By Michele Worthington
Special to The PREVIEW
It can be tough to get your health back on track after the feasts and treats that come along with the holiday season. If you have set health and wellness resolutions for the new year, then you will benefit from adding eggs to a balanced diet, thanks to the high-quality protein and essential vitamins eggs provide.
The Colorado Egg Producers (CEP) Association wants to help Coloradans on the road to good health this year by educating you on the many health benefits of the incredible, edible egg.
While eggs can be a great addition to your diet to help you lose weight, get fit or just feel better, consuming eggs regularly can also help reduce your risk of stroke by 12 percent.
A new study published in the Journal of American College of Nutrition in 2016 compared egg consumption with the risk of heart disease and stroke and found that consuming one egg daily can decrease your risk of stroke.
The Egg Nutrition Center (ENC), the research division of the American Egg Board, provided support for the study. These findings also come on the heels of years of research demonstrating that healthy adults can enjoy eggs without significantly impacting their risk of heart disease. To learn more about what these findings mean for you from ENC’s executive director, Tia M. Rains, Ph.D., visit www.eggnutritioncenter.org/blog/.
“The essential vitamins and nutrients found in eggs as well as the high-quality protein in every serving can help build muscle strength and keep you feeling full longer. The health benefits of the egg are truly incredible,” said Bill Scebbi, executive director of the CEP.
At only 70 calories, one large egg contains six grams of high-quality protein (13 percent of the recommended daily value) and all nine essential amino acids, as well as essential vitamins and minerals, including choline, Vitamin A, several B vitamins and calcium.
According to the American Egg Board, eating eggs can help you achieve your optimum health in the following areas:
• Weight management: The high-quality protein in eggs helps you to feel fuller longer and stay energized, which contributes to maintaining a healthy weight. Protein found in eggs provides steady and sustained energy because it does not cause surges in blood sugar or insulin levels which can lead to an energy “crash”.
• Muscle strength and muscle-loss prevention: Research indicates that high-quality protein may help active adults build muscle strength and help prevent muscle loss in middle-aged and aging adults. Consuming eggs post-exercise can also maximize muscle repair.
• Healthy pregnancy: Egg yolks are an excellent source of choline, an essential nutrient that contributes to fetal brain development and helps prevent birth defects. Two eggs contain about 250 milligrams of choline, or roughly half of the recommended daily intake for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Everyone, especially pregnant women, should cook their eggs thoroughly to kill any bacteria that may be present.
• Brain function: Choline also aids the brain function of adults by maintaining the structure of brain cell membranes, and is a key component of the neurotransmitter that helps relay messages from the brain through nerves to the muscles.
• Eye health: Lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants found in egg yolks, help prevent macular degeneration, a leading cause of age-related blindness. Though eggs contain a small amount of these two nutrients, research shows that the lutein from eggs may be more bioavailable than lutein from other food sources.
Learn more about the health benefits of eggs and healthy recipes by following the CEP on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. To learn more about CEP, please visit www.coloradoeggproducers.com.
