Eggs have been a staple in the diets of many civilizations for thousands of years, and remain today a common food in nearly every culture across the world. A hardboiled egg is an egg that is cooked thoroughly in its shell in boiling water. Eggs are a healthy food and provide the body with many vitamins and minerals, but eating too many eggs, even if you are an otherwise healthy adult, may not be a good thing for your overall well-being.
History
According to Egyptian and Chinese records, fowl were laying eggs for man by 1400 B.C. Europe had domesticated hens from at least 600 B.C. In the United States, the Single-Comb White Leghorn is the most common of the laying hens. According to the American Egg Board, Americans eat roughly 45 billion eggs per year.
Nutrients
Eggs are high in vitamins and nutrients, are a good source of protein and are low in calories. This combination, according to the American Egg Board, makes them good foods to help you with weight management, increasing muscle strength, ensuring a healthy pregnancy, enhancing brain function and promoting good eye health.
Benefits
Eggs are a good source of riboflavin, vitamin B12 and phosphorus. They are also very good sources of protein and selenium. If you eat one large hardboiled egg, approximately 55 g, you will consume 6 percent of the daily recommended intake of Vitamin A, 2 percent calcium and 3 percent iron. Eggs are also low in calories, coming in at 77 calories per egg.
Warnings
If you have high cholesterol or are at risk for heart disease, you should be aware that eggs contain a high amount of cholesterol. The American Heart Association suggests substituting egg whites in your diet or cholesterol-free eggs. It is the yolks in eggs that contain the cholesterol.
The body makes cholesterol naturally and too much cholesterol can lead to cardiovascular disease. According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States.
Misconceptions
It is still a common belief that eggs are not healthy to eat and will lead to cardiovascular disease. The American Egg Board reported that a survey showed 24 percent of healthy adults avoided eggs due to concern about the cholesterol. If you are a healthy adult, you do not have to worry about developing heart disease from eating eggs, says Stephen Kritchevsky, Ph.D. and director of the J. Paul Sticht Center on Aging at Wake Forest University.
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