Colored eggs are a symbol of Easter alongside kulich and paskha. How many eggs are safe to eat and who should refuse them?
“Doctor Peter” together with nutritionist and longevity expert Elena Zhelyankina explored how not to harm the liver and pancreas.
Not Always Healthy Eggs
Eggs are a source of complete, accessible protein, fats, and cholesterol. For a healthy person, moderate consumption is safe. Protein stimulates the synthesis of pancreatic enzymes, while fats and yolk support the function of the liver and gallbladder.
With an excess of eggs, especially fried or fatty dishes, there may be bile stagnation, pain in the right upper quadrant, heaviness, digestive disorders, increased load on the pancreas, and sharp spikes in insulin. This is particularly noticeable in people with chronic liver and gallbladder diseases, a tendency to high cholesterol, and metabolic disorders.
Who Should Absolutely Avoid Eggs
Traditions are traditions, but there are conditions under which eggs can be harmful.
Gallbladder diseases. In acute or chronic pathologies, any overload, including eggs, can provoke an attack of cholecystitis. Cholelithiasis is particularly dangerous: an excess of fats stimulates the movement of stones, which depending on their size can block or obstruct the ducts.
Liver diseases. In hepatitis, fatty liver disease, or cirrhosis, proteins and fats increase the load on the organ and contribute to inflammation, increasing the risk of discomfort and exacerbations.
Chronic pancreatitis. For people with pancreatitis, eggs require caution. Excessive stimulation of the pancreas can intensify pain and a feeling of heaviness, especially with increased enzyme secretion.
Even healthy individuals should practice moderation. Excessive egg consumption creates a burden on pancreatic enzymes and bile ducts, increases cholesterol synthesis, and can cause discomfort.
How Many Eggs Are Safe to Eat on Easter
For a healthy person, the daily norm is 1-2 eggs. At the festive table, it is permissible to increase this to 3-4, but it is important to consider the method of preparation. Easter eggs are typically prepared optimally: they are boiled and in this form are relatively easy to digest and minimally load the liver.
Why the “Egg Battle” Can Be Dangerous
It is not the process of the “egg battle” that is dangerous, but how the participants who “suffered defeat” are used and stored afterward. During the fun, small cracks form on the shell, which can allow bacteria from the surface to enter. This is especially relevant if the eggs have been sitting at room temperature for a long time.
After the “battle,” we often eat more than our usual portion, creating a sharp load on the liver and pancreas. The risk of bacterial penetration is exacerbated by shell damage and prolonged storage.
If a boiled egg has been sitting at room temperature for a long time, bacteria that have gotten onto the surface can multiply on its shell. For example, staphylococci and E. coli. They come from hands or surrounding objects. Localized foci of microbes can occur on the cracks of the shell.
How Eggs Affect the Biochemistry of the Liver and Pancreas
The protein from eggs stimulates the secretion of pancreatic enzymes, which is necessary for digestion. Fats and cholesterol from the yolk activate the bile ducts, and the liver begins to produce bile acids and enzymes. With moderate consumption, these processes are normal and beneficial; with excess, bile stagnation, liver and pancreatic overload, discomfort, and possible inflammatory reactions occur.
Cholesterol in the yolk is involved in the synthesis of hormones and vital substances, but an excess creates an additional burden on the liver. The primary cholesterol in the body is synthesized by the liver, and it is this organ that is affected by excessive consumption of fats and yolks. The load particularly increases if eggs are consumed along with fried dishes, mayonnaise, or butter.
Thus, the issue is not so much with the cholesterol from the yolk, but rather that an excessive amount of fats stimulates the liver to increase synthesis, which affects its function and the health of the body as a whole.
How to Reduce the Load on the Liver and Pancreas
To maintain the health of the liver and pancreas, it is important to control the number of eggs consumed. Do not cook too many so that you do not have to eat them for several days in a row.
Particular attention should be paid to fiber. Even during the festive Easter lunch, it is beneficial to include a vegetable salad or fresh greens. Fiber helps slow the absorption of fats and sugars, eases the work of the liver, and improves digestion.
Do not forget about water. Adequate fluid intake is important for the normal functioning of the liver and kidneys, participates in the detoxification of the body, and supports metabolic processes.
