Your mother probably always told you to make sure to eat your eggs, as you need the protein. Or, your gym trainer has stated that you should drink a smoothie with at least 5 eggs in it. Ew. Yet, there are others that claim you’re going to get nasty, high-cholesterol and/or weight gain if you eat the yolk.
With so much information floating around about eggs, are you a bit confused about whether or not, they should be in your diet? Whether you like them or not, you want to know if eating eggs is ideal for your health.
Whether you’re looking to lose weight or hoping to make some gains in the gym, you could be concerned about eating eggs and if it’s going to put a wrench in your plans to get fit and look amazing.
Why People Think They’re Bad
Before we go into whether eggs are healthy for you or not, we’ll discuss the topic of the negative opinions of eggs in your diet. For a long time, many medical professionals stated that eggs weren’t the best for us. Here are some of the things that people say:
- You’ll get sick from salmonella. Salmonella can happen from eating bad eggs, and while it is a sickness that you may want to stay away from if you prepare your eggs carefully, you will avoid it. Plus, nowadays, you can easily get treatment for salmonella.
- They are way too high in cholesterol. Yes, they may be high in cholesterol, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t ever eat them. It is true that they do have a lot of calories, so you’ll want to be aware of this if you’re planning some special type of diet. The word cholesterol has always had a bad connotation, and while there are reasons to pay attention to your cholesterol, it may not be as bad as people think and we’ll get into that a bit later.
- Some believe eating eggs can increase your chance of getting diabetes. It is said that eggs can lead to diabetes which may or may not be true. A lot of factors go into someone getting diabetes and while those who do have to control their cholesterol or who suffer from diabetes may want to take this into account, for most people eggs will not be the cause.
- They cause cancer. There are those who believe that men who eat a lot of eggs can be more susceptible to getting prostate cancer. Of course, you have to realize that studies on which these statements are often based don’t always cover other factors that could lead to prostate cancer or other lethal cancers. Some people who eat a lot of eggs and who develop cancer could be doing other things that are contributing to their risk of cancer.
The Health Benefits Of Eating Eggs
While some people may want to avoid eating eggs due to specific health issues, for the vast majority of people, eggs are actually quite healthy. To help you determine if you should be adding eggs to your diet, the following are some of the main health benefits:
- They have a lot of healthy nutrients in them. Eggs actually have a lot of nutrients in them that your body needs to stay healthy. While everyone pays attention to cholesterol and fat, they actually also have things like vitamins and minerals. For example, in a large egg, you can get selenium, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, vitamin B5, and vitamin A. Eggs also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which are very helpful for both your eyesight and overall immune system.
- They provide the protein that your body needs. Your body needs protein, but it’s not always so easy to get the right amount due to busy lifestyles and little time to prepare food ahead of time. Eggs make it easy to be good as they are easy to scramble or cook first thing in the morning or even simply add to your morning smoothie.When eaten first thing in the morning, you can expect metabolism benefits and even more energy throughout your day. The protein provided by eggs is good for recovery after exercise and more stamina in your workouts. For bodybuilders, protein is very important in helping you to gain muscle and also have energy in your workouts.
Why do you think people go to the extent of buying protein bars and big tubs of protein powder? It’s a vital ingredient in building and repairing muscle tissue. Add eggs to your diet if you’re aiming to gain some muscles at the gym.
- Their amount of cholesterol can actually be fine for most people. So, here’s the thing: many people choose to stay away from eating eggs because they are afraid of getting too much cholesterol in their diets. If you’re a healthy individual without any disease or issue that means high cholesterol can be dangerous, you are just fine eating eggs.This is because your body produces cholesterol on its own, but if you’re eating foods with cholesterol in it, it will balance out on its own. Of course, you’ll want to make sure that you speak to your doctor about your health and lifestyle before making the decision to eat as many eggs as you want.
