Can eating raw eggs be bad for your health?
Hello, I would like to learn more about eating raw eggs. I read recently that they have a lot more vitamins in them that are lost in heat treatment, and I’m wondering if it would be better to eat raw eggs. Is this really the case, and can eating raw eggs be good for your health? I mean, of course, eating raw eggs from a reliable source, not the ones from stores or markets (my family has their own chickens, so it wouldn’t be a problem to get eggs to eat raw).
This is where the question comes in though, are raw eggs a health risk? I know that eating raw eggs poses a risk of salmonella, but with eggs from a reliable source and washing them properly, I guess it shouldn’t be a problem for me. I would be interested to know if eating raw eggs can cause any other health problems or illnesses? Can eating eggs raw realistically harm me if I have no other health issues? I would be very grateful if you could clarify my doubts about eating raw eggs.
Doctor explains dangers of eating raw eggs
Eggs are a valuable and nutritious source of food. Not so long ago, it was recommended to limit their consumption because of their high cholesterol content. It was suspected that this could contribute to cardiovascular disease. Years later, these suppositions were abandoned and today it is not recommended to limit the intake of eggs in the diet. Today, it is believed that both healthy people and those with risk factors for cardiovascular disease can benefit from the presence of eggs in a healthy, balanced diet.
Eggs are a source of many vitamins and minerals. One egg provides 15% of an adult’s requirement for complete protein. Additionally, eggs provide a long feeling of satiety with relatively low calories. That is why eggs are often included in the diet of people who want to lose weight.
Most people eat soft-boiled, hard-boiled, or scrambled eggs. Raw eggs are usually served in desserts, which contain a lot of sugar and for this reason we should limit their consumption. Eggs do not lose much of their nutritional value during heat treatment. On the other hand, they are safer from the point of view of infections of the digestive system.
Bacteria can be found not only on the egg shell, but also inside. Additionally, raw eggs contain a substance, avidin, which binds vitamin H (biotin), making it impossible for the body to absorb it. After the heat treatment process, avidin does not have such an affinity for biotin. In addition, raw eggs are less well absorbed by the body than cooked ones.
So it does not seem reasonable to eat eggs in raw form. Optimally eggs should be eaten soft or semi-hard. Both children and elderly people can eat them because they are easy to digest in this form. Overcooked eggs lose more nutritional value and may cause digestive disorders as they are less digestible. From time to time you can indulge in fried eggs in the form of scrambled eggs or omelet.