The woman's blood test didn't necessarily prove that eating eggs caused a health problem.
Instead, it gave her doctor a reason to examine the entire picture.
A typical lipid panel may include:
- LDL cholesterol
- HDL cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- Total cholesterol
LDL cholesterol is often called "bad cholesterol" because elevated levels can contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries over time.
HDL cholesterol is sometimes called "good cholesterol," although cardiovascular risk is more complicated than simply having a high or low HDL number.
Triglycerides are another type of blood fat that can also provide important information about metabolic health.
If cholesterol levels are elevated, doctors generally consider the person's overall cardiovascular risk, rather than blaming a single food.
Family history can be particularly important.
Some people inherit conditions such as familial hypercholesterolemia, which can cause very high LDL cholesterol even when their diet appears relatively healthy.
That's why a routine blood test can be valuable.
You may feel completely normal while an important risk factor is developing silently.
Chapter 4 — The Problem With Eating the Same Food Every Day
The most important lesson from a diet like this isn't necessarily "never eat eggs."