Eggs provide extraordinary nutrients making them a superfood. They possess necessary nutrients in the form of fats, minerals, protein, vitamins A and D, which are all very necessary for pregnant women. This post helps you understand whether it is safe to eat eggs during pregnancy.
Here are a few of the health benefits of eating eggs when pregnant:
Choline
Choline promotes brain development and memory function early in a baby’s life if the mom consumes it during pregnancy, according to the Choline Info company. Eggs, beef liver and chicken liver are among the greatest choline sources. Eating two eggs can supply almost half of the daily advised quantity of choline– making them a healthy food option throughout pregnancy.
Rich In Proteins
Eggs contain the correct amount of proteins that are essential for the growing fetus. Every cell of the developing fetus is made up of protein. For that reason, having eggs in enough quantity will be useful.
An entire egg has about 6.3 grams of protein, according to the Incredible Edible Egg organization. During pregnancy, women must take in between 90 and 110 grams of protein daily, states certified nurse midwife Dana Ericson of Midwife and Doula Services. Protein is vital for developing the placenta and the unborn baby’s tissues. Eating a couple of eggs every day– for instance, during breakfast or atop a salad– can help fulfill this protein requirement.
Brain Development
Eggs consist of Omega 3 fatty acids and choline, which are vital for brain health and general growth. It likewise avoids the start of neural tube flaws in your baby.
Controls Cholesterol
If your blood cholesterol levels are typical, you can take in one or two eggs a day for balancing saturated fat levels in the body. If your cholesterol levels are too high, you should avoid taking egg yolk during pregnancy.
Calories
An egg is not really high in calories, thinking about how many crucial nutrients are found inside. Calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D, iron and potassium are just some of the advantageous nutrients and minerals found in each egg. Pregnant women ought to eat in between 200 and 300 extra calories daily to nourish the body and the baby. Eggs contain about 70 calories each, making them a great snack or addition to any meal.
Are There any Risks Associated with Eggs?
In addition to the benefits, eggs likewise have specific risk factors.
An egg’s yolk includes 185 milligrams of cholesterol, according to the Incredible Egg company. In a day, an adult ought to take in fewer than 300 milligrams of cholesterol. Eating two eggs each day would put a pregnant woman over the advised quantity of cholesterol; this does not consider any of the other cholesterol-containing foods she has consumed. Depending upon the rest of a pregnant woman’s diet, eating one or two eggs most days of the week may not be damaging.
A woman who is overweight or having problem with high cholesterol during pregnancy might increase her risk of complications by eating eggs every day. The National Institutes of Health advises limiting egg yolks to 3 or four per week. For a low-cholesterol choice, you can use egg whites. Talk to a health care expert about whether eating eggs every day would create unneeded risks to your pregnancy.
Salmonella Poisoning
Raw eggs or soft boiled eggs carry salmonella bacteria. During your pregnancy, you have to prepare eggs appropriately up until both the white and yolk turn solid. It, for that reason, kills the bacteria and makes eggs a safe option to eat.
Though salmonella poisoning will not damage your baby, it can be undesirable for you as it might cause:
- Abdominal pain.
- Diarrhea and severe vomiting.
- High temperature level.
- Headache.
How to Select and Cook Eggs?
Here is how you can prepare eggs to stay away from salmonella poisoning:
- Take a medium sized egg and boil it for about 7 minutes.
- Fry the egg slightly on both sides.
- Poach it till the white turns opaque and yolk turns firm. It needs to take about 5 minutes.
If you prefer eating outside, take care with some foods containing eggs. They might contain raw eggs, that might be partly prepared or not prepared, which can cause food poisoning.
Foods including raw eggs:
- Hollandaise sauces.
- Homemade mayo.
- Icing.
- Ice cream.
- Mousse.
- Salad dressings.
- Sauces.
Supermarket mayo is once again safe to eat as it is made of pasteurized eggs.
If you are preparing anything like mayonnaise, royal icing or meringue at home, you must just use pasteurized egg products. The procedure of pasteurization usually eliminates the bacteria by warming the eggs. You can choose to buy dried, frozen or liquid pasteurized eggs.
How to Store Eggs?
When you store eggs securely, there will be no possibility for the bacteria to spread from the eggs and eggshells. Below are the pointers that tell you how to save eggs in a safe manner:
- The refrigerator is the best place to store eggs. Eggs require a temperature listed below 20 degrees C, and for that reason, refrigeration works.
- Do not save the eggs near other foods. The best idea is to keep them in an egg tray.
- You should take in meals consisting of eggs soon after preparation. If you are not eating then, or a part of it is left over, cool it rapidly. You can refrigerate it for two days, however not more than that.
- You can keep cakes in a cool and dry place if they do not contain cream or custard ingredients.
- Hard boiled eggs should not be kept in the refrigerator for more than 3 days.
Tips to Avoid Spread of Bacteria
Bacteria can quickly spread from eggs to other foods or things. It can be present inside the egg or on the eggshell. Below are tips to avoid the spread of bacteria:
- Do not place eggs near other foods, even before or after you split them.
- Be careful not to spread the content of an egg on other food or dishes, while cracking it.
- Rinse your hands with soap and warm water prior to and after handling eggs.
- Clean the meals and surface areas using soap and warm water after cooking eggs.
- Do not use eggs whose shells are broken and damaged as they might consist of bacteria and dirt.
What is The Shelf Life of Eggs?
The service life of eggs is 28 days, i.e., the day they are laid to the best-before date. They can be taken in after a day or 2 of best-before only if they are cooked appropriately till the white and yolk turn solid. It will eliminate the salmonella bacteria.
Although there are some health dangers related to usage of eggs while pregnant, you can consume them as long as you are following the safety precautions. If you any more information to share about eggs, feel free to compose us in the comment section listed below.
