Eggs are a good source of protein and contain many key vitamins and minerals, including calcium, potassium, and iron. All of these nutrients are vital components of a person’s diet. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), one large, hard-boiled egg contains around 78 calories. Eggs were once a controversial choice due to concerns about saturated fats and cholesterol, but researchers have since proved that eggs have a number of dietary benefits. This article looks at the nutritional profile of eggs, as well as some of the latest research into the risks and benefits associated with eating eggs.

Nutritional profile Share on Pinterest Eggs are a good source of protein and antioxidants. One large, hard-boiled egg weighing around 50 grams (g) contains the following nutrients, according to the USDA: Calories: 78

78 Protein : 6.29 g

: 6.29 g Total fat : 5.3 g

: 5.3 g Carbohydrate : 0.56 g

: 0.56 g Dietary fiber : 0 g

: 0 g Sugars : 0.56 g

: 0.56 g Calcium : 25 milligrams (mg)

: 25 milligrams (mg) Iron : 0.59 mg

: 0.59 mg Phosphorous : 86 mg

: 86 mg Potassium : 63 mg

: 63 mg Zinc : 0.53 mg

: 0.53 mg Cholesterol : 186 mg

: 186 mg Folate : 22 micrograms

: 22 micrograms Vitamin A : 260 international units (IU)

: 260 international units (IU) Vitamin D: 44 IU However, the way a person cooks an egg slightly alters its nutritional profile. For example, the same 50 g of a whole, scrambled egg has around 4.99 g of protein and 36 IU of vitamin D, according to the USDA.

Benefits Eggs have many benefits — they are a good source of protein, fatty acids, choline, and antioxidants. Eggs are also rich in vitamin D, a nutrient that does not occur naturally in many common foods. Several research studies have tested the nutritional value of eggs as part of the daily diet. For example, one study in The FASEB Journal included 26 participants, ages 60–75, with obesity. The researchers asked them to eat either an egg based, high fat diet or a carbohydrate based, low fat diet for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, the scientists measured the participants’ body fat composition. Those who ate three whole eggs per day in a low carbohydrate diet lost more fat than those who ate a high carbohydrate, low fat diet. However, it is important to note that the Egg Nutrition Center funded this study. A meta-analysis in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition examined seven research studies concerning egg consumption, heart disease, and stroke. The researchers found that eating up to one egg per day helped reduce a person’s risk of stroke, but they did not see an increase or a decrease in the participants’ risk of heart disease. However, one study in the journal Heart that included data from half a million adults found that eating an average of one egg per day was significantly associated with a lower risk of heart disease. A study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at the effects of a high egg diet versus a low egg diet in people with diabetes. The team defined a high egg diet as eating two eggs per day on 6 days per week and a low egg diet as eating fewer than two eggs per week. After 3 months, the researchers found that high egg consumption did not affect the cholesterol levels of the participants. They did find, however, that a high egg diet can increase satiety, or feelings of fullness. Eggs can be a healthful addition to the diet. To reap the nutritional benefits, a person can incorporate them into a variety of meals.

Risks Share on Pinterest A person can include eggs as part of a healthful diet. Previous controversy surrounding eggs and their nutritional value concerned the amount of cholesterol in egg yolk. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), one large egg contains around 186 mg of cholesterol. However, the secretaries of the US Department of Health and Human Services and the USDA removed the recommended daily limit for cholesterol in 2016. This followed recommendations from dietary advisory committees, which noted that research has not shown that dietary cholesterol — in foods such as eggs — poses a danger to heart health or cholesterol levels in the body. Most recently, a 2019 study in the journal Nutrients found evidence to support the omission, concluding that eating eggs is not associated with excess cholesterol levels in the body. The results are based on the Hellenic National and Nutrition Health Survey, which asked more than 3,500 participants questions about their dietary habits. If a person typically has a healthful diet and is mindful of their total daily intake of foods high in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, eating cooked, whole eggs is unlikely to harm their health. A bigger concern regarding egg consumption is that allergies are common, especially among children. In fact, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, around 2% of children are allergic to eggs. Although many outgrow this allergy by the age of 16, some people experience reactions so severe that they cause difficulty breathing. Some symptoms associated with an egg allergy include: coughing

diarrhea

dizziness

a feeling of tightness in the throat

stomach cramping

swelling of the lips and tongue If a person suspects that they or someone they know is having an allergic reaction to eggs, they should seek medical aid. People with severe egg allergies may need to carry an epinephrine injector pen to treat the symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction.

Adding eggs to the diet A person can incorporate eggs into their diet in a variety of ways, such as by: boiling, poaching, or scrambling the eggs

making omelets or quiches that contain eggs or egg whites as well as vegetables and lean meats

incorporating eggs into casseroles and adding vegetables or lean meats

adding a boiled egg to a salad or having one as a snack Eating hard-boiled, poached, or scrambled eggs can be very nutritious. To ensure that the eggs are a healthful addition, refrain from cooking them in butter or high fat oils.