The New Truth About Cholesterol

The latest research and information will help you keep your levels in check

- By Bonnie Munday

For most of my adult life, I mostly avoided eggs. I had read that since yolks are full of cholesterol, eating them would raise my blood cholesterol and harm my heart health. Then, around three years ago, with the goal of losing a few pounds, I reduced simple carbs and added more protein— including eggs—to my diet. I wondered what that would do to my cholesterol levels, so at my next checkup, I asked for a blood test. My doctor surprised me with this response: “We were wrong about that all along. The best research says you don’t need to avoid eggs.”

To reassure me, she ordered the blood test. The results? Same healthy cholesterol levels as before. It got me wondering how many other people were unnecessarily avoiding eggs and other foods based on old information. And now that I was in my 50s, what else should I be doing to make sure my cholesterol stayed in the safe zone? My research turned up some surprising facts.

First, the basics: High cholesterol is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. According to the largest-ever study of cholesterol levels, led by Imperial College London and published in 2020, high cholesterol is responsible for about 3.9 million deaths annually worldwide.