Welcome to Ask Healthy Living -- in which you submit your most burning health questions and we do our best to ask the experts and get back to you. Have a question? Get in touch here and you could appear on Healthy Living!


"Ask Healthy Living" is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult a qualified health care professional for personalized medical advice.


Are egg yolks healthy?


This is a confusing one. Egg yolks are known primarily for their high cholesterol content. But the medical research community has learned that dietary cholesterol is a different measure than blood level of cholesterol, which is associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke.


One recent study echoes the growing research, showing that egg consumption had no effect on the overall blood cholesterol levels of 115 healthy adults. What's more, another recent study found some evidence that eating whole eggs increases HDL -- the heart-protective, "good" cholesterol.


"There are much bigger problems in the American diet than cholesterol," says Drew Ramsey, M.D. an assistant clinical professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, who studies the connection between lifestyle behaviors like diet and psychological health. "There's not data to suggest that it should be at the top of people's worries about food choices. Everyone's in agreement about that: The real problem with diabetes and obesity is eating too much processed food."


And there are several nutrients specific to the egg yolk that help promote overall health. Egg yolks are one of the richest dietary sources of the B-complex vitamin choline, which is associated with better neurological function and reduced inflammation. There's also evidence that dietary choline helps with fetal brain development when pregnant women eat it. Another side benefit of a diet rich in choline is, well, happiness.


Choline breaks down into bethane, which is used during the methylation cycle, which in turn helps produce 'happiness' hormones like serotonin, dopamine, norephinephrine, explains Ramsey.


Egg yolks also contain two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, which protect against vision loss. And, as we've reported earlier, they have a big dose of sulfur:


Eggs are also high in sulfur, an essential nutrient that helps with everything from vitamin B absorption to liver function. But sulfur is also necessary for the production of collagen and keratin, which help create and maintain shiny hair, strong nails and glowing skin.

The yolk's health benefits should not overshadow egg whites, however, which are a low-calorie, low-fat source of perfect protein. In fact, eggs are considered the "gold standard" for protein quality because their amino acids are the most digestible to humans.


But even though egg yolks are certainly a health food, they haven't been cleared for unlimited consumption: Mayo Clinic recommends consuming no more than four eggs per week, which is the amount they found to be healthy in adults.


Have a question? Ask Healthy Living!





  • The Healthiest Way To Gain Weight


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/16/healthiest-way-to-gain-weight_n_2475362.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living">While fewer than two percent of the American </a>population is underweight, for those who try without success to put on pounds, the experience can be frustrating and, occasionally, of medical concern... <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/16/healthiest-way-to-gain-weight_n_2475362.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living">MORE</a>




  • How Much Water Should I Drink?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/03/how-much-water-should-i-drink_n_2398712.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">The notion that we must all drink eight cups </a>of water per day to improve our health is an old one, but it isn't exactly accurate. Although the suggestion dates back to at least the 1940s, the latest to carry the mantel are, unsurprisingly, bottled water companies...<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/03/how-much-water-should-i-drink_n_2398712.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">MORE</a>




  • Why Am I So Grumpy In The Morning?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/11/morning-mood_n_2273001.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">Some people are deeply, terminally grouchy</a> in the morning -- no one disputes this fact. But if you're "not a morning person," as such moodiness is often more delicately referred to, is this actually meaningful in some way? Does it say anything about the quality of your sleep? Or your life? ... <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/11/morning-mood_n_2273001.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">MORE</a>




  • Is Your Workout Better If Your Body Trembles?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/15/muscle-shaking-causes_n_2140397.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">Many exercise programs advertise a certain kind of muscle quaking </a>that they hold up as evidence that their workout is effective. But is the "wobbling" Amanda refers to actually a sign that your body is getting stronger? <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/15/muscle-shaking-causes_n_2140397.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">MORE</a>




  • Is There A 'Wrong' Way To Eat Fruit?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/12/the-best-way-to-eat-fruit_n_2114888.html?utm_hp_ref=health-and-fitness&ir=Health%20and%20Fitness">Fruit is an incredibly healthy food group</a>: packed with vitamins, nutrients, fiber and water. But there have been some nutritional claims circulating that suggest fruit can also be damaging if eaten in conjunction with other foods... <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/12/the-best-way-to-eat-fruit_n_2114888.html?utm_hp_ref=health-and-fitness&ir=Health%20and%20Fitness">MORE</a>




