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Man Eats Over 700 Eggs In One Month To Prove It Doesn’t Increase “Bad” Cholesterol Levels
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Man Eats Over 700 Eggs In One Month To Prove It Doesn’t Increase “Bad” Cholesterol Levels

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A soon-to-be medical doctor ate an astonishing total of 720 eggs over the course of just one month and shared what happened to his body. The results defied the common belief that eggs, especially the yolk, negatively affect cholesterol levels and cause heart problems. Hundreds of people were baffled by the new findings.

Nick Norwitz, a doctorate student at Harvard University, ate the equivalent of 24 eggs per day, or over 133,000 mg of dietary cholesterol, during the month-long experiment.

Highlights
  • Nick Norwitz ate 720 eggs in one month, consuming 24 eggs per day.
  • Despite eating 133,000mg of dietary cholesterol, his LDL levels fell by 18%.
  • The experiment challenged the belief that egg yolks raise cholesterol.

Taking to his YouTube page earlier this month, Dr. Norwitz revealed that following his experiment, his low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, otherwise known as “bad” cholesterol, fell by 18%.

In the video, which has since amassed over 203,00 views, Dr. Norwitz explained: “I hypothesized that eating 720 eggs in one month, which alone amounts to 133,200mg of cholesterol, would not increase my cholesterol. 

RELATED:

    A soon-to-be medical doctor ate an astonishing total of 720 eggs

    Image credits: nicknorwitz

    “Specifically, it would not increase my LDL cholesterol. And, indeed, it didn’t, not a smidge.”

    He added: “Even though my dietary intake of cholesterol more than quintupled, my LDL cholesterol actually dropped.”

    For years, it was commonly believed that eggs, particularly the yolk, raised cholesterol levels and increased the risk of heart disease

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    Image credits: Morgane Perraud (not the actual photo)

    This misconception stemmed from the fact that egg yolks are high in dietary cholesterol, but recent studies have shown that dietary cholesterol has only a modest effect on blood cholesterol levels for most people. 

    According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, saturated and trans fats play a much larger role in raising blood cholesterol than eggs. 

    In fact, a 2020 meta-analysis published in the BMJ found no significant link between moderate egg consumption and heart disease in healthy individuals.

    He ate the eggs over the course of just one month and shared what happened to his body

    Image credits: Nick Norwitz

    Nevertheless, Dr. Norwitz wanted to end the egg debate for good, consuming roughly one egg every hour.

    As part of his challenge, he also shared his diet plan online and included a photo showing over 40 egg cartons he had stockpiled throughout the process.

    Dr. Norwitz didn’t, however, state what other foods he ate to accompany the unique experiment. Additionally, his results may not be definitive, as scientific research requires a larger sample size to ensure accuracy and reliability. 

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    Image credits: Nick Norwitz

    Testing on just one person doesn’t account for variations in genetics, metabolism, or lifestyle factors that could significantly impact the outcome of such a diet.

    Moreover, Dr. Norwitz added 60 grams of carbohydrates to his daily intake, focusing on fruits like bananas, blueberries, and frozen cherries, often dipping them in macadamia butter.

    The YouTuber also wanted to prove that adding carbs back into the diet of the “lean, mass hyper respondents” could lower the LDL levels.

    The results defied common beliefs about eggs, especially the yolk

    Image credits: Nick Norwitz

    Image credits: Nick Norwitz

    A study found that for those with health issues, including diabetes, eating 6-12 eggs per week didn’t have a negative effect on the total blood cholesterol levels or heart disease risk factors, but it increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol or the “good” cholesterol.

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    According to the study, when someone eats foods with cholesterol, it sticks to certain spots in the gut. This makes the body release a hormone called Choleson, which then sends a signal to the liver. 

    This signal tells the liver to slow down making its own cholesterol and helps the body keep things in balance.

    You can watch Dr. Nick Norwitz’s YouTube video below:

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    Image credits: nicknorwitz

    “In lean, insulin-sensitive people who go on low carbohydrate diets, especially ketogenic diets, it’s common for LDL levels to rise as part of a lipid triad,” Dr. Norwitz explained.

