Scrambled eggs are a quintessential breakfast item in America. You can find them on almost every diner and cafe menu. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. is predicted to generate roughly 7.92 billion dozen eggs in 2013 to supply this consumer demand. While scrambled eggs have many potential health benefits, eat them in moderation as part of a well-balanced diet to avoid unwanted side effects.

If comparing the cooking technique of scrambling eggs with frying eggs, scrambling is a healthier option. Making fried eggs, such as sunny side up, generally requires more oil or butter in the pan to prevent the egg from sticking. This extra fat adds calories and may contribute saturated fat, if you're using butter or lard to fry. Scrambling, on the other hand, uses a smaller amount of fat in the pan because the eggs are moved in the pan often. If the yolks of fried eggs are left runny and uncooked, there is also potential risk for salmonella infection. Scrambled eggs, as long at they are properly prepared, have fully cooked yolks and pose less of a health risk.

One main benefit of eating eggs is they are an inexpensive source of high-quality protein. From one large scrambled egg, you'll get about 6 grams of protein and 90 calories. Your body relies on amino acids, the components of dietary protein, to maintain healthy skin, muscles and other organs. They're also needed for cell repair, digestion and growth. Eggs contain all the essential amino acids your body needs, but is unable to produce.

While scrambled eggs do provide a good source of complete protein, they're also a high-cholesterol food. Consuming a lot of dietary cholesterol can lead to an elevated cholesterol level in the body. If you have high cholesterol, you're at an increased risk for heart disease, heart attack and stroke. The American Heart Association recommends you consume no more than 300 milligrams of cholesterol per day, and if you have high cholesterol you should consume no more than 200 milligrams per day. One large scrambled egg has about 170 milligrams of cholesterol.

Cholesterol is contained only in the yolk of an egg. To avoid excess cholesterol in your scrambled eggs, use two or three egg whites and one yolk to add flavor and color. You can also bulk up your scrambled eggs by adding vegetables and herbs, such as spinach, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, parsley and basil. It's a good idea to use a nonstick pan which requires less oil for scrambling. Choose a vegetable oil, such as olive oil, and use a very small amount. This will limit the calories and saturated fat in your scrambled eggs.