  • Should You Drink Water After A Massage?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/05/water-after-a-massage_n_2075604.html">Many practitioners believe that deep tissue massage releases toxins from the muscles </a>and into the blood stream. They assert that the water helps the kidneys and pancreas to process those toxins. And while research shows that massage is useful for many conditions -- from anxiety to several types of cancers to childhood constipation -- the truth is that there's no research that clearly illustrates how massage affects toxicants in the body... <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/05/water-after-a-massage_n_2075604.html">MORE</a>




  • Why Can't I Stop Eating At Night?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/25/late-night-snacking_n_2006566.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">Allison is hardly alone in her late-night eating habit</a>. We talked to nutritionists and sleep experts to get a better sense of what causes us to break into the fridge in the wee hours. Turns out, there are many conditions that can cause this type of eating, but they have markedly different symptoms... <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/25/late-night-snacking_n_2006566.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">MORE</a>




  • Do Food Cravings Indicate Nutritional Deficiency?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/08/food-cravings_n_1940299.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">"If cravings were an indicator of nutritional deficiency, we'd all crave fruits and vegetables,"</a> says Karen Ansel, MS, RD, CDN. "The fact that we all want high carb, high fat comfort foods, along with the research, is a pretty good indicator that cravings aren't related to deficiencies." ... <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/08/food-cravings_n_1940299.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">MORE</a>




  • Is Neck Cracking Dangerous?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/03/neck-cracking-dangerous-spinal-manipulation_n_1929690.html?utm_hp_ref=health-and-fitness&ir=Health%20and%20Fitness">If you crack your neck to relieve pain, you aren't alone</a>. By one estimate, chiropractors perform between 18 and 38 million cervical spine manipulation treatments each year. That involves quick motions to loosen the joint and ligaments, which often makes a "pop" sound -- and that helps explain the colloquial term we often use: "cracking." ... <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/03/neck-cracking-dangerous-spinal-manipulation_n_1929690.html?utm_hp_ref=health-and-fitness&ir=Health%20and%20Fitness">MORE</a>




  • How To Stretch Safely For Flexibility After 50


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/26/stretch-safely-for-flexibility-_n_1909997.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">It's true that as we age, flexibility becomes an even bigger concern</a>. All of the experts we interviewed agreed that older bodies come with an ultimatum: Use it or lose it. If you aren't maintaining an active lifestyle, you can expect accelerated muscle loss, decreased stamina, strength, range of motion, balance and flexibility... <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/26/stretch-safely-for-flexibility-_n_1909997.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">MORE</a>




  • Paleo Diet: Healthy Or A Hoax?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/20/paleo-diet-healthy_n_1898529.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">If you're unfamiliar with this popular diet, the Paleo Diet (also known as the "Caveman Diet") prescribes a pattern of eating that mirrors the way your ancestors ate</a> back (way back!) in the day. The assertion is simple: diseases like obesity, diabetes and heart disease are illnesses "of civilization" and so, to combat the ill effects of the modern diet, we should return to a pre-civilization, hunter-gatherer diet of meat, fish, fruits and vegetables... <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/20/paleo-diet-healthy_n_1898529.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">MORE</a>




  • Is Organic Food Healthier?


    Last week, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/14/is-organic-food-healthy_n_1881046.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems" target="_hplink">Stanford University researchers published a study</a> in the Annals of Internal Medicine that they said showed organically-grown food to be no more nutritious than conventionally-grown food. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/14/is-organic-food-healthy_n_1881046.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems" target="_hplink">MORE</a>




  • Why Do My Eyelids Twitch?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/31/why-do-my-eyelids-twitch_n_1844041.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">Myokymia, or involuntary eye twitching</a>, is a condition that many of us are familiar with. And it seems everyone has an opinion on what triggers it: Is it fatigue? Eye-strain? Stress? <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/31/why-do-my-eyelids-twitch_n_1844041.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">MORE</a>




  • Adult Acne: Why Does It Happen?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/27/adult-acne_n_1825909.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">A pimple occurs when sebum</a> -- the lubricant that naturally moisturizes our skin and hair -- is trapped under dead skin cells and debris in a hair follicle, according to the Mayo Clinic. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/27/adult-acne_n_1825909.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">MORE</a>




  • Who Decides Serving Sizes?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/23/serving-sizes_n_1822551.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">Believe it or not, we decide what a serving size is</a>. The unit we see at the top of our nutrition labels (eight cookies, 100 grams, half a bottle, e.g.) comes from the average amount that Americans over the age of four consume in a single seating. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/23/serving-sizes_n_1822551.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems">MORE</a>




  • Is It Necessary To Eat Before A Workout?


