Are Scrambled Eggs Good for You?

Are Scrambled Eggs Good for You?
Photo Credit Scrambled Egg image by Likilomi from Fotolia.com

Eggs from chickens can be cooked many ways, including over-easy, sunny side up, poached, fried and scrambled. Each preparation has a slightly different nutritional profile. Eggs are nutrient rich and may promote weight loss. Scrambled eggs contain amino acids, vitamins and minerals. They are healthy when consumed in moderation.

Protein

Protein is composed of amino acids, and is important for your body's growth, repair, enzyme function and immune health. Nine amino acids are mandatory for your body to function, and they are referred to as essential amino acids. Egg protein is a complete protein, meaning that it contains all the essential amino acids. Protein also helps to keep your hunger satisfied. A study published in the "International Journal of Obesity" found that obese people who ate eggs for breakfast lost 60 percent more weight than obese people who did not. Protein deficiency may put you at risk for obesity, muscle loss and chronic disease. One scrambled egg contains 6.09 g of protein.

Choline

Eggs are rich in the vitamin choline. Choline is often grouped with the B vitamins and is important for a healthy nervous system. Supplementation with choline has shown improved run time in humans and better memory in animals. Choline is contained in the yolk of the egg, so eat whole eggs to reap the benefits of choline. One scrambled egg contains 115.6 mg of choline.

Vitamin A

The Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine recommends that adults consume 700 to 900 mcg of Vitamin A per day. Vitamin A helps keep your skin, eyes, teeth and nervous system healthy. One scrambed egg contains 353 international units of vitamin A. Eating too much vitamin A can be cause illness or birth defects.

Cholesterol

Scrambled eggs are also high in cholesterol, a compound similar to fat. Cholesterol is necessary for cell formation and hormone production, but too much cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease. The Center for Disease control recommends consuming less than 300 mg of cholesterol per day. One large scrambled egg contains 169 mg of cholesterol, so consider mixing whole eggs with egg whites and minimize your cholesterol intake for the rest of the day.

References

Article reviewed by GlennK Last updated on: Apr 11, 2011

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