The Incredible Edible Egg

Breakfast is arguably everyone’s favorite meal and should be for one reason, the chance to eat eggs. Eating whole eggs, instead of just egg whites, has been previously considered  unhealthy in large quantities, but science says different.

People commonly mistake the yolk, or yellow part, of an egg as being just high in fat and cholesterol with nothing to benefit your health. However, eggs contain an abundance of nutrients within the yolks of which many people are unaware. One whole egg contains numerous vitamins and minerals essential to our body, such as Vitamin A, Folate, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B2, Phosphorus, and Selenium. Eggs also contain decent amounts of Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Calcium and Zinc.1

Cholesterol and obesity are an issue for people in the United States with the egg getting negative attention for being high in fat and cholesterol, which it is. In spite of these high levels,  the fat and cholesterol in an egg have no negative effect on cholesterol levels.2A study published in Medical News Today found that subjects who ate three whole eggs each day for three months had no impact on their LDL (bad) cholesterol or total blood cholesterol, even though they were eating two times the amount of cholesterol than they were before the experiment began. The same group had increased HDL (good) cholesterol, decreased plasma triglycerides, and improved lipid profiles.

Due to the high level of essential nutrients, the egg should be a staple in anyone’s diet. If high LDL cholesterol or triglycerides is a health concern, look elsewhere and make other changes to what you are eating.

References

1.Gunnars, K. (2014, January 1). 10 Proven Health Benefits of Eggs. Retrieved September 30, 2014, from http://authoritynutrition.com/10-proven-health-benefits-of-eggs/

2.Glynn, S. (2012, December 25). Eating Whole Eggs Can Improve Blood Lipids. Retrieved September 30, 2014, from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/254465.php