    With all of the marketing of sports drinks, bars, gels and powders, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/13/eat-before-a-workout_n_1765397.html?1345662712" target="_hplink">this is an excellent question to ask</a>. There's certainly no harm in eating -- and it might help you meet your fitness goals by giving you more energy during the actual run or elliptical workout. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/13/eat-before-a-workout_n_1765397.html?1345662712" target="_hplink">MORE</a>




  • Why Does Weight Loss Get Harder?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/07/losing-the-last-10-pounds_n_1752918.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems" target="_hplink">Anyone who has tried to lose weight</a> knows about those frustratingly immobile final five or 10 pounds. And while there are a lot of suggestions (just Google "last 10 pounds" and you'll enter an echo-chamber of weight loss advice, scientific half-truths and can-do enthusiasm), the truth is that several pretty straight-forward reasons can explain that unshakeable weight. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/07/losing-the-last-10-pounds_n_1752918.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems" target="_hplink">MORE.</a>




  • Should I Do Cardio Or Weights First?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/06/cardio-or-weights-first-exercise-order_n_1739089.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems" target="_hplink">Working out is always good for you</a>. The good news is that, whether you do it before or after weight training, cardiovascular exercise like running, swimming, biking or machine-work will improve everything from your heart health to your mood to your chance of avoiding many cancers. And lifting weights helps with everything from bone density to metabolism.

    But according to exercise physiologists and personal trainers we spoke with, the order of operation can change depending on a person's goal. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/06/cardio-or-weights-first-exercise-order_n_1739089.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems" target="_hplink">MORE</a>




  • Should You Take A Multivitamin?


    The <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/01/should-you-take-a-multivitamin_n_1725380.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems" target="_hplink">first thing to acknowledge</a> is that, for the most part, Americans are not deficient in vitamins. A recent CDC survey found that we're sufficiently nourished in essential nutrients like vitamins A, D and folate. But just because we aren't deficient, doesn't necessarily mean that our vitamin levels are optimal. The question is, how important are optimal levels? <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/01/should-you-take-a-multivitamin_n_1725380.html?utm_hp_ref=health-problems" target="_hplink">MORE</a>




  • How A Hangover Works


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/06/how-a-hangover-works_n_1861702.html">If the data is any indication, at least 75 percent of you will recognize this feeling</a>: a throbbing headache, exhaustion, queasiness and even muscle fatigue following a night of overindulging. But what is it about drinking alcohol that causes such discomfort? <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/06/how-a-hangover-works_n_1861702.html">MORE</a>




  • How Long After I Eat Is Weight Added To My Body?


    Given that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/26/what-is-metabolism_n_1701547.html" target="_hplink">we all have different metabolic speeds</a>, what is the average amount of time it takes food to be digested and then shunted off to its various purposes? <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/26/what-is-metabolism_n_1701547.html" target="_hplink">MORE</a>




  • Why Am I So Hungry After A Big Meal?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/why-am-i-hungry_n_1677364.html" target="_hplink">Big meals are often celebratory</a>, which means they may include foods that are decadent rather than nutritious: starchy vegetables like mashed potatoes, white dinner rolls, cake. Foods that fall high on the glycemic index can make your blood sugar spike, causing a surge of insulin to drag it back down. The quick vacillation in blood sugar can cause a disruption to the normal cycle of leptin -- a hormone secreted by the fat cells that signals to the brain when you've had enough to eat ... <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/why-am-i-hungry_n_1677364.html" target="_hplink">MORE</a>




  • What Is Excessive Sweating?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/03/what-is-excessive-sweating-hyperhidrosis_n_1645264.html" target="_hplink">Let's start with the basics</a>: the primary purpose of sweating is to cool your body down. "Sweating is the body's natural, neurological response to cool the body by stimulating the sweat glands to produce moisture that cools the body by drawing heat from the body during evaporation," Perin tells HuffPost Healthy Living. "Because everyone's body is different, the response differs from one individual to another, producing varying levels of perspiration." <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/03/what-is-excessive-sweating-hyperhidrosis_n_1645264.html" target="_hplink">MORE</a>




