Yesterday, a 74-year-old man came to my outpatient clinic with his daughter to verify such a question: He likes to eat eggs, does he eat 3 per day? (He holds a newspaper clipping in his hand, That article said that three eggs a day is more appropriate). I took a look at the test sheet he provided. Total cholesterol was slightly higher, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) decreased, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides were normal. I have carefully studied his article on "tofu nuggets" about eating 3 eggs a day. Eggs are high in protein, the human body needs 60 to 70 grams of protein per day, digestion and absorption rate... The whisper of the spectrum.

　　Is it okay to eat 3 eggs a day? Then you must know what is in it. 3 eggs (based on edible 150g red-skinned eggs) containing 111g of water, 19g of protein, 17g of fat (including 5g of saturated fatty acids), 2g of carbohydrates, 1.5g of minerals, 878mg of cholesterol and a small amount of vitamins . Eggs are very nutritious and easy to absorb, but the saturated fatty acids and cholesterol contained are two notable harmful ingredients-especially for the elderly and (or) those with abnormal blood lipids.

　　If the saturated fatty acids contained in eggs are not the highest, then the cholesterol contained in eggs is undoubtedly the "leader" in food. What is the concept of 878 milligrams of cholesterol? According to the recommendations of the Chinese Dietetic Guidelines 2007 of the Chinese Nutrition Society, the daily intake of cholesterol by ordinary adults (including the elderly) should be <300 milligrams; The Prevention and Control Guide 2007 recommends that people with dyslipidemia should consume <200 mg of cholesterol per day. In short, 878 mg of cholesterol in 3 eggs has exceeded the highest standard by 2~3.4 times! (This is not counting the cholesterol he ingested through other foods). If you eat it like this, there must be a problem. I suspect that the blood lipid abnormality of this old man is likely to be related to long-term addiction to eggs (according to himself, he used to eat more eggs, but now he eats 3 eggs a day has been reduced).

　　I often see some people like this sophistry: eggs are rich in lecithin, and lecithin has the effect of lowering cholesterol, so the cholesterol in eggs is not a concern. This is absolutely wishful thinking. No official agency or report suggests that cholesterol should not be restricted when ingested with lecithin.

　　 can only eat one egg at most per day, which is also the authoritative suggestion of "Chinese Resident Dietary Guide 2007". However, this old man is too fond of eating eggs, and he is unwilling to give up. What should I do? My suggestion is to only eat 1 egg yolk per day and 2 to 4 egg whites (white). Because the cholesterol (and saturated fatty acids) in eggs are concentrated in the egg yolk, the egg white is basically free.