Nutritional Advice for Healthy, Hungry Runners & Athletes

Nutritional Advice for Healthy, Hungry Runners

Why eggs are one of the best foods for athletes

Got a dozen or a pint of egg white on hand? As an athlete you should. Routinely eating eggs affords you amazing health benefits. Here are five reasons to crack open one.

1.       To Slim Down

In study, dieters who had eggs/egg whites for breakfast achieved a 60 percent greater weight loss compared to those who had begun their day with a calorie-equivalent bagel or a bowl of cereal. Researchers theorized the quality protein in the eggs (13 percent of the Daily Value) helps control appetite. What’s more, the egg protein is easy for your body to absorb, which makes it a good muscle-repair food after a long run or intense workout.

2.      To Protect (Yes, Protect) Your Heart

Numerous studies have debunked the link between eggs and heart disease. In fact, research shows that eating several eggs a week result in cholesterol particles that are less likely to spell cardiac troubles. What’s more, a unique protein found in the egg yolks blocks platelets (the cell responsible for blood clots) from clumping together inside blood vessels, thereby minimizing heart-attack risk.  

3.      To Fight Inflammation

Whole eggs are one of the best sources of the nutrient choline (one large 30 percent of your daily value, most in the yolk). Besides having a key role in the brain health, choline helps keep the body’s circulatory system of compounds that would otherwise cause inflammation, which can lead to disorders ranging from muscle swelling after a hard workout to diabetes and Alzheimer’s clear disease.

4.      To Maintain Bone Strength

Eggs are one of the few natural sources of bone-building vitamin D. One egg supplies 10 percent of’ the Daily Value. Brands like Eggland’s Best, Whole Foods have double the amount.

 

5.       To Keep Your Vision Sharp

Yolks contain the pigment lutein, which helps prevent age-related macular degeneration (a leading form of blindness). And while spinach and other greens contain higher amounts of lutein, eggs provide a more absorbable form.

By Liz Applegate, Ph.D., Runners Magazine April 2012 Edition