Hard boiled eggs are inexpensive and nutritious. Eggs in general have gotten a poor reputation as being too high in cholesterol to be part of a healthy diet. This opinion has changed to suggest that eating three to four eggs each week can actually benefit your health, Ronald Ross Watson notes in his book, "Eggs and Health Promotion." Adding hard boiled eggs to your diet is one way to get the nutrition that eggs supply.
Supply Protein
Protein is a nutrient that enables your body to function normally and allows your body systems to work together. Hard boiled eggs are a notable source of protein with about 6 g in just one egg. Adding hard boiled eggs to your diet can be done in several different ways. Slice one in half and eat with your breakfast or chop one into a spinach salad at lunch to increase how much protein you eat each day, Ellen Postolowski suggests in her book, "It's Just Personal: A Personal Chef's Essential Guide to Shopping, Cooking and Eating Smarter."
May Increase Good Cholesterol Levels
A high level of HDL, or good, cholesterol and a low level of LDL, or bad, cholesterol is essential for good health. Eating hard boiled eggs several times a week may increase your HDL levels without raising your LDL levels, Deborah Mitchell and Winifred Conkling note in their book, "The Complete Book of Nutritional Healing: The Top 100 Medicinal Foods and Supplements and the Diseases They Treat." Hard boiled eggs create larger HDL and LDL cholesterol molecules in your body. Larger HDL molecules are more efficient at removing cholesterol from your body while larger LDL molecules cannot stick as easily to your arteries.
Keep Your Brain Healthy
As you age, your brain may not work as efficiently as before, but eating eggs may help protect your memory and brain function. The yolk of a hard boiled egg supplies your body with a mineral called choline that helps prevent degradation of the brain. Choline is also responsible for helping you maintain your memory, Mitchell and Conkling add. Include the yolk and chop a hard boiled egg into a salad or combine a chopped egg with low-fat cheese and spread on whole wheat toast for a brain boosting breakfast sandwich.
Protect Your Eyes
In addition to choline, the yolk of a hard boiled egg also contains lutein and zaexanthin, which are two compounds that may help keep your eyes healthy, Mitchell and Conkling note. These substances help prevent macular degeneration and may also lower your risk of cataracts, glaucoma and other problems with your eyes and your vision. Make a healthy egg salad by combining chopped hard boiled eggs with mashed avocado and tomatoes. Spread it on whole wheat bread for a nutritious sandwich. Eat a hard boiled egg plain to get the same eye protecting benefits.
References
- "Eggs and Health Promotion"; Ronald Ross Watson; 2008
- "The Complete Book of Nutritional Healing: The Top 100 Medicinal Foods and Supplements and the Diseases They Treat"; Deborah Mitchell and Winifred Conkling; 2008
- "It's Just Personal: A Personal Chef's Essential Guide to Shopping, Cooking and Eating Smarter"; Ellen Postolowski; 2009
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