Whole eggs and egg yolks often get a lot of flak for causing fat to build up, increasing cholesterol and even damaging heart health. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth, and when eaten in moderation, eggs can be extremely beneficial for you. The nutrition in eggs far outweighs their risks, and if you are otherwise allowed to eat them, don’t stop. Just ensure you eat free range eggs that have no hormones in them so as to keep yourself safe. An egg a day may just make you superman!
In recent times, omelettes made with just the egg whites have become a new fitness fad. Likewise, people say that eating eggs can be bad for you, that it can increase cholesterol levels, etc. While farmed eggs do pose a health risk in general, because of the growth hormones injected into them, eggs that are organic and free range can have multiple benefits for your health. Here, we bust a few myths and tell you just how good eggs can be.
1. They Are Extremely Rich In Nutrients
The reason people prefer to eat egg whites is that yolks contain fat. Each egg yolk has about 5 grams of fat. However, only about 1.5 of these grams is saturated fat. Also, egg yolks are packed with nutrients such as important B complex vitamins that are vital for nerve health.1
2. They Improve Heart Health
Most of the bad reputation that eggs get is because of the cholesterol they contain. Did you know that some amount of cholesterol is actually essential for good nerve function? Yes, when eaten in moderation, eggs actually help improve heart health, and not deteriorate it because of cholesterol!2
3. They Can Prevent Cancer
As mentioned earlier, eggs in general and yolks in particular are extremely rich in B complex vitamins such as choline. Choline is known to reduce the risk of breast cancer in women by up to 24%. If that isn’t a significant reduction in risk, we don’t know what is.3
4. They Are Great For The Eyes
Macular degeneration is a condition in which the macula of the eye gradually deteriorates. While the cause of this problem is not widely understood, it does cause loss of vision up to a 100% over time. Some studies show that macular degeneration is caused because of oxidative stress in the body in general and the eye in particular. Eggs contain antioxidant compounds such as lutein and zeaxanthin which can help reduce this oxidative stress.4
5. They Can Help You Stay Fit
In one study, it was found that obese people who eat a breakfast of two eggs at least five times a week lost 65% more weight than those who ate bagels. Protein keeps you feeling full for longer, reducing cravings and making you less hungry than carbs, which explains why eggs make for a good fitness food.5. Also, eggs being protein help repair your muscles after a difficult workout. All the more reason to add them to your diet.6
And these are just some of the less commonly known benefits. For kids, eating eggs is known to be a balanced way of getting all the nutrition they need, especially the vital vitamins and amino acids.7 In vegetarian people who don’t consume meat and fish, eggs can be a good adjuvant protein in their diet. As for health concerns, unless you are allergic to them or your doctor has specifically asked you not to eat them, there’s no reason to not add an egg a day to your diet!
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