Do Eggs Raise Cholesterol? New Research Challenges Long-Held Beliefs

**Islamabad (Qudrat Daily):** A new study published by **Harvard Health Publishing** has challenged long-standing assumptions about the link between egg consumption and cholesterol levels.

According to the report, dietary cholesterol has far less impact on levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) in the blood than previously believed. Instead, saturated fat plays a much bigger role in influencing cholesterol levels.

The study involved 48 adults who followed three different diet plans. One group consumed a high-cholesterol but low-saturated-fat diet that included **two eggs per day**. The second group followed a low-cholesterol but high-saturated-fat diet, while the third group consumed both high cholesterol and high saturated fat, including **one egg per day**.

The results showed that LDL cholesterol levels were mainly affected by the amount of saturated fat in the diet, not by dietary cholesterol itself. Notably, participants who ate two eggs daily while keeping saturated fat intake low did **not** experience an increase in cholesterol levels; in some cases, levels even decreased.

Health experts stated that foods most strongly linked to an increased risk of heart disease include red meat, processed meats, butter, cheese, and other foods high in saturated fat—not eggs. They emphasized that eggs can be part of a healthy and nutritious diet, particularly when overall eating habits are balanced and low in saturated fat.