By Frances Smith

Some people out there aren't very fond of eggs.

"4 Reasons You Need To Stop Eating Eggs"
"Eggs Are Worse Than Cigarettes!"
"Why You'll Never Eat Eggs Again After Reading THIS!"

It should be pointed out that when people address this kind of question, they usually go to the extreme. When you're reading studies or articles, make sure that you are digging into the details to see if they are working with a realistic amount of the product. For example, how many people eat a dozen whole eggs a day? The answer: not many. Also, realize that there are "good" and "bad" aspects to almost everything, and moderation is usually key.

So, let's take a look at just the facts about the incredible, edible egg.

One whole egg offers 78 calories, 5 grams of fat, less than 1 gram of carbohydrate, and 6 grams of protein. One egg also offers varying amounts of 13 essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins D and B12, phosphorus, and riboflavin.

If putting on muscle is what you're aiming for then eggs should definitely have a place at the top of your daily nutrition intake list. Eggs are one of the few protein sources that have all nine essential amino acids, including leucine (1.075 grams per egg). Leucine is an mTOR activator, which means that it has the capacity to directly stimulate muscle protein synthesis. Leucine has also been found to slow the degradation of muscle tissue by increasing the synthesis of muscle proteins in aged rats. More gains, man!

"But what about the yolk? I hear that the yolk has a lot of fat and too much cholesterol!"

We've all eaten the world's saddest brunch menu item, the egg white omelet. We tell ourselves it's going to be different this time; egg whites aren't so bad. But then you look down at the squishy, pale pancake of liquid protein and ask, "Why do I do this to myself?"

If gaining muscle and getting a high amount of protein per day is your goal, then having a higher ratio of egg whites to whole eggs will definitely keep the overall calories and fats down while offering a heaping helping of protein. But if eating a few eggs for breakfast is your go-to, then take a peek at why you should keep those delicious yolks.

"Experts" have warned us that dietary cholesterol causes spikes in blood cholesterol, the kind that clogs the arteries and leads to double-bypass surgery.

Well, the good news is that there is no longer a need to fear the yolk! Scientific research has shown that eating foods high in cholesterol does not mean that you'll develop high cholesterol. Evidence even suggests that eggs might even be beneficial for cholesterol by raising levels of HDL cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol.

Egg yolks are full of fats, saturated and unsaturated, which are also unfairly slandered by the all-knowing "experts." However, yolks are a good source of fat for your body and are also supported by a stockpile of vitamin E.

Here's where the egg yolk really shines -- carotenoids. These nutrients give plants and animal fats their yellow color, keep eyes healthy, and protect against inflammation. While foods such as fruits and vegetables also contain carotenoids, they need to be eaten with fat to be fully absorbed. An egg offers the total package. A study found that when people ate eggs on a vegetable salad, their body absorbed nine times the carotenoids from the eggs and alpha carotene, beta carotene, and lycopene from the veggies!

Turns out the egg is pretty incredible and wholly edible.