The egg, although small in size, collects a large set of nutrients. It is an excellent source of protein and vitamins.
For years, eggs were considered more as a health hazard than a healthy food. This is due to the fact that it is a high cholesterol food. When high blood cholesterol was associated with heart disease, foods with high cholesterol, as expected, were considered suspicious. However, in recent years this has changed and egg is now considered a healthy food. This is because after several years of study, it has become apparent that cholesterol in food is not the main culprit, but saturated fat has a much greater effect on blood cholesterol.
An average boiled egg has (approximately):
- 75 calories (most of them are in the yolk).
- 7 grams of protein (most of which is in the egg white).
- 5 grams of fat, all in the yolk (Of which only 1.5-2 grams are saturated).
- 200 grams of cholesterol, all on the yolk.
- Iron, vitamins, minerals (Most are in yolk).
As you can see, both egg yolk and white are a very important source of nutrients. However, if you are worried about your cholesterol or if you are unsure whether it is safe for you to consume eggs, please consult your doctor.