Do you say no to eating eggs because of their calorie count? Are you scared that the high cholesterol content in eggs will staggeringly increase the cholesterol level in your blood? Pause for a minute, and think. How do you know that the cholesterol in egg yolk is harmful? Eggs are greatly misjudged foods with high nutritional values that you are possibly unaware of. Here are some health benefits of egg whites and yolks that will compel you to rethink your diet:
Cholesterol In the Yolk
Let’s deal with the elephant in the room. You put down the egg worrying about the cholesterol count, don’t you? It is true that egg yolks have high cholesterol count, but it is the ‘good cholesterol’. It contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that are essential for you. These fatty acids have been shown to protect your body against type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s, maintain brain and nerve cells, as well as delay age-related brain decline.
Dietary cholesterol increases High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) and helps keep your heart healthy. Opposite popular belief, a study has discovered that egg yolks facilitate lowering Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) in the blood. While your stipulated cholesterol level in the blood has to be within 300 milligrams, eggs contain only 185 milligrams of dietary cholesterol.
Host of Vitamins In The Yolk
Did you know egg yolks contain 244 IU of vitamin A? Vitamin A is an antioxidant that oxidizes free radicals and protects your body from cellular damage. It also facilitates the growth of new cells. Vitamin A is also beneficial for vision and boosts your immune system. The egg yolk contains other vitamins such as D, E, B-12, B-6, and K.
Vitamin D facilitates increased absorption of calcium and phosphorus for the maintenance and development of bone strength. Vitamin K also helps develop bone strength, while simultaneously playing an important role in blood clotting. The presence of Vitamin B-12 in egg yolks helps treat pernicious anemia in the elderly. Egg yolk is also a brilliant hair conditioner and leaves your hair shiny and smooth. To avoid the stench, add a drop of vanilla extract to the mixture before applying it to your hair. Leave it to dry for 15 minutes before rinsing it off.
Increased Proteins In The Whites
While the egg yolk contains 3g of protein, the whites contain almost 4. You read it right! Egg whites have higher protein content. Now you know why doctors advise you to eat egg whites over the yolks. Unfortunately, that is all the nutrient content that egg whites have.
However, you can push your dishes’ taste quotient by separating the egg whites from the yolks, beating it and making omelets out of it. Besides, you can add shredded egg whites in your soup by simply pouring the whites into piping hot soup and continuously stirring it. You can also make egg white mask as a cleanser for your face. Add oatmeal to the mask and it acts like a face scrub. Egg whites are a great home remedy to treat clogged skin pores and other skin problems.
Other Nutrients Present In Egg Yolks
Egg yolks also contain other minerals like calcium, iron, zinc, and phosphorus. Iron forms a combining element of hemoglobin and facilitates oxygen transportation in the blood. Zinc is a versatile mineral that cures night blindness and cataracts, besides helping strengthen immunity. It also helps delay the onset of diseases like osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Calcium and phosphorus, on the other hand, help maintain and develop bone tissue.
A whole egg a day can keep the doctor far away. Also, remember that eggs cooked in butter or loaded with cheese, and with bacon on the side will definitely cause your cholesterol levels to spike (so make sure you are eating healthy grass-fed fats to get the ‘good’ HDL cholesterol)! Just be vigilant with your diet (eating healthy fats and also eating a rainbow of fruits and veggies) to ensure you keep diseases at bay and live a healthy life. …and don’t be scared of eating the entire egg!
Here at Scratch Mommy you can also learn about the buzzwords on the outside of the egg carton.
Scratch Mommy Recipes that feature eggs:
