If you are healthy and have stable cholesterol levels, egg yolks shouldn't do any harm. They can also be very beneficial in moderation.
Egg Yolks can be quite a bit of controversy. Many people say that the yolk is the "fatty" part and hence only eat egg whites. But is this true?
Egg yolks contain a rich array of essential vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamins A, D, E, B12 and K, riboflavin, folate, and iron. Therefore when many people discard this area they are losing out on the nutritional benefits of the egg. The egg whites, however, are a low-calorie protein source; due to this, many people believe that the whites are the only healthy part of the egg.
Another reason for the controversy is because of a past study conducted regarding the high cholesterol levels in the egg yolk. It was said that the yolk should be avoided to preserve good heart health. However, various studies, including one done by Harvard, showed that the cholesterol in eggs does not impact our cholesterol like we think it does. While many believe the cholesterol floating around in our bodies comes from food, it's rather the cholesterol our livers produce in response to a high intake of saturated fat and trans fat. Yes, egg yolks are still fairly high in cholesterol, but if you are generally healthy, consuming them moderately should not affect you. Many also claim that egg yolks raise "good cholesterol" and not the bad kind.
Furthermore, two interesting yet beneficial nutrients found in egg yolks are carotenoids and choline. Carotenoids - the pigments that give egg yolks their bright yellow appearance - lower the risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. Choline, on the other hand, helps to regulate cardiovascular function and can even decrease the risk for breast cancer (in women) by up to 24%.
Egg yolks are a great source of nutrients and should be consumed (in moderation) to obtain a nutrient rich diet, or in this case, a nutrient rich scrambled egg breakfast.
Possible long-term side effects
- heart disease
- weight gain
Ingredients to be aware of
- promotes heart health
- promotes eye health
- improves the immune system
- reduces risk of breast cancer
- balances electrolytes
- source of many essential nutrients
- increases "good" cholesterol
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Written by Kathan Natrajan | 12-27-2015
Written by Kathan Natrajan
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