At no other time of the year are so many eggs consumed as at Easter – and in all possible variations. The brightly colored, hard-boiled chicken eggs are a classic in the Easter basket. But how many of them can you actually eat per day before the enjoyment becomes unhealthy? After all, eggs have a reputation for raising cholesterol levels.
One egg every day and sometimes two on Sundays? The Comedian Harmonists’ song is about laying eggs and not eating eggs, but many Germans don’t take it too seriously. On average, everyone in this country ate 230 eggs in 2022, according to the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food. That’s about four and a half a week. And even if healthy people eat several eggs at Easter, this is “probably not a health concern” according to the German Nutrition Society (DGE). An upper limit for egg consumption cannot be derived based on the available scientific findings.
But what we now know is that chicken eggs contain many nutrients. These include protein, vitamins and minerals such as iron and zinc, and folic acid. And the fat in the egg is not a problem either, because it consists of more than 60 percent monosaturated fatty acids. This makes them an important element in a balanced menu. But what about the cholesterol found in egg yolks? After all, cholesterol is one of the most dangerous risk factors for cardiovascular disease
Cholesterol is produced by the body itself and does not need to be supplied externally. In healthy people, cholesterol levels regulate themselves. How exactly eggs affect cholesterol levels cannot be answered in general, the German Heart Foundation quotes Ulrich Laufs from the foundation’s scientific advisory board. Cholesterol intake depends very much on the rest of the diet and other factors and not just on the consumption of eggs. The importance of diet for cholesterol and cardiovascular risk is often overestimated. “The key to reducing risk is physical activity and not smoking,” he says.
Eating a few more eggs at Easter at short notice is not a problem for healthy people. However, care should be taken as to which eggs are consumed. You can read more about why ready-made, colorful Easter eggs from the supermarket are not the best choice here.
Sources: DGE, German Heart Foundation, Oekotest, BMLE
