Eggs, second only to mother’s milk!
by Dinesh Alwis
 Do you eat eggs? Do you know how
many eggs are in this world? Are eggs good for our health? In this
article you have answers for above questions with some unbelievable
facts. World chicken egg production is approximately 800.711 billion.
The number of layer hens in the world is estimated at 6000 million and
it is equal to the world population.
What is an egg? An egg is a spheroid or ovoid shaped cell laid by
females of birds, reptiles, amphibians or fish. There are various types
of eggs. They are chicken, duck, goose and quail eggs. Among them
chicken eggs are the most consumed eggs in the world. In the Sri Lankan
market, there are two types of chicken eggs. They are brown and white
eggs.
Hens with white feathers and earlobes lay white eggs and those with
dark feathers and red earlobes lay brown eggs. The current retail price
of an egg has increased to Rs.12 from Rs.10. Quail eggs are now
available in Sri Lankan supermarkets and they are encountering some
ethical problems.
Each commercial chicken lays between 265-280 eggs per year. The
number of layer hens in the world is estimated at 6000 million. These
hens produce just over 66 million metric tons of eggs. China is the
world’s largest egg producer which produces around 30 million tons (45%
of the global egg production). Sri Lanka has seen a rising trend in egg
consumption during the past few years. Normaly egg consumption has risen
from 52 per head, per year in 2009.
 That means a person eats 52 eggs within a year. U.S. per capita egg
consumption in 2009 was 260 eggs per year. Eggs are a good source of
low-priced protein and good source of choline. Eggs contain the highest
quality food protein known.
It is second only to mother’s milk for human nutrition. Egg protein
has just the right mix of essential amino acids needed by humans to
build tissues. In addition, eggs have thirteen essential vitamins and
minerals. A large egg contains only 75 calories and 5 grams of fat.
Eggs are packed with vitamins essential for your health such as
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B12 (cobalamin), Vitamin A (retinol)
and Vitamin E. Eggs give you essential minerals, you’ll find minerals
such as iron, zinc and phosphorus in eggs. Research has shown that
eating eggs can help prevent breast cancer. Some researchers say eating
eggs may help lower risk of a heart attack or stroke by helping to
prevent blood clots.
Inside an egg, there are two sections called the Egg Yolk and Egg
White. Egg whites have long been regarded as one of the healthiest foods
around. Compared to the egg yolk, Egg whites are a great, fat-free
protein source.
Egg yolks are one of the few foods that naturally contain Vitamin D
and choline. Choline is particularly important for brain function and
also for pregnant women, because choline is necessary for brain and
memory development in the foetus.
 If you’re wondering about eggs and cholesterol - yes, eggs do contain
cholesterol but it’s “dietary cholesterol”, the cholesterol found in
food. Dietary cholesterol is different from the “blood cholesterol” in
your body. Just because you eat foods that contain cholesterol, it
doesn’t mean the cholesterol level in your body will go up. All of the
cholesterol in the egg is in the yolk. Hence some people don’t eat the
yolk. Keep in mind that you want to eat the whole egg since both the
yolk and the white contain beneficial nutrients. The yolk contains the
majority of vitamins and minerals and nearly half of the protein; the
rest of the protein is found in the white.
Eggs are primarily used as a source of food, although eggs are also
widely used for medical purposes. Fertile eggs, as a source of purified
proteins, are used to produce many vaccines. There are three types of
egg dishes named plain egg dishes, savoury egg dishes and sweet egg
dishes. Fried, boiled and omelette are famous plain egg dishes. Eggs can
be hard boiled, soft boiled, pickled, fried and scrambled.
There are two health risks involved in eating eggs. The first is that
they contain saturated fat. The second is that they’re high in
cholesterol. While both of these statements are true, diets high in
saturated fat can lead to Type II diabetes, high cholesterol and even
heart disease. Egg whites contain a little too much salt for some
people. This could be potentially dangerous to those who have issues
with high blood pressure.
Egg yolks are high in cholesterol, and health experts in the past
counselled people to therefore avoid this part. However, nutrition
experts have now determine people on a low-fat diet can eat one or two
eggs a day. The American Heart Association recommends people with normal
blood cholesterol levels consume less than 300 mg of cholesterol per
day. One egg contains 230 mg of cholesterol.
 Eggs can also be eaten raw, though this is not recommended for people
who may be especially susceptible to salmonella, such as the elderly,
the sick or pregnant women.
In general, eggs are good for you. In order to keep them healthy way,
it’s important to prepare them with healthy ingredients. Eggs can still
be healthy part of your diet as long as they’re consumed in moderation.
Keep in mind that an egg contains everything needed for the nourishment
of a developing chick. |
