Eggs in pregnancy: what is important to know

Can you eat eggs when pregnant?

The answer is yes. The consumption of eggs during pregnancy allows you to find in a single food a bioavailable source of proteins and nutrients , i.e. easily and rapidly absorbed by the body. 

The egg is in fact a food rich in noble proteins, vitamins and mineral salts which are precious for the health of mother and child. Just think that its content of:

• iron and vitamin B12 (in the yolk )
• iodine
• vitamin D
• folic acid ( vitamin B9 )
• choline ( vitamin J )

it accounts for almost the entire daily requirement of a pregnant woman.

On the other hand, eggs also contain a lot of cholesterol , which corresponds to about 80% of the maximum daily limit . For this reason, it is important not to consume them in excessive quantities.

How many eggs can you eat while pregnant?

Generally, during pregnancy it is recommended not to eat more than 2 eggs a week .

A precaution to be taken is to consume them only well cooked . Raw or undercooked eggs are in fact a risk for salmonellosis , a bacterial infection that is very dangerous for the health of the unborn child .

Furthermore, eggs must be stored and handled with care during food preparation, since the bacterial load present or which can form on the shell can be a source of contamination.

For this reason, it is advisable to keep them separate from other foods in the refrigerator , taking care to wash them before use (and not before storing ) and not to break them on the edge of the container in which they will then be processed or cooked .

How to eat eggs when pregnant? 

Cooked eggs

The recommendation is to adopt methods that guarantee complete cooking of the eggs, since high temperatures for an adequate time destroy the bacterial load and kill the bacilli of salmonella .

Conversely, freezing raw egg-based food does not eliminate the risk of foodborne infections , because bacteria could multiply during the thawing phase.

During pregnancy, therefore, it is considered safe to consume:

• hard-boiled eggs
• egg omelet
• fried eggs , if well cooked

Raw eggs

All preparations based on raw or not completely cooked egg are not recommended during pregnancy , such as :

• soft-boiled eggs
• poached eggs
• fried eggs (being raw inside)

On the other hand, as regards sauces and industrial-type raw egg-based preparations, there shouldn’t be any risk, because pasteurized eggs are used in this type of product .