Author: Victoria Aly
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
It is recommended to eat boiled eggs and not raw ones, as the heat treatment preserves the nutrients.
A study published in The Journal of Nutrition shows that the body absorbs only 50% of the protein in the egg when eaten raw and 90% when eaten cooked. Other researchers claim that one of the proteins in the egg, called avidin, when bound, can bind to biotin, making it impossible to digest.
Raw eggs are less digestible and harder to digest protein. Boiled egg retains almost all the nutrients it contains raw.
The risk of eating a raw egg is infection with salmonella, which can cause symptoms such as food poisoning - stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea and headaches. They can appear between the first 6 and 48 hours of consumption and last up to a week.
People with weak immune systems such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and those suffering from autoimmune diseases are particularly susceptible to infection and eating a raw egg can lead to much more severe consequences. Bacteria can cause infections in women during pregnancy, leading to premature birth or fetal death. It is said that eggs must be processed at a temperature of at least 70 degrees Celsius to kill all germs.
If you still need to eat raw, it is best to choose pasteurized eggs to minimize infections. In the process of pasteurization bacteria, microorganisms, which are found in the raw version, are eliminated.
It is important to note, however, that a raw egg contains about three grams of protein, vitamin A, B2, B5, B12 and E, choline - a mineral important for normal brain function, lutein and zeaxanthin - antioxidants that keep the eyes healthy. It also contains nutrients important for a good immune and nervous system. But the fact that with the heat treatment of the egg, its useful properties are not lost, it is recommended to consume it cooked and not raw.