Cholesterol Issues
Do you or someone you know struggle with high cholesterol?
Or is your cholesterol level "borderline" by American standards (around 200 mg/dl)?
Cholesterol is a waxy substance which our bodies need to build cells and make vitamins and other hormones, but having too much cholesterol can cause problems, including gallstones, memory loss, reduced blood flow, fatty liver disease, numbness in the hands/feet/legs, and the increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
A total cholesterol reading of 210 mg/dl predicts a 50 percent chance of premature death from strokes or heart attacks due to atherosclerotic plaque formation, and the risk increases as cholesterol readings go higher.[i]
Cholesterol comes from two sources - your liver, and animal foods such as meats, fish, dairy products, and eggs; however, our livers make all the cholesterol we need. Some of the highest sources of cholesterol include fast foods, bacon, meats/organ meats, cheese, butter, shellfish, whipped cream, and eggs (one egg has 2.5 times the cholesterol of a Big Mac).
Plants contain ZERO cholesterol.
However, even high-fat, non-animal foods - such as oils, nut butters, coconut products, bakery goods, and fried foods - can raise your cholesterol by triggering the release of cholesterol-laden bile from the gallbladder.
According to Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, the author of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, our goal for total cholesterol readings should be 150 mg/dl or lower, with LDL readings of 80 mg/dl or lower (without medication); levels such as those make us "heart attack proof."
So which food has at least 8x the cholesterol as beef?
The answer is eggs, and here's why:
The cholesterol in 100 grams of beef varies from 50-86 mg, depending on the cut. (Chicken and fish can contain even higher amounts!)
Compare that to one egg yolk, which weighs 18 grams and contains 186 mg of cholesterol. We would need at least 5 egg yolks to reach the weight of 100 grams. The cholesterol in those 5 egg yolks would be 930 mg (186 mg x 5 = 930 mg).
So if 100 grams of beef has 86 mg, and 100 grams of egg yolk has 930 mg, eggs are more than TEN times higher. (I errored on the side of caution and based my headline on smaller than average eggs).
Chicken and Fish?
I bet you find this surprising! Many people believe chicken and fish are 'healthy foods' - but unfortunately they contain as much cholesterol as beef and are very high in fat - even the lean cuts.
So should you just eat the egg whites? Nope. As Dr. Greger points out in this video, animal protein consumption increases the levels of a cancer-promoting hormone which accelerates cancer growth.
It's no wonder our country is in trouble health-wise, with poor diet being the #1 cause of disability and premature death. The good news is that by adopting a low-fat, whole food plant-based diet, your risk of disease plummets and you'll enjoy clearer thinking, improved mobility, better moods, better sleep, better bones, and feel younger than you have in years!
Please contact me if you're interested in learning more!
Also check out The "Plan A" Diet - available on Amazon or only $12.95 on my website with free shipping.
In the meantime, check out these Eggless Recipes:
Roadhouse Hash by Terri at www.eatplant-based.com
Eggless Egg Salad (again by Terri)
How to replace eggs in your baked goods.
Check out my FREE training class to learn 3 crucial food tips you can being implementing today!
[i] Dr. John McDougall, “High Cholesterol.” Accessed September 13, 2018. https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/education/health-science/common-health-problems/high-cholesterol/