Nutrition & health

Are eggs good for you?

A balanced assessment of egg protein, micronutrients, cholesterol and the meal around them.

Short answer

Eggs are a nutrient-dense protein food that can fit many healthy diets. Their value depends on the overall dietary pattern, preparation, portion and which foods they replace.

01

What eggs contribute

A large hen egg provides roughly 6.4 g of high-quality protein in this guide’s reference data, plus choline, vitamin B12, selenium, iodine and some vitamin D. Most distinctive micronutrients and all of the fat are concentrated in the yolk.

02

What they do not provide

Eggs contain virtually no fibre and little carbohydrate. A meal made only from eggs lacks the plant variety and fibre supplied by vegetables, fruit, pulses and whole grains. The foods cooked or served with eggs often determine the meal’s saturated fat and salt.

03

Health is not a property of one food

Replacing processed meat with eggs is a different dietary change from adding eggs to an already energy-dense meal. Personal LDL response, allergy and medical advice may also matter. Eggs are useful, but no one food is mandatory or transformative.

Evidence and guidance

Sources for this topic

  1. USDA FoodData Central
  2. Nye's Egg Guide: sources and method
  3. Nye's Egg Guide: eggs and health