A Dozen Reasons To Eat An Egg

Today Nigeria join the rest of the World in celebrating the World Egg Day. Since 1964, the World Egg Day has been set aside to celebrate Egg as a unique source of food containing quality protein, vitamins and minerals that help to elongate human life span. Eggs as a source of good food are not only nutritious and low in fat, but also widely accessible and affordable. One of nature’s wonders, egged are described a complete meal in a pack. Nigeria in general, has a low level of egg consumption and concerned

stakeholders are calling for increased inclusion of eggs in the diet of every Nigerian.

The egg contains a great number of the nutrients which contribute to essential nutrition, growth and to maintaining the body in good health. It contains the highest quality protein , namely in the egg white which is considered by nutritionist as “the benchmark for biological protein” , and as the standard of efficient protein for children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and the elderly. Egg protein, which has a bioavailability of approximately 94%, provides high concentrations of essential amino acids which the body s incapable of synthesizing. Therefore, they are necessary for a complete diet. The essential amino acids are in ideal proportions in the egg. The egg contains essential fat concentrates in the yolk. The concentrated fats are mainly comprised of fatty acids and particularly fatty acids Omega 9, Omega 6 and Omega 3. These fatty acids are essential to a number of basic physiological functions of the body.
A Dozen Reasons to Celebrate World Egg Day.

The egg has great nutritional value, with shouldn’t be surprising considering that the egg contains all components necessary for the development, the formation of the skeleton and the functioning of all the organs of the chick. In fact, eggs contain every essential nutrient, vitamin and mineral (except vitamin C) necessary for human life.

Eggs are a great deal both nutritionally and economically. With the highest quality protein, all essential amino acids, every essential vitamin, nutrient and mineral (except vitamin C), not to mention the functional elements like lutein and zeaxanthin all contained within the shell, with a small number of carbs, eggs are a nutritional bargain that can’t be beat.

Eggs are good for mothers and infants. You may never have heard of choline, but the choline in eggs does a lot for pregnant and nursing mothers and their children. Choline is essential for the normal functioning of all cells, including those used for brain and nerve function, metabolism, memory and the transportation of nutrients throughout the body.

Choline is especially beneficial for nursing/pregnant mother and their infants. The choline in egg helps with memory and brain development of the child in the womb. It can also help prevent certain birth defects. The high quality protein found in eggs you feel fuller longer and stay energized. Eggs eaten at breakfast can help to lower your daily calorie intake, stop snacking in between meals and keep the satisfied feeling longer. This makes the egg a great friend to the dieter.

Eggs are also good for your eyes. The egg has a high content of lutein and zeaxanthin, which help protect eyes from age-related diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Contents like these earn eggs the title of a ‘functional food’ meaning eggs provide extra benefits on top of their already outstanding record for nutrition. Eggs can help you lose weight. Wanting to keep that body shape to lose some weight? That round egg can help you to lose weight to a slim figure.

Eating eggs in the morning can help keep hunger away and reduce midday snacking. Eggs are great for healthy growing children. Is there anything eggs can’t do? Their high quality protein help young growing bodies and their vitamins and minerals support growing minds and strong immune systems.

Nutrients such as choline, thiamin and vitamin B12 are great for brain development and proper functioning. Eggs can help to keep your strength in old age. Older adults are at risk for age-related muscle-mass loss, but the highest quality protein, egg protein, is up to the challenge. Egg protein can help older adults maintain muscle mass and slow the rate of muscle deterioration. It is also easy to prepare, easy to chew and easy to digest. And in addition to the benefits of protein, eggs also have vitamins and minerals (like selenium, vitamin A, iron and zinc) to help strengthen the immune system and other important bodily functions.

Eggs are good for strong bones and teeth. It’s not just the protein in eggs that can keep you strong, the phosphorus, calcium and vitamin D found in eggs help to keep your bones and teeth strong. Eggs contain 10% of the daily recommended phosphorus, 3% of calcium and 5% of vitamin D. Eggs are also one of the few foods to contain vitamin D, which works with calcium to strengthen bones and teeth. Eggs will keep you feeling healthy and looking healthy too. The selenium in egg helps to prevent the breakdown of body tissues and the vitamin A in egg maintains healthy skin, vision and immune system. Eggs are one of the most versatile foods available. It can used for any meal, hot r cold, on its own or an ingredient in something larger. You can boil, fry, scramble, bake, use egg with salad, rice, in a sandwich or just on their own.

“Benefits Of An Egg A Day For The Nigerian Child”
Crack An Egg And Help Crack World Hunger

UNICEF says that there are approximately 1.7 million acutely malnourished Nigerian children which is 10% of the Global malnourished population.
The Poultry Association of Nigeria is determined to celebrate eggs believing it will help eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition as it is believed to be GOD’s NATURAL PILL, filled with the best proteins, vitamins and minerals.

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF EGG.
Aside from breast milk, eggs have the highest Protein biological value. Eggs are the best follow up to breast milk in children as it contains the richest mix of
essential amino acids. The Egg helps to regulate the brain, nervous system and cardiovascular system since one egg yolk has about 300 micrograms of choline, helping both memory and mental capacity.

In March 2002, the American Heart Association guidelines were changed to allow 1 egg per day into the average healthy American diet thereby ending the Association’s 30 years old campaign that limited egg consumption to 3 eggs per week.

In the same light, the Harvard School of Public Health published that moderate egg consumption which is defined as one egg per day is not associated with increased risk of heart disease and not have a negative impact on cholesterol neither does it affect a person’s lipid profile. The research finding suggests that it is saturated fat that raises cholesterol rather than dietary cholesterol.

PAN PRAYERS:
The promise to include An Egg a Day per Nigerian child in the School Feeding Program of General Mohammed Buhari’s administration.

All relevant Government agencies including Ministries of Agriculture, Health, Information, Women Development, Youths and Sports etc should immediately launch campaigns encouraging consumption of an Egg A Day by Children, Sports men and women, pregnant and lactating women, active hard working adults as done by relevant agencies in USA, Canada, Australia etc.

Including Egg as part of the Prisons Feeding Programme. Initiating Eggs and Egg products as part of the feeding program of the Nigerian Military and various Peace Keeping operations all over the world. In our Emergency Management programmers, Eggs should be considered as a priority food product that could be supplied to displaced people at various locations camps throughout the country. As various FAO research finding have indicated, in the next 40 years, meat and egg production will have to grow by a huge 75% to meet the demand for animal protein. Nigerian farmers can meet this demand if proper support is provided by Government. Egg could play a vital role in Boosting Nigerian economy in the non-oil
sector.