Atherosclerosis is a medical condition in which plaque deposits on the inner walls of your arteries. Plaque contains cholesterol, calcium, fat and other fatty substances that circulate in the blood. Most people develop some degree of atherosclerosis over their lifetime; however, heavy plaque accumulation can decrease blood flow and increase your risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
Physiology
Cholesterol and fat are both lipids, which means they are hydrophobic and cannot dissolve in water. Your blood contains a large percentage of water, so lipids cannot dissolve in it. As a result, when you eat cholesterol and fat, your body uses what it needs and the rest circulates in its solid form throughout your bloodstream. Some level of cholesterol and fat in the blood is considered normal, but too much cholesterol and fat causes damage to the lining of the arteries. When the arteries are damaged, they are more susceptible to the accumulation of plaque. If plaque covers a significant amount your arteries, the arteries harden and become less flexible. As a result, blood cannot flow through them as easily.
Cholesterol Recommendations
The American Heart Association recommends that healthy adults do not consume more than 300 mg of cholesterol per day. If you have existing atherosclerosis or heart disease, cholesterol recommendations decrease to no more than 200 mg per day. Eating two eggs every morning exceeds the cholesterol recommendations for an entire day for both healthy individuals and those at an increased risk of heart disease.
Cholesterol Content of Eggs
One whole egg contributes 169 mg of cholesterol. If you eat two eggs every morning, you are consuming 338 mg of cholesterol. Most of the cholesterol in an egg is found in the yolks. If you eat only the egg whites, you can completely eliminate the cholesterol from your scrambled eggs. Egg whites do not contain any cholesterol. Egg substitutes are also free of cholesterol.
Saturated Fat and Eggs
To help avoid developing atherosclerosis, it is also important to lower your fat intake. Each scrambled egg contains approximately 7 g of fat, all of which is saturated fat. In addition to providing 338 mg of cholesterol, two eggs also contribute 14 g of saturated fat. Saturated fat increases the amount of triglycerides in your bloodstream and contributes to the development of atherosclerosis.
Someone on a 2,000 calorie diet should consume only 7 percent of their calories from fat. This is equivalent to approximately 16 g of saturated fat. Two scrambled eggs nearly meet the entire day's allotment of saturated fat.
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