Happy Easter, everyone! On this wonderful, abundant holiday, every single family will prepare a batch of hard-boiled eggs and decorate them especially for this occasion. But there are a few worthy things to note about these nutrient-dense goodies.
Learning about eggs can help you balance their intake and prevent digestive issues through optimizing your diet. Also, find our blog’s Easter egg, a hidden product somewhere in this article that can be extremely helpful for boosting your digestive health! Without any further delay, here’s what you should know!
1. Eggs are packed with protein
Did you know that a single egg can pack quite a protein punch, carrying around 6g of protein? Considering its small size, this is a perfect food choice for people who don’t have tolerance issues to consume ample healthy protein in one serving.
2. Essential vitamins and minerals in eggs
In addition to protein and healthy fats, eggs are also high in essential vitamin and mineral content. You’ll find that eggs are a rare source of vitamin D, as well as iron, vitamin A, and B6. Most of the vitamins are found in the yolk!
3. Eggshells are edible, too!
Loaded with calcium, a vital mineral that helps elevate your immune system resilience, eggshells are a healthy addition to your menu – but only when prepared right. First bake your eggshells in an oven for 20 minutes to dry them out, then crush them into fine powder, making sure there aren’t any larger particles left. You can eat eggshell powder in a smoothie, with some water, or in your protein shake!
4. What the color of the egg can tell you
While many people falsely believe that the color of the shell is what matters, it’s the yolk that defines the nutrient value and flavor of the egg. Depending on how the chickens are fed, their egg yolk will be of a different hue. Chickens that eat primarily grains will produce lighter yellow yolks, while diversely fed chickens eating grass, insects, and a wide array of plants will produce richly colored yolk. The latter type is also richer in micronutrients, making them the healthier choice!
5. How to determine your eggs’ freshness
Due to the porousness of eggshells, the more they age, the more air will they store inside the shell. The trick to determine the age of your eggs is to put them in a glass of water. If the egg floats, it’s most likely older and filled with air, while a fresh egg will sink to the bottom of your glass. The smell of the egg, however, is the best indicator of whether or not it’s safe to eat! Check before cracking the egg open if it smells rotten to avoid making a mess!
6. Steer clear of trans fats when eating eggs
Eggs are packed with healthy fats as well as good cholesterol which is healthy for our arteries and serves as the building block of our cells’ membranes. Even though eggs themselves don’t contain trans fats, the kind we need to avoid at all cost, if you only eat fried eggs, you’re actually ingesting trans fats, too. That’s why it’s healthier for you to consume eggs that are poached, hard-boiled, or scrambled without too much butter or oil.
7. Allergy risks of consuming eggs
Eggs are one of the most common allergy-causing foods for kids, but adults can succumb to egg allergies, too. Food allergies, including the one with eggs, manifests if you or your kids develop hives, an itchy rash, a stuffy nose, or even nausea and vomiting. Be careful when giving your little ones eggs for the first time – start off with smaller bites to make sure they aren’t allergic!
8. Eggs can be tough on your stomach
Some people suffer from egg intolerance, which is a benign, but frustrating condition that can lead to bloating, an upset stomach and cramps, and even diarrhea. In case of digestive issues, adding digestive enzymes to your diet can be extremely helpful to reduce gastrointestinal inflammation and adverse reactions to various foods.
9. The egg-related risk of diabetes
We typically associate high sugar consumption with developing insulin resistance and consequently diabetes. It turns out that egg consumption can be linked to developing diabetes – high fat intake and consuming too many eggs can, in fact, trigger insulin resistance and lead to type 2 diabetes. All the more reason to be mindful of your egg-related calories!
10. Balanced intake for a healthy heart
Too much of a good thing can indeed affect your health. When it comes to eggs, research has shown that people who eat the most eggs have a 19% higher risk of developing heart-related problems in life. Keeping your heart healthymeans that you should be careful with how many eggs you eat and if you should be eating them every day, or ever at all. It’s always best to get your doctor’s advice first!
Not quite sure if you fall into the category of those who should eat eggs in any form? Perhaps you’ve developed a food sensitivity that is making it difficult for your body to digest eggs, or your underlying health condition makes it better for you to turn to other protein sources. Share your questions with us and book an appointment to get your nutrition in order this spring!
References:
https://www.pcrm.org/good-nutrition/nutrition-information/health-concerns-with-eggs
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21076725/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23643053/
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190916-are-eggs-good-for-you
