Last week, we exposed how official advice on vitamin D still lags decades behind the science. If you missed it, you can catch up on it here.
This week, we are unravelling another long-standing myth that shaped the way millions of people eat. It begins with something simple, familiar, and unfairly accused, the humble egg. As a nutritionist, I am still asked almost weekly whether it is “safe” to eat eggs. It shows how deeply this message has sunk in and how long misinformation can linger, even after the science has moved on.
A Brief History of a Smear Campaign
For decades, eggs were portrayed as dietary villains. Health authorities warned they were “cholesterol bombs” that could clog arteries and raise the risk of heart disease. In the 1970s and 80s, public health messaging urged people to cut back on eggs, butter, and red meat while embracing low-fat spreads and processed cereals instead.
Then, in the UK, came the infamous Edwina Currie salmonella scare of 1988. One televised statement claiming “most British eggs are infected” sent the country into panic. Egg sales collapsed, millions of hens were destroyed, and a natural, nutrient-rich food became tainted with fear almost overnight.
That episode was about salmonella, not cholesterol, but it showed how quickly fear can override facts, a pattern that would repeat itself in the decades-long war on dietary fat. The reasoning seemed straightforward at the time. Eggs contain cholesterol. High cholesterol was believed to cause heart disease. Therefore, eating eggs must be dangerous.
It was a neat story, but it was wrong.
When Science Got Scrambled
The “cholesterol theory” began to crumble as new research emerged. By the early 2000s, scientists were finding that dietary cholesterol has very little effect on blood cholesterol for most people. In 2015, even the US Dietary Guidelines quietly dropped the long-standing limit on cholesterol intake, admitting it was no longer “a nutrient of concern.”
Studies have since shown that eating eggs can actually raise HDL, the so-called “good” cholesterol, while improving the balance of LDL particles in a way that reduces cardiovascular risk. Some research even links moderate egg consumption to better blood-sugar regulation and reduced inflammation, the real drivers of heart disease.
So why does the doubt and confusion still persist?
Follow the Money, Again
Once again, it comes down to who benefits from the stories we are told. When eggs and natural fats were demonised, entire industries bloomed around low-fat, high-sugar foods, margarines, and cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Statins became some of the most profitable prescriptions in history. Yet, studies now show they offer limited benefits for many people and can cause side effects such as fatigue, muscle pain, and nutrient depletion. If you are taking statin medication, it is essential to supplement your diet with Coenzyme Q10, which is depleted by statins.
The egg, meanwhile, became collateral damage in a war waged not on disease, but on dietary fat.
Cracking the Truth
Today, the evidence is overwhelming. Moderate egg consumption, around one to two eggs per day, is not associated with increased heart-disease risk in healthy adults. In fact, eggs provide choline, lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin D, and omega-3s that actively support heart, brain, and eye health. It turns out that real food, in its natural form, was never the problem. It was the processed replacements and the fear of fat that did the real damage.
If You Are Still Worried About Cholesterol
For anyone concerned about cholesterol balance, emerging research highlights bergamot extract as a promising natural option. Derived from citrus fruit, bergamot polyphenols have been shown to help maintain healthy levels of LDL, HDL, and triglycerides while supporting overall cardiovascular wellbeing. Including nutrient-dense foods, regular movement, and stress reduction remain the foundations of heart health, but nature also provides tools that can lend gentle support when needed.
Final Thought
The story of eggs is more than a nutrition myth. It is a reminder of how easily fear, funding, and flawed science can shape the way we eat for generations. The truth is simple. Whole foods heal. Real fats nourish. And nature never needed to apologise for a yolk.
Read More From Naturally Healthy News
If you would like to explore more about natural ways to support heart and metabolic health, take a look at: Citrus Bergamot: The Natural Cholesterol Balancer
