By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern
We all know the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme from when we were kids. I find it funny how he’s always thought to be an egg, but if you really think about it, nowhere in the rhyme does it say he actually was. But it doesn’t really matter whether he was an egg or not. Something that does matter though is how beneficial eggs are for building muscle, something Humpty Dumpty clearly didn’t have, considering the fact that he fell off the wall. 
Whether you’re looking to bulk up a lot of muscle or to just maintain what you’ve got and stay strong and toned, protein is an essential macronutrient for achieving both. Protein is the most important building block for our muscles and is essential for bulking up more muscle, and for preventing muscle loss.
According to health and nutrition expert Guoda Karoblyte, eggs are an amazing source of protein that promote muscle and tissue growth. Each egg contains about 6-7 grams of protein. They are also nutrient-dense, with the yolks being high in vitamins A, D, E, and K, and the whites being high in B vitamins, especially B12. Some often separate their eggs, eating only the white and tossing the yolk. But, when the yolk is thrown away, you’re missing out on more protein, lots of vitamins, and healthy fats. In fact, it’s been shown that eating the whole egg has positive effects on blood lipids and increasing good cholesterol.
So whether you prefer your eggs scrambled, over easy, hard-boiled, or poached, find a way to incorporate more of them into your diet! Luckily for us Arizonans, we have access to fresh, local eggs from Hickman’s, which can be found in your local grocery store!
For more health-related articles, or for some delicious recipes that feature eggs, check out the Fill Your Plate website!