Eggs, Are They As Healthy As Suggested?

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Eggs, contrary to popular belief, are one of the healthiest foods on the planet. There are plenty of different types of eggs, but the eggs being referred to here are those being custom manufactured by the genus gallus, or domestic chicken.

Myth: Cholesterol

There have been several myths and half-truths about eggs over the years, but none so far-reaching as the myth that eggs can lead to cardiovascular disease by increasing levels of cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol does not lead to an increase in cholesterol in most healthy people, although former vegetarians and vegans may see a slight increase in cholesterol levels when they eat foods with dietary cholesterol in them. This is because cholesterol is synthesized for use by the body for the production of certain hormones — the active form of Vitamin D, sex hormones such as testosterone and estrogen, and corticosteroids. Excess cholesterol has been found even in vegans and vegetarians and is due to certain genetic conditions such as hypercholesterolemia. In fact, studies show that lecithin, a component of eggs, can prevent and lower cholesterol.

Whole eggs are a great source of nutrients. Eggs are more than just protein and fat. They are the nutrient/growth medium for developing embryos that will go on to hatch. Eggs are divided into two portions, the fatty portion known as the yolk, and the protein-rich albumin also known as the egg whites. There are more parts of an egg than this, but for the purposes of nutrition, these are the two main components. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in a fat-soluble medium, so egg yolks are where most of your fat-soluble vitamins will be found. These vitamins include A, D, E and K. Eggs are rich in vitamin E, which is an important antioxidant for preventing free radicals which could cause cancer. Fat-solubility is also why dark meat can in some ways be healthier than light meat because you miss out on certain nutrients present in those fat-soluble foods that are missing in fat-free. Eggs are also rich in B vitamins such as niacin, thiamine, pantothenic acid, and pyridoxine, which help catalyze reactions in the body for converting essential amino acids to non-essential (and vice-versa).

Eggs could be considered a super food, super healthy, and depending on how you like to enjoy eating your eggs they are super tasty and can be enjoyed at every meal.

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