BLOG 275 EGGS

BLOG 275 EGGS

Chickens serve an important role for our agricultural and our health. Eggs are a superfood for our bodies with all the nutrients packed inside their shells. Cracking an egg is like opening up one of the most nutritious foods we can eat. No wonder nearly four billion cartons (12-pack) of eggs are sold per year.

One large egg has approximately 80 calories, with 5 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein. Eggs are primarily consumed for their source as protein for us, especially since they contain all the amino acids we need. Because eggs are high in protein, they can help people feel fuller which can help maintain a healthy body weight when incorporated into a nutritious diet. There are several other reasons to eat eggs. They contain 28% daily value (DV), 23% of the DV recommended for B12, 20% of DV for riboflavin, 8% of DV for vitamin A, 7% of DV for phosphorus, and 6% of DV for folate. Other trace nutrients can be found including vitamin D, vitamin E, calcium, zinc, and vitamin B6.

Eggs also contain lutein and zeaxanthin. These are antioxidants found in the eyes which help ward off cataracts and macular degeneration. The yolk contains the greatest number of cataracts and macular degeneration. Eggs that are enriched with omega-3 enriched can reduce blood levels of triglycerides. Furthermore, eggs contain choline. This is a nutrient not many people know exists, but we must have it to help build cell membranes. One egg has 100mg of choline, so they are a great source.

One of the main debates about eating eggs can be the argument that they are high in cholesterol. One egg does contain 186 mg of cholesterol, and 300 mg is the recommended threshold for daily cholesterol intake. For 70% of people, eggs do not raise their blood cholesterol levels, but for 30% eggs do raise it. On the other hand, eating eggs does raise good HDL which helps lower the risk of heart disease.

Crack an egg to your health. The benefits are many and eggs are versatile to prepare to please for many types of taste buds. Some like them whole, some like the whites, some scrambled, some hardboiled, etc. They are a great addition to salads, an easy on the go snack, and can make a whole meal. They’re simply eggselent.