present in some situations. This is the case for those who have high cholesterol, for example: can they or can't they eat eggs?

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is an organic compound essential for the functioning of the body. It circulates through the blood and tissues and has various functions. It contributes, for example, to the production of cortisol (which controls stress) and sex hormones. In addition, it helps in the synthesis of vitamin D and acids involved in the digestion of fats in the gastrointestinal tract.

This substance is soluble only in fats Therefore, it needs to be transported through the blood by lipoproteins: HDL (High Density Lipoprotein, the "good" lipoprotein) and LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein, the "bad" lipoprotein).

"Although this fatty compound is important, it should not exceed the values considered to be limits, and therefore medical supervision is indispensable for the patient's safety. This is because cholesterol correctly interpreted as high can predispose the patient to cardiopathies ", explains nutritionist Dayse Paravidino.

In general, values that are considered normal are:

• Total Cholesterol divided by HDL = (less than 4.5);
• Triglycerides divided by HDL = (less than 2);
• HDL over 40.

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Can those with high cholesterol eat eggs?

Good news: yes, it can! "From 'villain' to 'good guy', the egg is a nutritious food, source of choline, protein, good fat and other nutrients, without contraindications," says the expert. Studies have shown that cholesterol is much more susceptible to endogenous fat (i.e. produced by the body itself) than to exogenous fat (ingested through the diet). "At least, for most people,adds Dayse.

To give you an idea, in one unit there are 13 essential vitamins and minerals and six grams of high-quality protein What's more, it's not only delicious - it's also easy to prepare, whether stir-fried, boiled, in an omelet, alone or with others.

About the amount of food that is allowed daily varies from person to person, so, especially for those with high cholesterol, the best thing to do is to see a nutritionist or nutrologist. Only he or she will be able to calculate the portion size of the meals.

Read also: How many bananas can I eat a day? Expert answers

Source: Dayse Paravidino, nutritionist, member of the Brazilian Association of Nutrition (ASBRAN) and the Brazilian Association of Mother-child Nutrition (ASBRANMI).