The egg is an excellent source of protein, especially considering how few calories it contains. Egg whites provide a lot of protein without the cholesterol that is present in egg yolk. You can buy egg whites already separated from the yolk and sold in pourable containers. The egg white and egg yolk have different nutritional makeups.
Identification
In its natural form, the egg white is a clear, slippery substance that surrounds the yellow yolk. Separating the two parts takes some practice when the egg is raw. You also can buy egg whites already separated from the yolk. As long as you don't beat the egg, you also can separate the white and yolk after cooking.
Significance
Egg whites provide a surprising amount of nutrients for their size. A large egg can weigh about 33 grams before cooking.
Protein
The egg white of a large egg has about 3.6 grams of protein, according to the Incredible Egg website. An entire large egg provides 6.29 grams of protein.
Benefits
An egg white provides several other nutritive benefits, although not as many as the egg yolk. An egg white has 2 mg of calcium, 54 mg of potassium, 4 mg of magnesium and less than 1 mg of nutrients like iron and zinc, according to the Incredible Egg organization. Eating just the egg white lets you avoid the potentially negative nutritional ingredients found in the egg yolk, which include less than 2 grams of saturated fat, 210 mg of cholesterol and 8 mg of sodium.
Considerations
The nutritional value of an egg increases significantly when you eat the egg yolk, which provides Vitamin A, Vitamin D and another 22 mg of calcium. According to the Harvard Health Publications, eggs are a good source of nutrients and contain a reasonable amount of fats, cholesterol and other components. Even nutrients such as cholesterol, which can be unhealthy in excess, can be an important addition to your diet in moderation.
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