Egg yolk has numerous benefits: Principal Secy

Dr Manmohan Singh, Principal Secretary of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Department, has advocated consumption of two fully cooked eggs a day by every individual to be healthy. In a brief interaction with The Hans India on Friday to mark World Egg Day, he said Mahatma Gandhi also insisted on consumption of unfertilised eggs for good health.

It is a myth that egg yolk contains bad cholesterol. People, who are shun egg yolk with the misconception, are missing out on rich source of vitamins. An egg contains 180 milligrams of cholesterol on an average. Every animal product contains cholesterol, which is good for human body.

Cholesterol helps promote the growth hormones in males and females. People who exclude egg yolk citing calories and cholesterol, do not count what other animal products like milk and meat contains. It is okay for a diabetic person to take a complete egg per day.

People who diet, can also take eggs three to four times a week. Feeding of egg whites to infants from the age of 8 months is recommended for their healthy growth.’’ Elaborating further on cholesterol, he said, Human body generally creates cholesterol.

If we give it in the form of egg, it gets converted into healthy cholesterol so that the body automatically balances its production. Benefits of the egg yolk are numerous. It is a rich source of vitamins and proteins. For children and people who suffer from vitamin D deficiency, two eggs a day are prescribed.

It helps treat eye disorders, besides improving the eyesight. An irreversible complication called ARD among children, can be avoided through regular consumption of eggs. Pregnant women must consume eggs very often. There is a need to dispel misconceptions among people about the consumption of egg yolk through an awareness campaign.’’

By Ch Sowmya Sruthi