Even if you do need to be careful about your cholesterol intake, you may still be able to eat an egg a day, thanks to the fact that your body has a way of staying in control of how much cholesterol is produced.
- They are rich in choline. Many people only use the egg whites in their food. This is because they are afraid of cholesterol, but yolks actually have a lot of good things in them as well. For example, they contain choline.Choline is very important for brain health and can keep your mental clarity on point and even protect against Alzheimer’s. Choline is not something that is found in a lot of foo, so making sure you add some to your diet is a very good idea.
- They can be good for you if you’re on a diet. Yes, eggs may have fat in them, and you do want to pay attention to the fact that one egg does have quite a few calories in it. With that being said, they are a food that can help you to feel full quickly, leave you feeling satisfied after eating them, especially if you have prepared them in a way that you really like, and they give you the energy that you need for your day.So, instead of reaching for that box of cereal in the morning that will do nothing good for your energy and diet (unless it’s sugar-free oatmeal), turn to a healthy breakfast with eggs in it.
As you can see, they are full of healthy nutrients, and the really good thing about them is that it’s a food that provides much more benefits for your health in one shot than some other options. Eating a daily breakfast with eggs can help ensure that you’re getting all the choline, cholesterol, vitamins, and proteins you want to feel better and yes, even function better.
Healthy Ways To Eat Eggs
So, there you have it. Eggs are actually pretty good for you and if you already like to eat them, then keep it up. If you wonder how and when to eat eggs, here are some tips on how you can make sure you get all the benefits you need from adding (or keeping) eggs to your diet:
- Don’t overdo it. You’ve heard the saying, “Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.” And, this saying holds true when it comes to eggs. You do want to pay attention to the fact that eggs are high in cholesterol when deciding your daily food consumption.Before you go adding 5 eggs to your morning smoothie, consider the fact that according to the American Heart Association, one egg is ideal. If you like to make scrambled eggs every now and then, two a day could be okay for those who don’t struggle with high cholesterol issues. If you want to make a few for a delicious omelet, consider using only the whites.
- Where do your eggs come from? Pasture-raised eggs are best. You want quality when deciding on healthy food for your body and when you choose organic options you can be sure that you’re feeding your body the best for maximum health results. Also understanding where your eggs come from can help you to rest assured that you’re getting your food from a place that treats animals humanely.
- Don’t just eat anything and everything with your eggs. You have to be careful what you’re pairing your eggs with. For example, bacon and eggs sound delicious but are they the best combination for your health. Most likely not, especially since bacon is very high in fat.Fruit or vegetables are always a better option than something that doesn’t really have any nutritional value for you.
- Don’t eat them raw. While some people do enjoy adding eggs to their morning pre-workout drink, you want to be careful. If you’re worried about salmonella, you’ll want to prepare your egg smoothie with caution.
- Consider other health habits in your life. Only paying attention to your egg consumption isn’t going to do much in your overall health. You want to make sure that if you’re eating eggs for the health benefits or avoiding them because you consider them to be bad for your specific health conditions, make sure to see what other areas you could improve to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eggs can be perfectly fine in a healthy person’s life and not so great if your overall diet isn’t geared towards your health.
As you start planning your meals and your egg consumption, consider the fact that you may also prepare or eat other foods that contain eggs. While your daily breakfast may only have one egg in it, think about what else you include in your diet that may have it as well.
For your average person who doesn’t need to watch their cholesterol, you could be just fine, but if you have to be very careful with how many eggs you eat, make sure to pay attention to everything that you include in your diet.
Are Eggs Good For You? The Final Verdict
Eggs can be very good for you, especially when it comes to the nutrients and protein that they provide for your body. As with anything, moderation is important. You don’t want to overdo it by eating more than just a handful a week but go ahead and enjoy your eggs every now and then.
Pay attention to how you prepare your eggs and also keep on top of what else you are putting in your body. You could be pointing your finger at eggs when in reality there are other negative factors in your diet that could be making you sick.
