Eggs, which are popular as a breakfast food and in recipes, contain a large amount of nutrients as well as high levels of cholesterol. The egg white and yolk have an even distribution of protein levels, while egg yolks have a slightly higher source of vitamins and nutrients than the egg whites. Provided you don't have problems with your cholesterol, eggs are a healthy source of protein that can help you stay energized and maintain a feeling of fullness for a long time.
History
Your body is composed of at least 10,000 different types of protein, according to Harvard School of Public Health. Protein is found in the muscles, skin, hair and almost everywhere else in the body. Amino acids are the basic building blocks of protein, providing the material needed to create the protein. The body does not store amino acids; therefore, you need to consume vital amino acids daily, in order to produce more protein.
Types
The two sources of protein that you get from food are complete and incomplete. A complete protein is one that contains all the essential amino acids needed to form new protein. Animal sources of protein, such as eggs, are considered complete. The other type of protein is called incomplete protein, and they come from vegetables, fruits and grains. These incomplete proteins are lacking one or more of the essential amino acids needed to build new proteins.
Recommended Daily Allowance
The average adult in the United States should get his recommended daily allowance of protein from 15 percent of his daily calorie intake, according to The Harvard Medical School of Public Health. For a person who needs 2,000 calories daily, he should be consuming 75 g of protein.
Benefits
Eggs contain a great deal of vitamins and nutrients. One egg contains 6 g of protein; 3 g are found in the egg whites and 3 g are found in the egg yolk. According to IncredibleEgg.org, eggs are a great source of protein because they provide 12 percent of the recommended daily value, and they contain all the essential amino acids needed to build more protein. Important nutrients found in eggs include vitamins A, B12 and B6, and minerals such as zinc, iron and folate.
Considerations
One whole egg contains 75 calories and contains 5 grams of fat. Most people who have high cholesterol are often told to eat the egg whites of the eggs and not the yolk. The Mayo Clinic explains that the yolk contains around 213 mg of cholesterol; egg whites are cholesterol-free and often those who are watching their cholesterol levels can substitute recipes with two egg whites in place of one whole egg.
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