The Incredible Health Benefits of Eggs

Emily Lockhart

Published on January 25, 2020 Updated on March 16, 2022

Health Check Certified By: Julie Ching, MS, RDN, CDE

As far as compact superfoods go, eggs take the whole omelette.

One whole egg is filled with a ton of essential vitamins, healthy fats, proteins, and health benefits, like these, that will convince you to get cracking regularly…

The Perfect Protein

Did you know that many nutritionists consider the egg a perfect source of protein? Consider that a single, whole egg contains, on average, 6-grams of protein—that’s including all 9 essential amino acids that the body can’t produce on it’s own—such as Tryptophan, Leucine, Histidine, Lysine, Threonine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Methionine, and Valine.

Luxurious Locks

Have you ever wondered where your coworker gets that glowing skin and hair? He or she probably eats eggs regularly. Eggs are rich in sulphur minerals and B12 vitamins, which encourage hair growth and promote healthy hair and strong nails.

Get Cracking for Heart Health

A Harvard School of Public Health study found that weekly egg consumption may help prevent both heart attack and stroke, or more specifically stop the formation of blood clots.

Yolks = Good Fats

Nutritionists who once cautioned against the consumption of egg yolks because of the fat content are reconsidering their claims. While egg yolks contain only a fraction of saturated (or bad fats = 1.5-grams); they make up for it in good fats (3.5-grams), which doesn’t promote high bad (or lipid) cholesterol.

Lower Breast Cancer Risk

You may be more likely to link eggs to ovarian health. However, regular ovule consumption was linked to decreased risk breast cancer by almost 24-percent in a study funded by the US National Institutes of Health (or NIH).

Boost Vision

You might want to eat eggs along with those carrots if you’re concerned about eye health. It turns out that the nutrients (lutein and zeaxanthin) found in eggs help to prevent cataracts, macular degeneration, and other forms of eye deterioration.

A Dose of Sunshine Vitamin

If you miss the feeling of sunshine on your skin or suffer from seasonal affective disorder (or SAD) in the gloomier months, eating eggs regularly may help. How? Eggs are one of the few food sources of naturally-occurring vitamin D (aka: the sunshine vitamin).

Brain Food

Skip the popcorn and nachos next time you hunker down for a study session. If you reach for a hardboiled egg instead, you’ll reap the benefits of real brain food that contains choline (about 300-micrograms per egg) and a nutrient that stabilizes both the central nervous system and the brain.

Emily Lockhart

Emily Lockhart is a certified yoga instructor and personal trainer. She believes that being healthy is a lifestyle choice, not a punishment or temporary fix to attain a desired fitness or body image goal. Anna helps her clients take responsibility for their own health and wellness through her classes and articles on ActiveBeat.