quick clicks

recipes today articles

recipes today q&a

community & groups

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Cholesterol and Eggs

Should You Limit Your Egg Intake During Pregnancy?

By iParenting Staff

One day I hear it's OK to eat eggs; the next day you're not supposed to because they're high in cholesterol. Which information is correct, and should I limit my egg intake while pregnant?

"Eggs are rich in cholesterol, but there is no reason for most people to avoid them, especially during pregnancy," says Elizabeth M. Ward, registered dietitian. "Research shows that people with normal blood cholesterol concentrations can consume up to one egg every day as part of a low-fat diet without raising their cholesterol levels. Plus, eggs are the most concentrated food source of choline, a nutrient necessary for Baby's peak brain development; prescription prenatal supplements typically lack choline, which means you must get it from the diet. In addition, eggs are an excellent source of protein, and provide 13 vitamins and minerals. If you're still not convinced, limit whole egg consumption to four a week, but I think you could probably eat more without any health consequences, and many benefits for Baby."

Monica C. Montag, a registered dietitian, agrees that there's no reason to avoid eggs during pregnancy. "Eggs are an inexpensive and excellent source of protein," she says. "Unless you have elevated cholesterol, there is no reason to avoid them. In fact, two-thirds of your cholesterol is manufactured by the body in response to stress; only one-third comes from the diet. So even with elevated cholesterol, stress management is as important a factor in controlling cholesterol as watching your intake. So go ahead and enjoy your eggs!"

Found 1 comment
Displaying all 1 comments below