Health Benefits of Eggs

Eggs Lower Cholesterol

But new research suggests that eggs may be able to reclaim their halo of goodness once again. A growing body of evidence now shows that eggs can impart essential benefits for the brain, the eyes, and, yes, even the heart, without any clinically significant impact on cholesterol.

Although egg yolks do contain cholesterol, researchers now believe that levels of saturated fat in the diet — not dietary cholesterol — have the greatest impact on blood cholesterol levels, which are thought to predict heart disease risk. Additionally, little of the cholesterol found in eggs is actually absorbed in the intestine, making its impact on blood cholesterol negligible. A Harvard University study found that people who consumed one or more eggs a day were at no more risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease than non-egg eaters. A subsequent analysis done at Michigan State University revealed that cholesterol among people who ate four or more eggs per week was actually lower than among people who avoided eggs altogether. In light of this evidence, the American Heart Association has since revised its earlier four-eggs-per-week restriction.

Eggs Can be Beneficial to the Body

Liberated from their cholesterol burden, eggs have a host of nutrients that impart unique health advantages. They are an excellent source of the B vitamin choline, which is essential for healthy brain function and communication between nerves and muscles. Since more than 90% of Americans are choline-deficient, eating eggs is a good idea. This is especially true for pregnant women, since choline is necessary for brain and memory development in the fetus. Furthermore, choline can help neutralize homocysteine, a molecule that can damage blood vessels, thereby protecting cardiovascular health.

Eggs have also proven to be excellent sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, the carotenoids responsible for healthy eyes. A diet rich in these substances guards against cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness. The lutein found in eggs is absorbed even better than the lutein in spinach, thought to be the top source of this nutrient, likely due to fats found in the egg yolk.

Eat Eggs to Lose Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight is key for overall well-being and eating eggs can help. In a study of overweight or obese men and women, those who ate a breakfast including two eggs lost twice as much weight as those who consumed a bagel breakfast (which is simply carbs).

Low in calories but high in protein, eggs promote a feeling of satiety, leading individuals to consume fewer calories overall in a 24-hour period. Eggs are also an important component of the increasingly popular Ketogenic diet and Paleo diet that focus on high-protein, low-carb eating habits.

Today we know eggs aren’t all that cholesterol researchers cracked them up to be. Far from being dangerous sources of artery-clogging cholesterol, eggs have redeemed themselves as nature’s healthy pre-packaged food. In that way, they are true symbols of rebirth.