DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Are eggs still off-limits? My mother-in-law says I’m killing my husband by feeding him the occasional egg. I thought the egg ban had been lifted. My husband loves them. He says he never got to eat them when he was growing up; his mother never served them. I’d like an update on eggs. — M.A.

ANSWER: The cholesterol/heart attack/egg issue was overplayed in the past. At one time, the impression was that eating eggs was tantamount to inviting a heart attack. That’s not true. The blood level of cholesterol rises only marginally from eating cholesterol foods. Saturated fat and trans fat are foods that boost cholesterol; they encourage the liver to produce it.

Furthermore, today’s eggs have less cholesterol in them than they formerly had. That’s due to the way hens are now raised and fed. Today, the cholesterol content of eggs is around 200 milligrams. It used to be 300 milligrams.

In addition, eggs are a nutritional bonanza. A large egg is only 72 calories. It has 6 grams of protein and 1.5 grams of saturated fat — not a dangerous amount. It also contains vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B-12, riboflavin (another B vitamin) and some iron.

One egg a day is quite safe. It doesn’t increase the risk for heart disease.

A second issue with eggs deserves mentioning. It is transmission of the bacterium Salmonella, a germ that causes severe diarrhea. Salmonellas can enter eggs through tiny pores in the eggshell. Or a hen whose ovaries are infected with Salmonella can pass the germ into the egg’s interior. Neither happens with great frequency.

The Salmonella issue can be laid to rest by cooking the egg thoroughly, to a temperature of 160 F (72 C). You don’t need to check with a food thermometer. Cook the egg until the yolk is firm. Uncooked eggs stored in the refrigerator are good for three to five weeks. Hard-boiled eggs present no threat for a week.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I try to have a physical exam every year. I hadn’t had one for three years. When I got around to it, the doctor wanted me to have lab tests, especially for diabetes, since it runs in my family. It’s impossible for me to get to the lab early in the morning, so the doctor said I could have my blood taken without fasting. My blood sugar came back at 127. The result was tagged as abnormal. Do I have diabetes? My doctor says no. The Internet says yes. — P.K.

ANSWER: There are a number of ways to test for diabetes. The most common is fasting blood sugar, blood taken eight hours after not having had any calories. The normal fasting plasma glucose (blood sugar) is less than 100 milligrams/dL (5.55 mmol/L). Hemoglobin A1C is another way to check for diabetes. Hemoglobin is the stuff inside red blood cells that transports oxygen through the body. Sugar coats hemoglobin. It’s like a glazed donut. That’s hemoglobin A1C. Normal is less than 6.5. A random blood sugar measurement — blood drawn at any time — indicates diabetes if it is greater than 200 milligrams (11.1). Your random sugar of 125 is not diagnostic. Random blood sugars are not the best tests. Can you get to the lab after eight hours of zero calories on the weekend? If not, get the HbA1C test.

Diabetes has become epidemic in North America. The booklet on it provides insight on its diagnosis and treatment. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue — No. 402, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Can. with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I’ve been told that distilled water prevents one from developing gallstones and kidney stones. Is there any proof of this? — D.K.

ANSWER: None that I know of.

Who told you that? It’s foolish. I don’t know a single person who drinks distilled water. Do you know anyone who does, aside from the source of this misinformation?

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com.

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