Stop Throwing Out Your Egg Yolks!

Are you still sticking by your theory that egg yolks are bad for you?

If you are then you probably fall within the majority. Since egg yolks contain cholesterol and fat, they have gotten a bad rap and have been banished from most people's "good food's" list.

But did you know?

The yolk is actually the healthiest part of the egg!

It's true. The yolk contains the majority of the nutrients found in an egg (about 90%):
B-vitamins (thiamin, B6, B12, folate, and panthothenic acid)
Vitamin A
Lutein
Folate
Choline
Zinc
Calcium
Iron
Phosphorus
Many other powerful trace minerals and antioxidants

Did you also know that eating the whites without the yolk diminishes the effect of the protein that you're eating? You need a complete amino acid spectrum to fully utilize the protein that you're digesting. Since the yolk contains the majority of the essential amino acids, you are only short changing your results by eliminating them. Plus, if you get rid of the yolk, you are only getting 3 grams of protein per egg ? the other more potent half is in the yolk!

So why is everyone tossing their egg yolks?

It all comes back to the cholesterol scare. Since eggs contain a considerable amount of cholesterol, most people believe that by discarding the yolks they will cut their cholesterol consumption. That part is true, but did you know that consuming foods that contain higher amounts of cholesterol like eggs down regulates your body's own internal production of cholesterol. Likewise, if you consume too little cholesterol, your body produces more of its own cholesterol.

Whole eggs are also now being studied for their ability to raise HDL levels to a greater degree than LDL levels, thereby improving your overall cholesterol ratio.

What's my recommendation?

First off, I would recommend buying local, free range chicken eggs since they contain large amounts of omega-3's and have far greater nutritional benefits. Second, I wouldn't consume eggs everyday, but rather every other day. Third, I would cook your eggs using olive oil. Olive oil will reduce the inflammatory effect of dairy and it also contains many powerful healthy attributes.

Still not convinced?

Check out Ravnskov's book, The Cholesterol Myths, for full details on how dietary cholesterol and fat may not be linked at all to heart disease. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0967089700/ref=pe_606_2397900_pe_ar_A3NF16PR1E8FUKt10967089700?n=283155

For now, you can just ease into the whole yolk phenomenon and add 1 or two back into your omelet?

Committed to your success,

Stephen Cabral, CSCS, CPT, NS
www.TheDailySkinny.com

The Daily Skinny gives you an all access pass to the "Web's #1 Weight Loss Blog!"

Stephen Cabral is a national health correspondent with over 10 years of credentials. He holds national and international certifications in strength & conditioning, personal training, yoga and nutrition. For more information on his Free Trim, Tone & Tighten Newsletter seen by over 100,000 readers each week go to www.StephenCabral.com