An egg a day keeps the doctor away

Added 01.04.2009

Eggs are bad for your health; they contain high amounts of cholesterol and should be banned from your diet. Sound familiar? Whether you have high cholesterol or not, no doubt these words have resonated in your ears countless of times and you may have even believed it as well.

Guess what? Whomever you heard those words from was wrong! Studies are proving quite the contrary; eating eggs frequently translates into a host of health benefits. Why would a hen create an unhealthy environment (egg) for a chick? Let's take a closer look at what lies beneath an eggshell.

What's in an egg?

An egg contains lots of essential vitamins including vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K. They are also good sources of carotenoids in particular lutein and zeaxanthin. Iron, zinc, selenium and phosphorous are some of the vital minerals contained in eggs. Choline, a vital nutrient for nerve cell transmission, brain development and memory can also be found in eggs. Did we also mention that eggs contain nine essential amino acids and high quality protein? So in a nutshell, eggs have many of the nutrients you need to stay healthy.

What about eggs containing cholesterol?

Yes, it's true; eggs do contain cholesterol but not the kind that is harmful. Without "good" cholesterol you wouldn't be able to survive. Cholesterol is essential for you as it helps the body create many hormones and has hundreds of other roles in the body. Saturated fat from for example full dairy products, cakes and fatty meat is what contributes to raising your LDL (unhealthy) cholesterol levels. Eggs are low on saturated fat and actually the yolk contains lecithin, which is thought to dissolve unhealthy cholesterol. Furthermore, according to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, the cholesterol in egg yolks has a negligible effect on blood cholesterol levels and that eating an egg a day does not increase the risk of heart disease in healthy people.

Health benefits of eggs

As already mentioned, eggs are healthy and can prevent many health conditions. Let's take a look at what eggs are good for:

• Eggs may reduce blood pressure: A study conducted this year and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, found that proteins contained in eggs "act like a popular group of prescription medications to lower blood pressure." This is of course minus prescription drugs' side effects.
• Eating eggs can help weight loss: In a 2005 study, eating a breakfast consisting of eggs induced greater satiety thus reducing food intake throughout the day, which can greatly help weight loss.
• Eggs are good for the eyes: Eggs contain carotenoids, in particular lutein and zeaxanthin, which are known to promote good eye health and prevent the risk of developing macular degeneration and cataracts.

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