Eating an egg a day has been the subject of controversy for some time, with the primary concern being that it may be unhealthy for you. However, opinions both among experts and regular people are consolidating around the fact that it is not only okay to eat an egg each day, but that it may even be healthy for you. This is quite the opposite of conventional wisdom, which had it for a while that eating eggs in excess, such as even one a day, would be unhealthy due to its cholesterol content. With eggs being a very common food that you can find as a part of any meal of the day, answering the question of whether it is okay to eat an egg each day is important.
The Nutrient- and Energy-Dense Egg
An egg is an excellent source of fats, proteins and vitamins. This fact is supported when you think about how vital it is for a fertilized egg to successfully feed a chick until the time comes for it to hatch. A typical egg possesses more than 6 grams of protein and around 212 milligrams of cholesterol. While this is not necessarily excessive, since your total daily intake of cholesterol is recommended to be 300 milligrams, it is a lot of cholesterol in just one helping. Still, it is thought today that the amount of cholesterol in your diet does not contribute as much to blood cholesterol as it was once believed.
The Source of Many Kinds of Nutrients
In all the hubbub about the risky levels of cholesterol in an egg, all the beneficial nutrients in a typical egg are more often than not relegated to an afterthought. However, if you get scared away from eating eggs because of their cholesterol content, then you will deprive yourself of important nutrients like selenium, vitamins A and E, folate, riboflavin, choline and lutein. Selenium is an antioxidant that helps your immune system while vitamins A and E, respectively, contribute to giving you decent night vision and work to prevent injury to your body. Both folate and riboflavin help your body transform the food you ingest into energy, and choline aids both memory and mental capacity. Lutein works toward preventing macular degeneration; it is actually found in the yellow pigment of the yolk of an egg.
The Calorie and Fat Content
While it is still more than okay to eat an egg a day, an egg comes with 80 calories along with at least 5 grams of fat. Therefore, you should watch your egg intake if you are especially conscious of calorie and fat levels. While one egg a day is alright, don't go overboard and start eating a few eggs every day. One way you can cut down on the fat if you want an egg a day is to simply prepare it on a non-stick pan without butter or oil.
