5 good reasons to eat eggs

The humble egg, vilified for far too long, is in fact an incredible super food. Contrary to the previously held belief that eggs raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease, eggs are actually heart protective. They raise your ‘good’ HDL cholesterol and change ‘bad’ LDL particles to the large fluffy kind, which are completely benign. Eggs are packed with so much goodness that it’s a crying shame so many people have lost out for so long. They contain a little bit of almost every nutrient the body needs for good health.

Why should we be eating eggs as part of a healthy eating plan, on a regular basis?

(1) Helps you to lose body fat

Eggs are very satiating due to their high protein and healthy fat content. You might even be able to make it from breakfast to lunch without the need for a snack. Studies have shown that when eggs are eaten for breakfast, subjects ate up to 400 calories less during the course of the day. The lower calorie intake promoted fat loss over time.  Move over cereal and toast, eggs are back.

(2) Supports your hormones

Eggs are an excellent source of vitamin A, a nutrient that enables your cells to use the thyroid hormone that your thyroid gland produces. This has benefits for weight control, mood, energy, and digestive health. Another benefit is that eggs contain only trace amounts of carbs and are therefore a perfect meal choice for controlling blood sugar and insulin levels. They have even been shown to improve insulin resistance.

(3) Promotes eye health

Vision tends to worsen with age. Cataracts and macular degeneration are common complaints of the elderly. There are two anti-oxidants in egg yolk, lutein and zeaxanthin, that counteract this process and reduce the risk of sight impairment. Thank goodness sentiment is changing and boring egg white omelettes are now passé.  No longer do you have to deprive yourself of those deliciously creamy yellow yolks and all the incredible nutrients they have to offer.

(4) Nourishes your body

Eggs are nature’s “multi-vitamin”. They are a good source of high quality protein, antioxidants, as well as vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, B, D, E, K, folate, selenium, calcium, iron, zinc and more. Choline, an important nutrient for brain development, is also found in the yolk. Since eggs contain all the essential amino acids, you can rest assured in the knowledge that you are giving your body everything it needs to build and maintain healthy bones, muscle, and skin.

(5) Good for mental health

Eggs contain the amino acid tryptophan, which enables the body to produce serotonin, a feel-good chemical that regulates mood. The tyrosine in eggs facilitates the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine, which promote mental alertness.

Considering their amazing nutrient density, their ability to improve health and assist with fat loss, as well as them being a breeze to cook, delicious to eat and relatively inexpensive, it’s a no-brainer that eggs deserve a regular spot at the table. Breakfast, lunch or dinner. Scrambled, poached or fried.  Raw in a smoothie or cooked in a quiche. The options for enjoyment of this perfect food are truly endless. The time has perhaps come, if you have been wary or skeptical about the consumption of these little oval -shaped objects, to review your thinking. Science is now firmly behind the eating of eggs because eggs have so much to offer.

Tip:Free-range eggs are far more nutritious than commercially raised eggs due to the difference in what the chickens eat. Be sure to spend a little more to obtain all the goodness.

Article written by: Nicky Perks for Lose It magazine.