Eating Modern (Fantastic Food): January 2013

Eggceptional Nutrition

Condemned, denounced, decried the lowly egg has been, and to some still is, the bad boy of our diets. Thankfully, after more than 25 years of research, the medical community is changing its tune. The latest information not only takes eggs of the black list of unhealthy foods but cheers the many benefits of the marvelous EGG.

Once belied for its high cholesterol content and ignored otherwise, the many health benefits of eggs could have been lost to an entire generation of health conscious people. Many people gave up eggs altogether, many were reduced to eating only the whites and many of us poor misguided souls even tried egg substitutes. Luckily for us there is no substitute for the real thing.

Breakfast Eggs_031 (Photo credit: rob_rob2001)

Medical Science has finally started giving us the whole story. First, yes, eggs are high in cholesterol but it is not the health risk it was once thought. The most dangerous cholesterol is that produced by the body itself. This is the bodies, natural, reaction to high levels of Saturated Fats (mostly from whole dairy products) in our diets.

The rest of the story is that from a nutritional point of view eggs are hard to beat. For a protein source eggs are top of the chart. A single one cup serving of eggs contains over 31g of protein and this is a near perfect protein mix. It contains all 9 essential Amino Acids giving it the highest Biological Value of any food. Eggs are an excellent source of vitamins A, D, K, B6, B12, E, Thiamine and Riboflavin and that is just the beginning. Eggs are also top source for Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium, Zinc, Copper and Selenium. These nutrients alone are a good start to any balanced diet but we’re not finished yet there is still more to come.

en: Eggs (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Eggs also contain compounds or pigments known as Carotenoids that fight Free radicals in our bodies. Specifically they contain relatively high levels of Lueten and Zeaxanthin. Both of these substances have been found to fight Macular Degeneration, the leading cause of failing site and blindness as we age. Add to this the presents of the essential nutrient Choline, a chemical similar and often grouped with the B family of vitamins. This chemical not only helps regulate the flow of nutrients and waste, in and out through cell membranes but has been found to aid and promote brain development in children and memory retention in adults.

There is still a little more information that you need to be made aware of about eggs. Namely the most important fact about eggs, they are delicious and very versatile. Boiled, fried, 3 minute, scrambled, quiche, omelet, eggs are hard to beat. Let your imagination roam , try something new, Fry eggs in olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese they are even healthier. The only limits are what you are willing to try. I hope you know EGGactly what I mean.

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