The Healthy Benefits of Eggs

For those of you old enough to remember, in the eighties the “experts” came out with the dietary recommendation that eggs were bad for health.  Or at least egg yolks with the high amount of cholesterol they contain (one large egg contains about 212 mg of cholesterol).  Today we know better.  Eggs are great food for most of us to eat.  With Easter this weekend and the Easter eggs that go with it, here are some of the healthy benefits you get from eating eggs.

1. Eggs are a great source of protein.  A large egg contains about 6 grams of protein.  Each egg contains all the essential amino acids in the right balance your body needs to stay healthy.

2. Eggs are packed with essential vitamins the body needs to maintain health.  Each egg contains vitamins A, B2, B5, B12, D, E, and K; Folate, phosphorous, selenium, zinc and calcium.

3. Eggs raise HDL cholesterol – the GOOD cholesterol without elevating overall cholesterol.

4. Eggs have a high satiety index, meaning they make you feel full for longer.  This in turn helps with weight loss.

5. Eggs promote brain health.  Choline is a nutrient that is essential for brain development in the fetus and newborn.  It is also important for memory function even into old age. Eggs are an excellent source of choline, and one egg will provide 28% of a pregnant woman’s choline requirement. 

6. Eggs are heart safe and may even reduce the risk of stroke.  As I mentioned above, eggs have taken a bad rap for many years with claims that the cholesterol is bad for the heart.  However, many studies published in recent years have examined the relationship between egg consumption and the risk of heart disease.

In one review of 17 studies with a total of 263,938 participants, no association was found between egg consumption and heart disease or stroke.

The studies clearly show that eating up to 3 whole eggs per day is perfectly safe.

So there you have it!  Eggs are a pretty much nature’s perfect food so enjoy as many eggs as you like this Easter holiday!  I personally eat about 2-3 whole eggs per day and my health has never been better.  Not only are they healthy, they are also inexpensive (even organic) and they go with almost any food and taste great.

Bon appetite and Happy Easter!