How Many Eggs Can You Eat a Day? (& How to Make Them) (2024)

You can eat eggs every day without any harmful side effects. Eggs are associated with several health benefits, such aspromoting muscle mass gain, promoting weight loss, strengthening the immune system and maintaining skin health.

Because egg yolks contain high amounts of cholesterol, it was thought that eating eggs can lead to increased cholesterol levels in the blood. However many studies[1],[2]have shown that the cholesterol that is naturally present in food is not likely to increase blood cholesterol levels in healthy people.

If you are consuming eggs on a daily basis, you should prepare them in the healthiest way possible. You can boil them in water, make an omelet orpoach them. Youshould avoidusing additionalfats,likeoil or butter, to prepare eggs.

How Many Eggs Can You Eat a Day? (& How to Make Them) (1)

How many eggs can I eat a day?

The American Heart Association recommends consuming up to 2 eggs per day to obtain all benefits they have to offer.

People who have a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol, also known as familial hypercholesterolemia, should reduce their intake to1 egg per day. Excessive egg consumption in this population can increase the risk for higher cholesterol levels in the blood. Learn more about the symptoms of high cholesterol your should not ignore.

Can you eatmore than 10 eggs a day?

Consuming 10 eggs per day is not recommended. Eggs are very highin protein, which is a nutrient thatcan impair kidney function and increased the risk for kidney stones if overly consumed.

Eating 10 or more eggs per day is also not recommendedbecause a healthy diet should be varied and diverse. It should be made-up ofdifferent types of foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, other protein sourcesand dairy products.

Furthermore, excessive egg consumption can also lead to weight gain, as eggs are nutrient dense and contain a moderate amount of calories. Read more about egg nutrition facts.

How to make eggs

Some healthy ways to prepare eggs and obtain all of its health benefits include:

1. Boiled

A healthy, easy and practical way to prepare eggs is to boil them. Simply place the egg in a pot, coverit completely with water, and place over medium heat to cook for 10 minutes.

2. Poached

To make the poached egg, boil a pot of water. When the first bubbles appear, stir the water quickly with a spoon or whisk, to make a whirlpool.

Once a whirlpool forms, carefully break the egg and place it inside, and cook the egg for about 7 minutes, while continuously stirring. Then, remove the egg from the water witha slotted spoon.

3. Fried in water

Heathalf acup of water in a frying panover low heat. Thenadd the egg carefully and coverthe pan, letting it cook for 3 to 4 minutes.

4. Egg white omelet

An egg white omelet is a great option for those who should reduce egg yolk consumption.

Ingredients:

  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 tablespoon of water or milk
  • 1 cup of vegetables, chopped thinly(tomato, spinach, carrot)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

Mix the egg whites, water and seasonings in a bowl.Place this mixture in a preheated non-stick frying pan and cook for 2 minutes. Add the vegetables, letting them cook for another 3 minutes.

Do raw eggs cause intestinal infections?

Raw or undercooked eggs may contain Salmonella sp., a bacteria that causes intestinal infections. A salmonella infection can lead tosymptoms like a fever, stomach pain, vomiting and severe diarrhea. Read more about the symptoms of salmonella and how it is treated.

Therefore, you are advised to avoidconsumingunder-cooked eggs and products made with raw eggs, such as mousses, mayonnaise, desserttoppings and cake fillings.

How to know if eggs are okay to eat

One way to know if the egg is still good to eat is to place the whole egg in a glass of water. If the egg floats, there is likely air inside, which is a sign that it is old and spoiled. You should not eat an egg that floats in water.If the egg sinks halfway down the glass or sits at the bottom, it is typically safe to eat.

When purchasing an egg, be sure to observe the quality of the shell. Itshould be smooth, clean and free of cracks. When preparing the egg, the egg white should be thick and viscous and the yolk should be firm and centralized.

Eggs should be stored in the refrigerator and preferably deeply inside. Storing eggs onthe refrigerator door is not advised as open and closing the door can lead totemperature variations, which can spoil the eggs.

Clinical review:

Andreina De Almeida

Registered Dietitian

Graduated from the Central University of Venezuela with a degree in Food and Nutrition. Licensed to practice under license # MPPS 3781.

Update History

We regularly update our content with the latest scientific information to maintain an exceptional level of quality.

