Eggs aren't so bad - expert

Eggs aren't as bad as first thought.Photo / Thinkstock

Egg lovers rejoice - it's time to start boiling and poaching again without the fear of heart disease.

But there's no need to heap your plate with fried foods and keep the bacon to a minimum, according to cardiologist Associate Professor Karam Kostner.

Dr Kostner says some people have been avoiding eggs due to the cholesterol they contain.

But new research has found we can eat up to six eggs a week.

"In the setting of a normal healthy diet eggs don't play a big role in increasing cardiovascular disease and stroke,'' Dr Kostner said.

"While eggs do contain some cholesterol, the body is very clever at reducing cholesterol production when it gets more ... from products like eggs, milk and cheese.''

But Dr Kostner warns against over-indulging or adding fatty foods like bacon to eggs and says not everyone can indulge.

"In diabetics research has always indicated that a higher intake of dietary cholesterol ... may actually increase your cardiovascular risk.''

The egg-a-day message is beginning to get through and Dr Kostner says people needn't be concerned if they have more than one egg in a sitting.

"You can have two or three eggs on one or two days a week, or you can eat an egg a day and it's not going to make a big difference.''

He also says eggs have many health benefits.

"They're very high in protein but they also contain a lot of things like vitamins and nutraceuticals that are beneficial for the body, especially in the older population.''

Dr Kostner says it's important to view eggs as simply one part of a well-balanced diet.

"I tell a lot of my patients that kangaroos can get fat on grass, that doesn't mean that grass is bad but it means that if you have too much of a good thing it is basically bad.''

And Dr Kostner admits he is an egg fan.

- AAP