Benefits of Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs make a tasty treat and can be a surprising alternative to more mundane egg dishes. Deviled eggs are also a convenient choice for lunch or a picnic. Besides their tastiness and convenience, deviled eggs offer good nutritional value and provide healthful benefits, especially when you make them with health-conscious ingredients.

Description

Deviled eggs are made by slicing boiled eggs into two halves and filling them with a mixture of chopped or mashed yolk and other ingredients. You can serve deviled eggs as an appetizer or as a main course, usually chilled before serving. Deviled eggs are often included in holiday foods, and are traditionally found at group picnics.

Ingredients

One benefit of deviled eggs is that the ingredients used for the dish are simple. Americans make deviled eggs with a variety of ingredients, but traditional deviled eggs typically include mayonnaise and paprika in the yolk mixture. A classic recipe for deviled eggs calls for mayonnaise or salad dressing, a bit of mustard, paprika, salt and pepper for the yolk mixture. You can also add in white vinegar to boost flavor, according to the Deviled Egg Gourmet website. Recipe variations include crab and celery, caviar and gluten-free deviled eggs.

Choline

Dishes with eggs as the main ingredient provide nutritional health benefits for major systems in the body. Eggs provide choline, an essential nutrient needed for the brain, cardiovascular system and nervous system. The choline is in the yolk, which contains 300 micrograms of the nutrient. Although egg yolk has gotten a bad rap for its high cholesterol content, recent research suggests that whole eggs in moderation may be good for your heart, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. Check with your health care provider if you have diabetes, a heart condition or any other health condition before changing your diet and eating more deviled eggs.

Vitamins

Eggs contain vitamins that are good for your heart, such as vitamins B-12 and D, riboflavin, or vitamin B-2, and folate. Vitamin B-12 promotes red blood cell development, neurological function and DNA synthesis, according to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements. The vitamin also helps convert folic acid and iron for use in the body and helps change carbohydrates to fat. Vitamin D is essential for calcium and phosphorus absorption and regulation needed for strong teeth and bones, and it helps the body process magnesium and vitamin A, according to the "Vitamin and Mineral Encyclopedia." The vitamin riboflavin, or B-2, promotes oxygen usage in cells, aids in the growth and maintenance of tissue and helps vision. Folate helps prevent anemia, aids in the production and maintenance of new cells and promotes DNA production.

Protein

Deviled eggs are a good source of protein, which is especially needed for muscle development and maintenance. You get 6 g of protein and nine essential amino acids in one egg, according to the Deviled Egg Gourmet website.

Paprika

Paprika, used in many deviled egg recipes, contains a healthful ingredient called capsaicin, which provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits that are thought to help reduce the risk for cancer and other diseases, according to "Fitness" magazine.