Eggs are great little self-contained packages of body-bolstering nutrition.
They each contain about 70 calories made up of protein and fat, along with a good complement of vitamins and minerals (aka micronutrients), and are low in carbohydrates by nature.
You can cook them a million different ways, include them in lots of recipes, and they make a solid foundation for a meal and awesome little satisfying snacks!
In order to reap the full benefits of including eggs in your diet, let me encourage you to eat the whole thing - yolk and all!
An egg is made up of two parts - the white and the yolk. An egg white is essentially comprised of pure protein, without many calories (less than 20, so about 4 grams of protein) but also not much else. The yolk is what contains all of the vitamins, minerals, protein, and fat that makes eggs so nutritious. There’s definitely a time and place for fat-free protein and egg whites can be great for that, but for an all-around nutritious addition, the whole egg is the way to go!
It’s been a long-believed misconception that consuming eggs would cause your cholesterol levels to climb, but dietary and blood cholesterol have been proven to be separate things - meaning that eating foods that contain cholesterol, like eggs, does not necessarily affect the cholesterol in your blood.
Although it is still suggested to limit saturated fat intake for heart health, of which egg yolks do contain a small amount, the “good fats” also contained in eggs (mono- and poly-unsaturated) are thought to be heart-healthy and help with cholesterol too.
(We took care of our clients' chickens once when they were on vacation as you can see, and look what they gave us!)
The yolks also contain lots of vitamins and minerals (vitamin A, vitamin D, choline, B vitamins…) that help us fight disease while keeping our eyes, skin, and memory healthy among other things, so give the yolk another chance before you toss it!
But just like with any food, moderation is always a good concept to keep in mind - just because eggs have nutritional merit doesn’t mean you need to switch to an all-egg diet! Balance is always my preference, and it applies to everything :)
Even if you’re trying to lose weight, eggs are so satisfying and nutritious that they can find a place in almost any plan. Try having one or two as a snack or in a salad - they’re great!
If you’re concerned about having too much fat in one sitting from incorporating some eggs, try having one or two yolks with a couple of additional whites… That way, you can get the benefits from the yolks with an extra hit of protein for an even more filling meal, keeping your calories down but your nutrition up!
So go get your hands on some eggs, and use the whole thing!
What’s your favorite way to work eggs into your diet? Let's share some ideas!
Please feel free to comment, upvote, or resteem if you'd like :)
