1. Eggs are great for the eyes. According to one study, an egg a day may prevent macular degeneraton due to the carotenoid content, specifically lutein and zeaxanthin. Both nutrients are more readily available to our bodies from eggs than from other sources.
2. In another study, researchers found that people who eat eggs every day lower their risk of developing cataracts, also because of the lutein and zeaxanthin in eggs.
3. One egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids.
4. According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, there is no significant link between egg consumption and heart disease. In fact, according to one study, regular consumption of eggs may help prevent blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks.
5. They are a good source of choline. One egg yolk has about 300 micrograms of choline. Choline is an important nutrient that helps regulate the brain, nervous system, and cardiovascular system.
6. They contain the right kind of fat. One egg contains just 5 grams of fat and only 1.5 grams of that is saturated fat.
7. New research shows that, contrary to previous belief, moderate consumption of eggs does not have a negative impact on cholesterol. In fact, recent studies have shown that regular consumption of two eggs per day does not affect a person's lipid profile and may, in fact, improve it. Research suggests that it is saturated fat that raises cholesterol rather than dietary cholesterol.
8. Eggs are one of the only foods that contain naturally occurring vitamin D.
9. Eggs may prevent breast cancer. In one study, women who consumed at least 6 eggs per week lowered their risk of breast cancer by 44%.
10. Eggs promote healthy hair and nails because of their high sulphur content and wide array of vitamins and minerals. Many people find their hair growing faster after adding eggs to their diet, especially if they were previously deficient in foods containing sulphur or B12.
Due to the emails and the comments this article received I felt like I needed to make an update. I wrote this article to warn people about the possibility of salmonella in eggs. But as the article clearly states you only have a 1 in 30,000 chance for an egg to contain the salmonella bacteria. And even if an egg contains salmonella, there’s a smaller chance you will actually get sick from that. So people who eat raw eggs regularly and find nothing wrong with it absolutely have a point; the chance you will catch salmonella is too small to worry about for them. However, some people are picky and find 100% safety important! I just wanted to be 100% correct so people know what they are eating. Hope this helps!
So why do people eat raw eggs in the first place? Well, there’s a lot of misinformation floating around saying that raw eggs are higher in protein than cooked eggs. Some health gurus have even suggested that cooking the eggs breaks down the proteins into unusable pieces, so eating the eggs raw provides a better burst of nutrients for your body. That’s simply not true. The fact is that the regular cooking temperature of your stove isn’t hot enough to denature a protein, so whatever you put into the pan is what you get back out of it.
Unfortunately, when you choose to eat raw eggs (which is not recommended), you are subjecting your body to many different food borne illnesses. Salmonella is a particular problem with uncooked or undercooked poultry and when you consume raw eggs you are just begging to get sick. Salmonella causes food poisoning, the effects of which can be quite bad in certain populations such as people with compromised immune systems, the elderly and children.
Salmonella is usually found in the yolk of the egg, so cooking it in a way that leaves the yolk runny will not kill the bacteria. To be truly safe, you need to thoroughly cook all of the egg, not just the whites. Poaching, hard boiling or scrambling are all good ways to ensure the egg gets thoroughly cooked.
If you just can’t bring yourself to quit indulging in the creamy yellow centers, you can at least rest a little easier knowing that salmonella is only found in about 1 out of 30,000 eggs, and even if it contains salmonella, there’s a small chance you will actually get sick. However, there is no way to tell whether your egg is safe or not without putting it through scientific testing or eating it and seeing what happens. For most healthy adults, salmonella isn’t a big problem. However, children and other susceptible groups should practice caution and consume well-cooked eggs.
Weigh the risks and benefits of eating raw eggs before you decide if it’s a path you want to take. Most people find that they don’t miss the raw eggs in their diet and prefer their eggs cooked. Experiment a little bit with your egg recipes and you’re sure to find something you like that’s less risky than eating your eggs raw.