Eggs could raise your cholesterol levels a little bit. One large egg contains about 186 mg of dietary cholesterol. This is the type of cholesterol you get from food. The cholesterol in your blood is usually only affected a little by the food you eat. Doctors measure the cholesterol in your blood to see if you have high cholesterol. High cholesterol levels raise your risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart disease.

For most people, eating 1 egg or less per day will not significantly raise cholesterol levels. What really matters is how healthy your overall diet is. A diet high in fats, processed meats, and sweets is more of a problem than an egg a day. However, a recent study does suggest that eating more than 3 to 4 eggs per week may increase your risk for a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or stroke.

It is unclear why cholesterol in food affects people in different ways. It does appear that differences in diet and genes may play a role. Genes are the health traits that you inherit from your parents. But other factors such as diabetes may also play a part. For now, talk to your doctor. Ask whether eating eggs is a healthy option for you and your cholesterol.