A U.S. advisory panel reviewing national dietary guidelines (for Canada and the U.S.) has decided to drop its caution against eating cholesterol-laden food.
At a December 2014 meeting, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee discussed its decision to no longer deem cholesterol a "nutrient of concern”.
The last set of guidelines, released in 2010, said to consume less than 300 milligrams per day of dietary cholesterol (one extra large egg yolk has 210 milligrams).
The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee is currently finalizing its report to the federal government detailing its scientific recommendations to use as the basis of its dietary guidelines. The final set of dietary guidelines, due at the end of this year.
The committee did not reverse warnings on high levels of what is commonly considered "bad cholesterol," in the blood (e.g. LDL cholesterol) which has been linked to heart disease and possibly other health problems.
For decades, the government has warned against diets high in cholesterol. But now many nutritionists believe that cholesterol intake may not significantly impact cholesterol blood levels or increase the risk of heart disease in healthy adults. People with diabetes, however, may be more susceptible to the impact of dietary cholesterol on blood cholesterol.
Read more about the link between dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol.
All research on this web site is the property of Leslie Beck Nutrition Consulting Inc. and is protected by copyright. Keep in mind that research on these matters continues daily and is subject to change. The information presented is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. It is intended to provide ongoing support of your healthy lifestyle practices.