Medical experts who believe many people are deficient in vitamin D grow more concerned during the winter months, when sunlight, a source of the nutrient, becomes scarce. However, eggs may also help provide what people need.
Vitamin D is essential to a healthy skeleton because it helps the bones absorb calcium in order to maintain their strength. It is also essential to the nerve cells, muscles and immune system, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements, a division of the National Institutes of Health. While the body can produce vitamin D after the bare skin is exposed to sunlight, there are few dietary sources of the nutrient, including dairy, fortified orange juice, some fish and eggs.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, one large whole egg contains 41 International Units (IUs) of vitamin D, which can provide about 7 percent of the Recommended Daily Allowance for individuals aged 1 to 70 years of age. For people who may be concerned about heart health, measurements now show that eggs contain 14 percent less cholesterol than previously recorded, according to the American Egg Board (AEB).
"Eggs can be paired with almost any vegetable, making it easy for Americans to follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 and MyPlate recommendation to 'make half your plate fruits and vegetables,'" said Helenbeth Reynolds, MPH, RD, of the AEB.
