Nutritional Value of Eggs

Before you jump to conclusions that all eggs are bad for your health, you should know that the nutritional value of eggs is directly tied to what the chickens are fed. Many egg companies are now feeding their hens a specialized diet to increase the amount of omega-3 oils in their eggs. Ingredients like marine algae and flax seed are now found in chicken feed. Interestingly, a study out of the Harvard School of Public Health found no link between the consumption of eggs and heart disease. Some studies even show eggs improves your protection against stroke and heart attacks.

People with a risk factor for heart disease often remove eggs from their diet, but cholesterol is necessary for life, and it is not a toxic substance. Cholesterol is divided into two types. Good cholesterol is High-density Lipoproteins (HDL), and bad cholesterol is Low-density Lipoproteins (LDL). Eating eggs enriched with omega-3 might actually help to lower LDL levels.

While eggs are a great source of protein, they also provide other health benefits. Because egg yolks contain the antioxidant lutein, you get a built-in safeguard against damage to your retina. Lutein in eggs stops any inflammation of the macular pigment, which is what protects your retina from harmful light rays.

If you want to boost your cognitive functions, choline is an important supplement. Choline is part of the Vitamin B complex, and since a single egg yolk delivers 300 mcg of choline, eating an egg helps your neurons accept, process, and store information quickly and efficiently.

Eggs are the perfect food for dietiers. The protein factor makes you feel full after eating them. As a matter of fact, eating just two eggs in the morning has been known to reduce caloric intake by up to 400 calories according to the Rochester Center for Obesity in Michigan.

If you’ve ever suffered with a urinary tract infections (UTIs), you’ll be glad to know that the whites of eggs contain peptides which binds to the infectious E. coli bacteria and doesn’t let them latch on to the walls of the urinary tract.

Many reports about eggs contradict each other, but saturated fat is what contributes to excessive cholesterol, and eggs only contain 1.5 grams of saturated fat and 5 grams of the right kind of fat you want to ingest. For healthy hair and nails, eggs provide sulpher, vitamins, and minerals. There’s no doubt that eggs are a dietary staple if you want to be healthy. If you’ve cut them from your diet, try revisiting these little powerhouses of nutrition.

Resources: Healthy Meal Planning | Eggs by Michel Roux | A Chicken in Every Cul de Sac

So, what is your thought on this? Let me know!