benefits of egg

Monday, September 15, 2008

• It's not surprising that eggs are enjoying a renewed status inthe eyes of many health conscious people. They are nutritionaldynamos containing almost every essential vitamin and mineralnecessary for humans, yet they only have about 75 calories, and can be a significant source ofomega-3 oils. Omega-3 Eggs Many egg companies are now feeding their hens a special diet toincrease the amount of omega-3 oils in their eggs. The speciallyfed hens produce eggs with an omega-3 content three to six times(approximately 100-200 mg per egg) more than that of a regularegg.


• This special diet is composed of a mixture of feedsincluding ingredients such as: flaxseed, marine algae, fish,safflower oil, and fish oil. The human body cannot manufactureomega-3's, they must be acquired from food or supplements.Remember though that in order to reap the benefits of theomega-3 oils in eggs one must eat the yolk, because that iswhere the omega-3's are found. Cholesterol You might be thinking: "eggs might have a lot of healthbenefits, but what about all the cholesterol? " Well, althougheggsdo contain cholesterol, research indicates that dietarycholesterol has little impact on blood cholesterol in healthypeople. Cholesterol is divided into two types: High-densityLipoproteins (HDL, or "good'' cholesterol) , and Low-densityLipoproteins (LDL or "bad" cholesterol) . Eating eggs enrichedwith omega-3 might actually help to lower LDL (bad cholesterol)levels.


• Cholesterol is necessary for life it is not a toxicsubstance. It is necessary in the building and maintenance ofcell membranes; it helps strengthen them, repair them and helpsthem maintain their fluidity.


• Cholesterol is also used to growand maintain brain and nerve tissue. It is found throughout thebody. It is essential in the formation of bile salts (which arenecessary for fat digestion) and it is involved in the body'smanufacture of several hormones including adrenal andreproductive hormones. It is even the raw material from whichvitamin D is made. Omega-6, Omega-3 Ratio Most people seem to think that omega-6 fats are bad and omega-3fats are good, but that is not true. The fact is that the bodyneeds both of these polyunsaturated fats. Both of these fats arenecessary to good health, they complement each other insupporting vital body functions.


• The problem is that the typicalAmerican diet contains about 20 times as much omega-3 fats as itdoes omega-3 fats. The most desirable ratio is about 4:1, So theproblem is that we don't consume enough omega 3's, and weconsume far too many omega-6's. The more omega-6's you consumethe less the body is able to utilize the omega-3's you consume.How do we get so many omega-6 oils in our diet? Well, some ofthe most plentiful sources of omega-6 fats in our diet are fromrefined vegetable oils (soy oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, etc.)that are found in margarine.


• Also most fast foods, and foodslike as biscuits, cake, pizza, and quick snacks like storebought dips, potato chips and pretzels contain an overabundanceof omega-6 fats. The overabundance of omega-6 fats in our diet causesinflammation in our bodies. One of the areas that thisinflammation plays a significant role is in the buildup ofplaque in the coronary artery. The plaque narrows or completelyblocks the artery, resulting in a heart attack. Too much omega-6in the body also makes the blood platelets more sticky, whichcauses blood clots. These clots can get large enough to havecatastrophic effects, they can block blood flow to the braincausing a stroke, the heart causing a heart attack, or even thelungs (Pulmonary Embolism causing breathing problems.


• They caneven cause deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which are clots usuallyfound in the lower legs and thighs. Benefits Of Omega-3 Fats ...reduce inflammation ...keep platelets less sticky acting like an anticoagulant(blood thinner) and decreasing the risk of blood clot formation,helping to protect against heart attack, stroke and DVT ...may protect against the accumulation of a protein thought tobe associated with Alzheimer's ...Lowers the risk of an initial heart attack by 20-40 percent,and the risk of dying suddenly during and post heart attack by20-40 percent ...help reduce the risk of cancer and my help to inhibit it'sgrowth ...Omega 3's can help us reduce fat and maintain a leanerhealthier body ...contribute to eye health (a significant cause of MacularDegeneration is the lack of Omega 3 oils in the diet. ...help fight depression, anxiety ...help to lessen tendencies toward impulsiveness or aggression...help to control hormone levels ...can help control the inflammation of arthritis, and otherinflammatory diseases Even More Nutrients Eggs also contain lutein and zeaxanthin. These are carotenoidsthat reduce risk of cataracts and age related maculardegeneration.


• Although egg yolks contain much less lutein thanspinach, the lutein in eggs is in a form that is much moreavailable to the body. They are also an excellent source of choline, which isessential for the function of all the cells in the human body,and are also a respectable source of folate, iron, riboflavin,vitamins D, E and B 12. In addition to all of this eggs are alsoan excellent source of protein! There is no question that eggs are beneficial to your health.So if you haven't done so already, it is time to revisit thislittle nutritional dynamo!