It’s one of the most common questions men ask after being diagnosed with prostate cancer:
“Are eggs safe to eat?”
Well… two major studies tried to answer that, and what they found may surprise you.
Let’s break it down.
The link between eggs and prostate cancer progression
The first big study analyzed data from over 842,000 (!) men across the world. Scientists looked at how much unprocessed meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs these men were eating, then tracked whether they developed prostate cancer over time.
They didn’t stop at whether someone got prostate cancer. They looked deeper into whether it became advanced, spread, or even turned fatal.
Here’s what they found:
Eggs didn’t raise the overall risk of getting prostate cancer.
But men who ate more eggs had a higher risk of dying from it.
Yep, you read that right.
Men who ate about half an egg per day or more had a 14% higher risk of advanced or fatal prostate cancer compared to those who rarely ate eggs.
A second, separate study crunched the numbers from multiple other studies. When researchers zoomed out and looked at what happens when men increase their egg intake by just 5 eggs per week (less than one per day!), the risk of dying from prostate cancer went up by 47%.
Why would eggs be a problem?
Egg yolks are rich in:
Choline: a nutrient linked to faster prostate tumor growth in past research.
Cholesterol: which may feed the hormonal pathways involved in prostate cancer progression.
Now, does that mean eggs cause prostate cancer to spread or become deadly?
No, these studies don’t prove that. In fact, choline and cholesterol are absolutely essential for the healthy function of the body.
So, should you stop eating eggs completely?
No.
The science doesn’t say you have to go egg-free. No, eggs are very nutritious food, and they give you a lot of the nutrients you need. But it does suggest that men with prostate cancer should be cautious.
Here’s a practical guideline that Dr Georgios recommends:
Keep your whole egg intake to up to 4 per week. You can still eat as many egg whites as you’d like, but keep the yolks to 4 a week. So watch the yolks, not the whites.
This keeps you safely below the danger zone flagged in both studies.
If you love your morning eggs, here’s what you can do:
Use 1 whole egg + 3 egg whites to get that familiar texture and flavor without the full yolk load.
Focus on other proteins like legumes, fish, or lean poultry.
Add volume with veggies like cabbage, tomatoes, onions, and mushrooms.
Stick with extra virgin olive oil as your cooking fat (not butter or animal fat).
These simple swaps help you enjoy your meals without putting yourself at higher risk.
Final Thought
We often talk about the power of food to heal, but sometimes, it’s about knowing what to limit. Eggs are a nutrient-dense food, no doubt. But for men with prostate cancer, moderation could be a life-extending move.
So next time you crack open an egg, just think about your weekly count. A few yolks here and there? Fine. But if you’re making 2–3-egg omelets every morning… it may be time for a better plan, and you can get that by starting to work with me today. I create personalized exercise and nutrition programs that will fit into your schedule and empower you to win back your health. Don’t settle for generic advice. You deserve a plan that considers every aspect of your condition, from fighting cancer cells with nutrition and exercise, to maximizing the effectiveness of your treatments and minimizing their side-effects. This is your opportunity to invest in yourself, your health, your energy, and your future.
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References
Keum N, Lee DH, Marchand N, Oh H, Liu H, Aune D, Greenwood DC, Giovannucci EL. Egg intake and cancers of the breast, ovary and prostate: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective observational studies. Br J Nutr. 2015 Oct 14;114(7):1099-107.
Wu K, Spiegelman D, Hou T, Albanes D, Allen NE, Berndt SI, van den Brandt PA, Giles GG, Giovannucci E, Alexandra Goldbohm R, Goodman GG, Goodman PJ, Håkansson N, Inoue M, Key TJ, Kolonel LN, Männistö S, McCullough ML, Neuhouser ML, Park Y, Platz EA, Schenk JM, Sinha R, Stampfer MJ, Stevens VL, Tsugane S, Visvanathan K, Wilkens LR, Wolk A, Ziegler RG, Smith-Warner SA. Associations between unprocessed red and processed meat, poultry, seafood and egg intake and the risk of prostate cancer: A pooled analysis of 15 prospective cohort studies. Int J Cancer. 2016 May 15;138(10):2368-82.