Research: Eggs are a great source of protein, minerals and carotenoids

Thursday, February 20, 2014 by: Michael Ravensthorpe
Tags: eggs, protein source, nutrition

(NaturalNews) The second half of the 20th century was not kind to eggs. The 1950s in particular were a time when eggs were demonized due to their high fat content, which pioneering nutritionists -- notably Ancel Keys, developer of the notorious "lipid hypothesis" -- believed would raise cholesterol and contribute toward coronary heart disease. Today, however, we understand that fatty whole foods like eggs are an essential component of a healthy diet, particularly when they come from sustainable, organic sources. In fact, eggs have been a staple breakfast for people in many cultures for centuries. These people understood that, if an egg contained enough nutrients to nourish an entire chick, then those same nutrients could nourish us to the same extent -- and studies now confirm that this is true.

Improve eye health

According to the Iowa Egg Council, egg yolks contain two important carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, which help prevent age-related blindness and reduce the risk of developing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. In essence, these carotenoids -- which give egg yolks their distinctive yellow-orange color -- act as antioxidants in the eye, protecting it from free radicals that can damage different parts of the retina. Moreover, these carotenoids are high-quality: According to a study published in the December 2004 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, the lutein and zeaxanthin found in eggs are easier for our bodies to utilize than those found in leafy green vegetables such as spinach.

Good source of high-quality protein

There's a good reason why so many bodybuilders eat eggs regularly: One cooked egg contains approximately 6 grams of protein. This protein, which is mostly contained in the egg white, is a "complete" protein and has a score of 100 on the biological value index, meaning it contains all eight essential amino acids. Moreover, egg protein boasts a perfect score of 1.0 on the Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Index, which measures a protein's completeness. For this reason, eggs are a perfect protein source for growing children and adults alike.

Note: Though eggs are not explicitly linked to weight loss, their high protein content makes us feel full for longer, discouraging overeating. This is one of the reasons why eggs have traditionally been viewed as a breakfast food: They satiated and energized workers (especially agricultural workers like farmers) for hours after consumption.

Rich in choline

Eggs are one of the best dietary source of choline, a B vitamin that is a constituent of lecithin. Choline is essential for the functioning of all cells in the body, including transporting nutrients to cells associated with memory. Therefore, as research at Tufts University in Massachusetts confirms, choline-rich foods like eggs directly improve brain function. Additionally, research published in The FASEB Journal found that women with the highest level of choline intake were 24 percent less likely to develop breast cancer than those with the lowest level of choline intake.

Other B vitamins contained in eggs include thiamin, riboflavin, B6, B12, folate and pantothenic acid. All of these vitamins work together to promote a healthy nervous system. Vitamin B12 is found exclusively in animal products, making eggs especially valuable for vegetarians.

Contain a large number of trace minerals

According to Self's "NutritionData," one large hard-boiled egg contains between 1 and 9 percent of our recommended daily intake (RDI) of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc and manganese. Significantly, one egg also contains 15.4 micrograms of selenium, which is 22 percent of our RDI. An important antioxidant, selenium can help boost the immune system, prevent degenerative diseases like cancer and stabilize cholesterol levels.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.iowaegg.org

http://science.naturalnews.com

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

http://science.naturalnews.com

http://nutritiondata.self.com

http://science.naturalnews.com

http://www.livestrong.com

About the author:
Michael Ravensthorpe is an independent writer whose research interests include nutrition, alternative medicine, and bushcraft. He is the creator of the website, Spiritfoods, through which he promotes the world's healthiest foods.