Eggs

Energy value of eggs

A medium egg has an energy value of 78 kilo calories (324 kilojoules) and the consumption of one egg daily would contribute only around 3% of the average energy requirement of an adult man; 4% for an adult woman.

With their significant protein, vitamin and mineral content and relatively low saturated fat content, eggs are a valuable component in a healthy diet.

Protein

Eggs are an excellent source of protein. Egg protein is of high biological value as it contains all the essential amino acids needed by the human body. Eggs therefore complement other food proteins of lower biological value by providing the amino acids that are in short supply in those foods. 12.5% of the weight of the egg is protein and it is found in both the yolk and the albumen. Although protein is more concentrated around the yolk, there is in fact more protein in the albumen.

On the evaluation scale most commonly used for assessing protein, egg is at the highest point, 100, and is used as the reference standard against which all other foods are assessed.

Vitamins

Eggs contain most of the recognised vitamins with the exception of vitamin C. The egg is a good source of all the B vitamins, plus the fat-soluble vitamin A. It also provides useful amounts of vitamin D, as well as some vitamin E.

Minerals

Eggs contain most of the minerals that the human body requires for health. In particular eggs are an excellent source of iodine, required to make the thyroid hormone, and phosphorus, required for bone health. The egg provides significant amounts of zinc, important for wound healing, growth and fighting infection; selenium, an important antioxidant; and calcium, needed for bone and growth structure and nervous function. Eggs also contain significant amounts of iron, the vital ingredient of red blood cells, but the availability of this iron to the body is uncertain.

Carbohydrate and dietary fiber

Eggs contain only traces of carbohydrate and no dietary fiber.

Fat

11.2% of the egg content is fat. The fat of an egg is found almost entirely in the yolk; there is less than 0.05% in the albumen.

Approximately 17% of an egg’s fatty acids are polyunsaturated, 44% monounsaturated and only 32% saturated.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol and Lecithin are fat-like substances and are essential to the structure and function of all cells in the body. Cholesterol helps to maintain the flexibility and permeability of cell membranes and is also a raw material for the fatty lubricants that help to keep the skin supple. Cholesterol is essential for the production of sex hormones, cortisol, vitamin D and bile salts.

Lecithin is involved in general lipid transportation in the blood and in the metabolism of cholesterol.

Harvard Health has an article on the nutrition of eggs and heart disease. You can read it here.

I know some people believe that the little white stuff inside of an egg is sperm, but it's not. I used to believe that also and used to take out the white part with a fork before cooking the egg. It is called chalazae. It keeps the yolk from sloshing around inside the egg. Normally there are two chalazae, which connect the yolk to either end of the egg and keep it suspended in the middle. They're found in all types of eggs. Sometimes you only see one or none because they stick to the egg shell rather than the yolk. The chalaza are made of semisolid albumen, basically the same stuff that egg white is made of.

Haridwar, Uttaranchal, India

Haridwar (or Hardwar) lies along the Ganges at the boundary between the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayan foothills and is the site of the headworks of the Ganges Canal system. Haridwar is one of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus and a major pilgrimage centre. It has had many names; originally it was called Kapila, for the sage who once lived there. Its present name means "door to Hari," one of the names of Vishnu, a principal deity of Hinduism. Haridwar's chief object of pilgrimage is Har-ki-Pauri, the bathing ghat, or steps, along the river. It has what believers consider to be a footprint of Vishnu impressed into a stone.

The festivals which are celebrated in Haridwar are :

Kumbh Mela - India has been attracting the whole world with her rich cultural heritages and spirituality. The renowned Kumbh Mela is a unique blend of all these. Haridwar Kumbh has its importance as the last Kumbh of this century. The Kumbh mela is held in every 12 years to commorate this spiritual day .Millions of men, women, children, sagas, Rishi, Munies, baba's and tourists gather here to take a dip in the holy water of holy rivers.

Ardh Kumbh - The Ardh Kumbh mela (fair) is held in every 6 years which is followed by the Kumbh Mela after 6 years.
It is believed that a dip in the holy river Ganga during the Ardh Kumbh gives one Moksha or Nirvana. Ardha Kumbh also attracts a large number of people to take the holy dip during these holy days.

The most sacred place in Haridwar remains the Har-Ki-Puri where people take a dip in the holy River Ganges to cleanse them of their sins. I did this when we went there. The water is freezing cold. The water comes from the ice that has melted in the Himalaya's. Once you get out of the water you are immediately warm again. I almost was not going to do it but I don't know when I will ever get the chance to take a dip in the River Ganges. That might have been my only chance so I took it. I actually dipped in the water three times. I dipped my baby in the water also. She screamed and cried afterwards. But like I said as soon as you are out of the water you are immediately warm. Luckily the sun was shinning that day to help warm the body.