  • Why Do My Muscles Burn So Much?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/10/muscle-soreness-explained_n_1659777.html" target="_hplink">Let's talk about muscle soreness.</a> Delayed-onset muscle soreness, or DOMS as it is often called, is the common -- one could even say requisite -- result of a workout. If you do an activity you're not used to, such as taking a new type of fitness class, attacking a hill on your bike when you're used to riding on flat ground, or running a far longer distance than you are accustomed to -- the difference in muscle use can cause micro-tears in muscle fibers and connective tissue. As your body works to repair itself, you may feel some low-grade pain in the area ... <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/10/muscle-soreness-explained_n_1659777.html" target="_hplink">MORE</a>




  • Why Does My Face Flush When I Exercise?


    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/26/red-face-exercise_n_1625480.html" target="_hplink">When you exercise, capillaries in your face</a> and throughout your body dilate and blood flows through them in an effort to move the heat your body is generating to the skin's surface, where it can be radiated off. This effort helps to keep you cool while you work out, but it can also make your skin look flushed -- especially in the face ... <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/26/red-face-exercise_n_1625480.html" target="_hplink">MORE</a>





Earlier on HuffPost:






  • Eye Health


    Eggs are rich in the proteins lutein and zeaxanthin, which <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014483500908704" target="_hplink">have been associated</a> with helping to stave off macular degeneration and cataract development.




  • Cardiovascular Health


    An egg a day may keep the cardiologist away, according to <a href="http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/egg-nutrition" target="_hplink">one study</a> that found a relationship between a diet with regular egg consumption and a lower risk of blood clots, heart attack and stroke.




  • Brain Function


    Egg yolks are one of the richest sources of dietary choline -- a B vitamin that is often thought of as a "brain food" because it contributes to neurological function and development. The nutrient is especially important for pregnant women, because it is <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15640516" target="_hplink">particularly essential to fetal development of the brain</a>.




  • Breast Cancer Prevention


    The choline found in egg yolks isn't just important for brain development -- it also may help stave off breast cancer, according to some research. An <a href="http://breast-cancer-research.com/content/5/3/R59">analysis of data from the longitudinal Nurse's Health Study</a> found that women who reported eating eggs regularly as teenagers were less likely to develop breast cancer as adults.

    <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-04/epr-enf040208.php" target="_hplink">Other studies have found</a> an association between egg consumption and lower breast cancer rates, although a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11914299" target="_hplink">survey of the literature</a> provided conflicting information: while eating fewer than two eggs per week was associated with lower breast cancer risk, eating seven eggs per week raised the risk, compared to eating no eggs.




  • Healthy Hair, Nails And Skin


    Eggs are also high in sulfur, an essential nutrient that helps with everything from vitamin B absorption to liver function. But sulfur <a href="http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/sulfur-000328.htm" target="_hplink">is also necessary</a> for the production of collagen and keratin, which help create and maintain shiny hair, strong nails and glowing skin.




  • Lipid Profile


    Eggs get a bad rap because they are high in cholesterol, with a large egg averaging 212 milligrams. And while regularly eating meals that are high in dietary cholesterol <em>can</em> lead to high blood cholesterol, <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol/HQ00608" target="_hplink">the two aren't ipso facto related</a>, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    In fact, many <a href="http://philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph/vol140no1/pdfs/7_the effect of egg consumption on lipid profile among selected filipino adults.pdf" target="_hplink" target="_hplink">recent studies</a> have found that regular egg consumption <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12683227" target="_hplink">has <em>no</em> effect on total blood cholesterol levels</a>.




  • Muscle Development


    With six grams of protein a pop, along with all of the amino acids our bodies need to build muscle, <a href="http://www.americanathletemag.com/ArticleView/tabid/156/ArticleID/79/Eat-to-Win-The-Top-5-Muscle-Building-Foods.aspx" target="_hplink">eggs are a great choice</a> for encouraging muscle development.




  • Weight Management


    Eating eggs for breakfast can help overweight and obese adults lose weight, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18679412" target="_hplink">according to one randomized study</a> from Louisiana State University. Researchers gave participants breakfasts that were identical in calorie portions of either eggs or bagels. After 8 weeks, the group who ate the diet portion of eggs had a 61 percent larger reduction in BMI than the group who ate a diet portion of bagel.