Pregnancy can be very overwhelming and confusing to the new to-be-moms. Pregnancy, along with its perks and a velvety dream of future, brings some flustering sides to it. Even when there are many questions that arise in the mind of a newly pregnant woman, food is one of the basics.
It is very frustrating to analyze and pick a good food which is safe and healthy for both mother and the baby while pregnant. Sometimes, the food you have been eating since you childhood regularly turns out to be not so safe for the baby and thus you need to change your eating habits. Today, we talk about one of the food staples in our kitchen, which is also a very important part of your daily nutrition, eggs during pregnancy.
Is it safe to eat raw eggs during pregnancy?
Even though eggs are very essential part of your daily diet, it is recommended that you do not eat raw eggs during pregnancy. The main logic behind this is that raw eggs sometimes carry salmonella bacteria which may not directly harm your health but definitely harms your baby’s. Also, the egg’s shell is porous which, when wet, can be used easily by bacteria to enter inside the egg through the shell.
Raw eggs can be edible in one condition which is, if the eggs are pasteurized. When the eggs are pasteurized, it kills the salmonella bacteria and keeps eggs good to eat. It is also not so hard to find pasteurized eggs as they can be conveniently found in supermarkets. You must be very careful about eggs while buying for raw consumption while you are pregnant.
How should eggs be consumed during pregnancy?
As we already know, it’s not a good idea to eat raw eggs when you are pregnant. But well cooked eggs are perfectly fine for a pregnant lady to indulge in. Remember, the eggs should be cooked very well, so much as the whites as well as the yolk is solidified while cooking. The runny eggs and soft-boiled eggs may also be contagious as the salmonella bacteria may not be killed.
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Better yet, the hard boiled eggs and two-side fried eggs are best for consumption for a pregnant lady. Omelets are also fine as long as the egg is perfectly cooked. There should be no raw pockets of eggs in the omelet if you are cooking it for pregnant woman. If you love to eat eggs every day and do not want to miss it during your pregnancy days, the basic idea is to cook it properly and avoid eating raw and unpasteurized eggs.
Side Effects of Eating Raw Eggs
There are several recipes featuring raw eggs like eggnog, raw cookie dough, Caesar salad, among others. Raw eggs are one of the best source of protein too. However, eating raw eggs during pregnancy might do some harm and we advice pregnant women too keep themselves away from its consumption.
In the recent four years, 17 outbreaks and 500 illnesses has been recorded in women who consumed raw eggs during their pregnancy.
You can eat soft boiled eggs if you want to as an alternative, as it’ll make you feel more better and stronger. Here are some of the most common side effects of eating raw eggs during pregnancy:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Sickness
- Bad taste in mouth, etc.
Health Benefits of Eating Eggs During Pregnancy
If you have already made up your mind that you would rather not eat eggs altogether rather than going through all the hardships to find safe eggs and cook eggs safely, here is why you may want to again change your mind, back to liking eggs.
Also Read: Is It Safe To Eat Honey During Pregnancy?
Eggs are the nutritious staple products which have made a permanent spot on your plates. An essential part of anyone’s nutritive diet, eggs also benefit women during pregnancy. Some of the advantages of eggs that must be acknowledged are pointed below:
- Eggs are rich in vitamin choline which acts as the key factor in memory functions of your growing baby. This vitamin is specifically found in the yolk of eggs and each egg contains around 125mg of choline.
- As the inadequacy of choline during pregnancy has shown lowered or defective memory capacity in the infants, so it is recommended that you eat eggs regularly to suffice choline in your body.
- Choline has also been helpful for lessening the stress in baby while you are pregnant. Eating eggs may also help reduce metabolic and stress related diseases in the growing baby.
- Eggs contain other nutrients like high-quality protein (found in whites of egg), iron as well as folate. All of these nutrients are very important for a pregnant woman as it makes both the to-be-mom and the baby healthy.
- The vitamin choline, found in eggs has also been proved to protect against Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) in pregnant ladies. This vitamin works alongside folic acid for this purpose and making the babies grow healthy inside their mother’s womb.
- Only two eggs a day can satiate your choline requirements and you can also add more if you want to.
- Eggs help to raise HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) also known as the good cholesterol, in anyone’s body.
- Antioxidants like Lutein and Zeaxanthin which majorly benefits the eye health of mom-to-be as well as the child to be born.
- Eating eggs can satiate your hunger easily and helps maintain your cravings for food during pregnancy.
- Eggs are inexpensive and easily available, so do not be afraid to add eggs to your plate in any point of the day.
While eggs are the best option for you to intake choline, you should also be eating cauliflowers, peanuts as well as lean beef as these items are rich in the vitamin too.
Enjoy cracking eggs!
