Eggs are Healthy for You

It’s been long debated whether or not eating eggs is in fact good for you. Nutrition experts have gone back and forth with whether eggs high cholesterol content has an impact on consumers own cholesterol levels. It had been hypothesized for some time that eating eggs could increase cholesterol levels which could eventually lead to heart disease.

However, more recently in 2000 a research study was conducted to identify if there is in fact a correlation between egg consumption and higher cholesterol levels. The results were published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition: Eggs make important nutritional contributions to the American diet and their consumption is not associated with high cholesterol levels. More importantly, the study showed that egg consumers had a higher intake of important nutrients like vitamins B12, A, E, and C than non-egg eaters, and that people who reported eating four or more eggs per week actually had significantly lower average cholesterol levels than those who reported eating zero to one eggs per week.

So why should you include eggs in your current diet?

1. Eggs are an inexpensive excellent source of high-quality protein.
One egg provides 6 grams of complete protein(all nine essential amino acids) plus it’s only 75 calories.

2. Eating eggs is helpful for losing weight.
Because of the high amount of quality protein in eggs, they make a very satisfying breakfast, which is especially useful for those trying to lose weight. In one study published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (2007), subjects following low-fat, calorie-restricted diets were randomly assigned to one of two breakfasts: a bagel or two eggs. After eight weeks, the egg eaters experienced 65% greater weight loss, 83% greater decrease in waist circumference, and a greater improvement in energy levels compared to the bagel-eating group. Researchers hypothesized that egg eaters had increased levels of satiety throughout the morning and into lunch enabling them to consume less calories and still feel satisfied.

3. Eggs protect your eyesight especially as you get older.
Egg yolks contain a highly absorbable form of vision-protective carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin, which help to prevent age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

So how many is safe to consume?

On a weekly basis, a healthy adult could consume an egg a day and not see any raise in cholesterol levels. The only people who should keep it under six a week are diabetics and those with heart disease.