I was out to brunch with a few friends the other morning and two of them ordered egg whites. I have to admit, I was surprised. I guess I didn't realize how many people still view whole eggs as a fattening food that will raise your cholesterol. It's actually the opposite! First of all, the egg yolk contains many nutrients that your body needs such as choline, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin B-6, iron, vitamin E, zinc, folate, selenium, and phosphorous. The egg yolk is where the majority of all the nutrients of the egg are contained. It's true that the yolk also contains the majority of calories and omega-3 fatty acids, but that's what we want! Remember, fat doesn't make you fat! Eating a diet containing healthy fats will actually help you loose weight even if you are consuming slightly more calories. If you consume more healthy fats, you will actually burn off more body fat. If you eat whole eggs instead of egg whites, you will actually be getting more nutrients, have more energy and stay fuller for a longer period of time.
Concerned about your cholesterol? You shouldn't be. It's true that a large egg yolk contains about 185 mg of cholesterol in each yolk and doctors used to recommend to avoid eating too much cholesterol. However, current research shows that sustained cholesterol levels in the blood are actually produced in the liver as a result of poor genetics and a diet high in carbohydrates, and not from the cholesterol we eat.
Eggs are one of my favorite foods! I have been eating about 6 eggs a day for the last 6 years or so. My health is great, I haven't gained weight (in fact I lost a good amount of weight when I started adding healthy fats to my diet several years ago when I switched from eating egg white omelettes to whole eggs), and my cholesterol numbers are outstanding. So, take it from me... Do your body a favor and try skipping the toast, bagel, english muffin or home fries instead of the egg yolk. Go for the whole eggs next time. And never forget it's CRUSH TIME!