Part of the persistence of egg-white culture comes from long-running uncertainty about dietary cholesterol.
For decades, many people assumed that cholesterol in food directly influenced cholesterol levels in the blood.
Dietitian Emma Newell says this assumption continues to shape eating habits, even though research has grown far more nuanced.
Fitness trends reinforce the pattern. Egg whites are frequently marketed as a “clean” protein source, and Emma Newell notes that they often appeal to people trying to reduce calories.
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But as she points out, most of the white consists largely of water, with protein making up only a modest share of its total weight.
What the studies show
Scientific findings complicate the simple white-versus-whole-egg narrative.
A study published in The Canadian Journal of Cardiology reported that individuals in certain cardiovascular risk groups might benefit from limiting yolk intake.
But other research paints a different picture. Some studies have found that eating an egg a day does not worsen heart-health outcomes.
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And then there is the question of HDL, the so-called “good” cholesterol.
A study published in Nutrients reported that whole eggs, unlike egg whites alone, can raise HDL levels.
That distinction matters because higher HDL is generally regarded as beneficial.
Beyond cholesterol, the yolk provides vitamins and minerals linked to energy metabolism, cognitive function, and eye health, nutrients that simply aren’t present in meaningful amounts in the white.
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It's not all-or-nothing
Emma Newell, reflecting on the broader body of nutritional evidence, emphasizes that food choices rarely need to be framed as all-or-nothing decisions.
Her view is that the full nutritional benefit emerges when the white and the yolk are eaten together, unless a medical professional has advised otherwise.
The contrast between public perception and evolving nutritional science helps explain why consumers often remain unsure about what to put on their plates.
Sources: Real Simple, The Canadian Journal of Cardiology og Nutrients.
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