    Consequently, adding carbs back into the diet of the “lean, mass hyper respondents” can lower the LDL. Dr. Norwitz subsequently ate 60 grams of carbs per day in the form of fruits, such as blueberries, bananas, and strawberries, in the final two weeks of his experiment.

    Dr. Norwitz consumed around two bananas or 21 ounces (approximately 595 grams) of blueberries each day.

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    There’s a misconception that eggs negatively affect cholesterol levels and cause heart problems

    Image credits: nicknorwitz

    According to the content creator, this led to the now-viral dramatic drop in “bad” cholesterol. However, 60 grams of net carbs per day weren’t enough to reverse his “lean, mass hyper responder phenotype.”

    But it did have a significant enough effect to “ebb and flow out” of ketosis, as Dr. Norwitz said: “The extra dose of carbs dominated over the insane amounts of cholesterol I was consuming,” 

    Cholesterol is categorized into two main types: LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein). 

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Nick Norwitz (@nicknorwitz)

    Nick Norwitz, a doctorate student at Harvard University, ate the equivalent of 24 eggs per day

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Nick Norwitz (@nicknorwitz)

    LDL is often called “bad” cholesterol because high levels of it can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke, the CDC and Heart.org explain.

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    On the other hand, HDL is referred to as “good” cholesterol because it helps remove LDL from the bloodstream by carrying it to the liver for breakdown and removal from the body. 

    Maintaining a balance of low LDL and high HDL levels is essential for reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems.

    “Eggs have always been the bad guy,” a reader commented

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    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

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    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

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    Hey there! I'm a Visual Editor in News team. My responsibility is to ensure that you can read the story not just through text, but also through photos. I get to work with a variety of topics ranging from celebrity drama to mind-blowing Nasa cosmic news. And let me tell you, that's what makes this job an absolute blast! Outside of work, you can find me sweating it out in dance classes or unleashing my creativity by drawing and creating digital paintings of different characters that lives in my head. I also love spending time outdoors and play board games with my friends.

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    Donata Leskauskaite

    Donata Leskauskaite

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Hey there! I'm a Visual Editor in News team. My responsibility is to ensure that you can read the story not just through text, but also through photos. I get to work with a variety of topics ranging from celebrity drama to mind-blowing Nasa cosmic news. And let me tell you, that's what makes this job an absolute blast! Outside of work, you can find me sweating it out in dance classes or unleashing my creativity by drawing and creating digital paintings of different characters that lives in my head. I also love spending time outdoors and play board games with my friends.

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    Levente Kontra
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am quite sure this is not how science works.n=1 is not en experiment its an observation or a case study at best. Also just becouse you did not detedct any symptoms during the egg "treatment" does not mean that there was no effect or will have no effect in the long run.

    George Costanza
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Exactly. Just because a lab test value went down doesn't mean this is perfectly fine. You'd need large capacity studies over many decades to see if something like this resulted in worse cardiovascular health, no change, or benefit. This one month is useless in terms of actual data.

    Load More Replies...
    General Anaesthesia
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't think relying on BP for questionable health "research" is a good idea. Tabloid "journalists" look to sensationalism for sales/clicks. They are not science journalists.

    Load More Comments
    Levente Kontra
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am quite sure this is not how science works.n=1 is not en experiment its an observation or a case study at best. Also just becouse you did not detedct any symptoms during the egg "treatment" does not mean that there was no effect or will have no effect in the long run.

    George Costanza
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Exactly. Just because a lab test value went down doesn't mean this is perfectly fine. You'd need large capacity studies over many decades to see if something like this resulted in worse cardiovascular health, no change, or benefit. This one month is useless in terms of actual data.

    Load More Replies...
    General Anaesthesia
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't think relying on BP for questionable health "research" is a good idea. Tabloid "journalists" look to sensationalism for sales/clicks. They are not science journalists.

    Load More Comments
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