  • 23 January, 2024 (Current version)

    Updated by Daisy Oliveira - Registered Nurse

  • 20 January, 2024

    Clinical review by Andreina De Almeida - Registered Dietitian

  • Published in January, 2024

References
  • SOCIEDADE BRASILEIRA DE CARDIOLOGIA. Atualização da Diretriz Brasileira de Dislipidemias e Prevenção da Aterosclerose. 2017. Available on: <https://www.scielo.br/j/abc/a/whBsCyzTDzGYJcsBY7YVkWn/?format=pdf&lang=pt>. Access in 13 Jun 2023
  • FOOD SAFETY BRAZIL. Riscos ao consumir preparações com ovo cru. Você sabia? . Available on: <https://foodsafetybrazil.org/risco-consumir-preparacoes-ovo-cru/>. Access in 13 Jun 2023
  • AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION . Are eggs good for you or not?. Available on: <https://www.heart.org/en/news/2018/08/15/are-eggs-good-for-you-or-not>. Access in 25 Mar 2019
How Many Eggs Can You Eat a Day? (& How to Make Them) (2024)

FAQs

How Many Eggs Can You Eat a Day? (& How to Make Them)? ›

For most healthy adults, it's safe to eat 1–2 eggs a day depending on how much other cholesterol is in your diet. If you already have high cholesterol or other risk factors for heart disease, it may be best to eat no more than 4–5 eggs per week.

What is the healthiest way to eat eggs? ›

Overall, shorter and lower-heat cooking methods cause less cholesterol oxidation and help retain most of the egg's nutrients. For this reason, poached and boiled (either hard or soft) eggs may be the healthiest to eat. These cooking methods also don't add any unnecessary calories.

How many boiled eggs should I eat in a day? ›

Boiled Egg FAQs

Healthy people who don't have heart disease or high cholesterol can eat one whole egg a day. However, if you do have heart disease or you've been told that your cholesterol level is high, you should limit your egg intake to no more than three or four per week.

How to eat 10 eggs a day? ›

If you are consuming eggs on a daily basis, you should prepare them in the healthiest way possible. You can boil them in water, make an omelet or poach them. You should avoid using additional fats, like oil or butter, to prepare eggs.

How many eggs a week should a senior eat? ›

How Many Eggs Can Older People Eat? There is no limit to the number of eggs older people can eat, with the exception of those with type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol or any existing heart disease who can enjoy up to 7 eggs a week.

Are scrambled eggs healthier than fried eggs? ›

Preparing eggs whole or scrambled leads to different absorption of the oil of fat used as frying medium. There is no changes in lipid profile after frying eggs whole or scrambled.

Are eggs better for you cooked or raw? ›

Despite raw eggs containing slightly more nutrients, the nutrients in cooked eggs are in fact easier for your body to digest and absorb. One study found that the body is able to absorb 90% of the protein found in cooked eggs compared to only 50% in raw eggs.

Is 2 eggs a day too much cholesterol? ›

One large egg has about 186 mg of cholesterol — all of which is found in the yolk. If your diet contains little other cholesterol, according to some studies, eating up to an egg a day might be an OK choice.

Is the cholesterol in eggs bad for you? ›

Generally speaking, as part of a healthy, balanced diet, it should be fine for most people, as the cholesterol in eggs does not have a significant effect on blood cholesterol. It's much more important to limit the amount of saturated fat you eat. Too much saturated fat can raise the cholesterol in your blood.

Are two boiled eggs enough for breakfast? ›

For a wholesome meal in the morning, you can include 2-4 eggs in your breakfast, which contain less than 240 calories.

Is peanut butter good for you? ›

A Quick Review. Peanut butter packs many health-promoting nutrients that benefit heart health, blood sugar, and weight management. The nut butter might help you get a good night's rest and help you feel full longer. Peanut butter can be a good companion to apples, bananas, chocolate, or simply eaten by the spoonful.

How many glasses of water should an elderly person drink a day? ›

According to the Reynolds Institute on Aging, Seniors should aim for 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day, or approximately 1.5 liters. Have your senior sip on water throughout the day. Sometimes using a straw is easier and leads to more water consumption. Offer a full glass of water when they take medications.

Are eggs good for seniors memory? ›

Q: What were the main findings of this research? A: Overall, the analyses showed that for men, greater egg consumption was associated with better verbal episodic memory as indicated by small but statistically significantly better performance on tests of total recall, and short-term and long-term memory.

Which of the following is the healthiest way to eat eggs? ›

The healthiest forms of egg preparation are therefore all those in which it is no longer necessary to use additional sources of fat. These are, for example, boiled eggs, poached eggs, eggs baked in muffin form, eggs stewed over vegetables, or scrambled eggs and omelettes prepared in non-stick pans.

Are runny eggs healthier? ›

When cooked properly, sunny-side-up eggs will provide you with all the nutrients from a runny yolk while only using a bit of cooking fat. Cons: Because the egg is not flipped, sunny-side-up eggs may not be sufficiently cooked to eliminate bacteria and could pose a health risk.

Is it better to eat eggs with or without the yolk? ›

The yolk contains the fat and cholesterol content of an egg. If you want to get the nutrition of egg without the fat, take out the yolk before cooking with eggs. ‌When you take away the yolk, you lose many vitamins like A, D, E, K, as well as DHA. Egg whites have fewer calories and no fat.

Can I eat eggs everyday and be healthy? ›

Eggs are an affordable and super-nutritious protein, and can provide some health benefits if you enjoy them every day. They are packed with protein, vitamins and nutrients that help you feel full and fueled for whatever your day holds.

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