Eggs have a bad reputation as cholesterol-laded bombs that will explode your heart if you eat them regularly. Maybe that’s overstating it a little, but not much. Despite a strong nutritional profile and incredible versatility, some folks are still skipping out on eggs or even worse (in our opinion), eating tasteless egg white-only omelets.

We are here to tell you that you don’t have to avoid eggs. Yes, they do contain cholesterol, but in recent years we have come to understand that when you eat cholesterol it is broken down in the digestive system and does not land in your arteries as whole molecules.

Instead, it is saturated fat that tends to raise overall cholesterol levels. There has been no link whatsoever found between eating eggs and high cholesterol or heart disease.

Let’s look at some reasons why you should be embracing daily egg consumption. The evidence is so compelling that you might even want to raise some backyard chickens and get those eggs straight from the source.

A Great Source of Protein

Proteins are the building block of every cell in your body and therefore an extremely vital component of your daily diet. Without enough protein, your body will struggle to regenerate cells in a healthy manner and you may start to feel as though you are wasting away.

Eggs are a fantastic source of protein – 6 grams on average in each one. Even better, they also contain all of the amino acids that you need to make good use of the protein consumed. It makes sense, given that if the egg had been fertilized, it would need to serve as a complete source of fuel for a growing chick.

A Natural Energy Boost

Put down the energy drink! Those things are nothing but caffeine and sugar. If you are eating regular meals but still feel tired, it may be that your diet lacks in B vitamins.

Nutrients like thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, and folate are directly responsible for converting the food you eat into usable energy.

Eggs contain a lot of B vitamins. Eating an egg with your morning meal is a great way to make sure you can actually use all the fuel you put in your body. But don’t feel like you have to restrict eggs to breakfast. They can be a great pick-me-up with any meal, and reduce your dependence on energy drinks.

Faster Hair Growth

Those aforementioned B vitamins also contribute to healthy hair growth. Biotin deficiency is often linked to hair loss, and biotin may be used to help counteract excessive shedding of hairs.

B-vitamins in general assist in the creation of red blood cells, which are necessary to move oxygen and nutrients to the scalp and hair follicles. Therefore, enough B vitamins are necessary for the growth of strong healthy hair.

The next time you get a bad haircut, you might want to start eating more eggs in order to grow it out as quickly as possible!

Maintain Your Eyesight

Carrots usually get the top mention when it comes to eye-friendly foods because of their beta carotene, which converts to vitamin A in the body as needed. Eggs are high in vitamin A, too, and have a similar protective effect when it comes to maintaining eye health.

The vitamin A in partnership with lutein can attack damaging free radicals in ocular tissue, and may help hold back certain age-related conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration.

Getting enough lutein may also help keep your vision sharp, or at least, prevent it from degenerating as fast as it might – you can’t fight genetics.

Prevent Heart Disease

Eggs are frequently avoided because people think they are bad for the heart, but the opposite may actually be true. Studies show that people who eat about one egg per day, in any form, have a lower risk of heart disease and stroke than those who skip the eggs.

We don’t really understand why this is, but that part is less important than the fact that you might owe poor eggs an apology.

Boost Brain Function

Want to take a guess about the fattiest part of the human body? Yep, it’s the brain, which is composed of nearly 60% fat. You also need to include good fats in your diet to keep your brain functioning smoothly. Egg yolks contain just the right stuff to support a happy brain.

The effect of eating eggs on a human brain seems to be consistent among both infants and adults. Getting your child comfortable eating eggs at a young age could very well support their brain development through the most crucial stages.

Support Healthy Cholesterol Levels

All of the bad press about eggs centers on their cholesterol content. Yes, eggs are a high cholesterol food, but there are two main types of cholesterol: LDL and HDL. HDL is the “good” kind, and that’s what you’ll find in eggs.

LDL is the more dangerous type associated with higher risk of heart disease. Eating eggs and increasing your HDL levels is a good thing.

If eggs produce a change in your LDL levels, it is a positive one. There are a couple of subtypes of LDL, including small, dense molecules and large, “fluffy” molecules. The smaller type is more dangerous, and eggs are actually able to convert it into the large type. That can have a protective effect on your heart.

Chock Full of Choline

If you’re wondering what in the heck choline is, you’re not alone. This critical nutrient is needed to regulate memory, mood, muscle control, and other bodily functions. A deficiency in choline can lead to liver damage as well.

Most of the choline in your body comes from food, but many people don’t get enough of it in their diets. Eggs have lots, so eating them on a regular basis can get you much closer to a healthy level.

Skin Protection

Beyond offering protection to the delicate tissues of your eyes, the carotenoids in eggs are also thought to protect the skin. Several studies have shown that these nutrients work to filter out harmful UV rays before they enter your skin and cause damage.

That doesn’t mean that you won’t get sunburned, so don’t skip the sunscreen just because you had eggs for breakfast. What is does mean is that your lifetime risk for developing skin cancer is lower, so eat up.

Poor misunderstood eggs have taken a lot of flak for their cholesterol level, but in the end, eating them may be one of the healthiest habits you can have.

Perhaps the American Egg Board and its catchy slogan, “The Incredible, Edible Egg” may actually have our best interests at heart. Sure, they want to sell more eggs, but at least the product actually does some good for the hearts and minds of the people.