The benefits of one of the most popular foods: eggs

01/05/2018

One of the most popular foods

Ibiza’s small vegetable tiendas offer the opportunity to buy freshly laid chicken eggs that come directly from a nearby farm – guaranteed fresh and local, as “dozena” (a dozen) or “media dozena” (six eggs) available.

However, hens in Ibiza don’t always lay the same amount during the hot summer months on the island, leading to shortages in some cases. Certain tiendas will only sell  “huevos de payes” on request – when they bring them out from a secret stash under the counter.

There is a lot of contradicting information about the effects of regular egg consumption and the health benefits have been tested in numerous studies.

Statistics, reports and ingredients

The Spanish “Instituto del Huevo” found, for example, that one egg a day in no way increases the cardiovascular risk, and even if the food is high in cholesterol, it does not increase this value in the blood. According to research by the University of Navarre, eggs are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, which are said to help prevent the risk of cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and coronary diseases.

Another ingredient is phosphatidylcholine, which supports the elasticity and turgor pressure in the skin, protects the organs and arteries from fat accumulation, improves brain function and limits the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine. Other nutrients in the egg are biotin, which supports skin and hair growth, vitamin B2, which promotes the formation of antibodies and red blood cells, and vitamin K, which supports heart and bone health. Eggs also contain minerals such as phosphorus, selenium, iron and zinc.