For decades, nutritional guidance has suggested eggs aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Whether it was raising cholesterol or increasing the risk of heart disease, the fridge staple acquired a bad reputation. But new research suggests the real bad egg might be bacon — or more specifically, the saturated fat in processed meats.

In the study, researchers assigned three separate diets to a group of healthy adults. One diet was high in saturated fat from processed meats like bacon and sausage; another included two eggs a day, but was low in saturated fat; and a third option combined high cholesterol with high saturated fat.

After five weeks, participants who were assigned to the diet high in cholesterol and saturated fat demonstrated the worst cholesterol readings of the group. The runner-up for worst diet? The group of folks who did not eat eggs but had an abundance of bacon or sausage. Finally, the cohort who ate two eggs a day but less saturated fat fared the best, even showing improved levels of LDL, or what we know as bad cholesterol.

The takeaway? Saturated fat — not dietary cholesterol — is the main contributor to higher low-density lipoproteins, or the “bad” kind of cholesterol. Processed meats pack a heavy punch of saturated fat, while eggs provide protein and nutrients without the same negative effect.

For those heart-conscious breakfast lovers who have ditched the eggs and bacon for fruit and yogurt, there’s no longer a need to eschew the delicious dozen. Cutting back on processed meats alone can help protect your cholesterol levels, allowing you to scramble back into the world of egg-forward breakfasts.