Are eggs dairy?
When the doctor tells you to eat loads of dairy products, for some reason you will think about eggs. But are eggs really considered dairy? The answer to that is no. In fact, dairy products are goods that come from mammals like goats and cows. With this, examples of dairy products that you should remember are yogurt, butter, cream, and cheese.
Meanwhile, eggs come from birds including ducks, quail, and hens. Of course, you are probably aware that birds are not mammals and these do not produce milk, which is why eggs are not dairy.
Why are eggs said to be dairy, then?
There are two possible reasons people categorize eggs as dairy. First, it is because they are animal products. And second is because eggs and dairy products are high in protein. Another surprising reason is that vegetarians and vegans avoid these as both come from animals.
Considering these, a lot of people might have confused the two and decided to have them together in grocery stores. Or maybe it could be the mere fact that eggs needed to be refrigerated that is why these are in the same place. Whatever the reason for these grocery clerks have in mind to have eggs and dairy products grouped together, it is important that you, the buyer, knows the difference between the two.
Eggs can be eaten by those who are lactose intolerant
As mentioned, eggs do not have milk, which is why it is not a dairy product. With this, it is safe to say that if you are lactose intolerant, you can eat eggs. For those who are not aware of what a lactose intolerance is, it is a condition in which your body cannot digest lactose. Lactose is the sugar that can be found in dairy products and milk. Surprisingly, around 75% of people around the world are lactose intolerant.
The bad news is that when you are lactose intolerant and you accidentally had an intake of lactose, you will experience diarrhea, stomach cramps, and gas, among others. Which is why it is very important that you take note of what you are about to eat. You can check the labels or research about them online.
Going back to eggs and dairy, eggs are safe to those who are lactose intolerant the same way dairy products are safe to those who have egg allergies. The only thing that you should be worried about is when you are allergic to both.
Nutritional Value of Eggs
It does not mean that eggs are not dairy, they do not have nutritional values anymore. In fact, eggs are considered very nutritious. These are low in calories with high amounts of fat and protein.
Other nutrients that can be found in one egg are:
- Calories
- Fat
- Protein
- Carbohydrates
- Selenium
- Vitamin B12
- Riboflavin
In addition, eggs have small amounts of all the minerals and vitamins needed by your body. It also contains choline, a nutrient that not a lot of people have.
According to some studies, eggs are very nutritious that it can actually be a great weight loss food. Another study proved that when you eat eggs during breakfast, you already ate 500 fewer calories throughout the day.
Eggs in Your Diet
Adding eggs to your diet means that you will be having a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate, and protein-heavy diet. The objective of this diet plan is to give you the nutrients your body needs without actually sacrificing some protein. With this kind of diet, you will not only lose weight but also build muscles.
Take note that there are various egg diet plans available. Just remember that during this time, you can only drink zero-calorie beverages and water. You also need to remove foods that are high in carbohydrates like rice, pasta, bread, and those with natural sugar. The diet usually lasts for 14 days, and you have to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner only.
If you are a plan to use this diet, remember to add these:
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Fish
- Grapefruit
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Mushrooms
- Asparagus
- Zucchini
Considering these, your meal would look exactly like this:
For breakfast, you’ll have a 2-egg omelet with mushrooms, and spinach or you can eat grapefruit and 2 boiled eggs. For lunch, you can eat broccoli and ½ roast chicken breast. Lastly, for dinner, you can eat green salad and fish.
You also have another option which is the grapefruit and egg diet. This means that you can still use the abovementioned plan but with an additional ½ grapefruit for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you want to go for the extreme egg diet, the recommended plan is to just eat hard-boiled egg and water. This plan is not that advisable as it does not give you the needed nourishment for your body plus it is imbalanced.
Precaution on the Egg Diet
However, there is a disadvantage of this type of diet is that you will have a lack of energy. This is because this diet will not give you carbohydrates, making it difficult for you to have the energy your body needs.
Also, adjusting to this kind of diet is difficult. Your body will have to adjust with the sudden changes so you should not be surprised when you experience bad breath, flatulence, nausea, and constipation.
It is important to note that eggs can have other health risks as well. Eating a lot of egg can lead you to a higher risk of heart failure, ischemic stroke, and myocardial infarction. Be careful as well with eggs as these do not have fibers. These possible side effects made other people give up on the diet and eventually their weight too.
So the best way to solve this issue is to consult with your doctor first if your body can handle it. Otherwise, you might want to try another diet plan.
Overall, eggs are not dairy products. Despite that, eggs have a lot of nutrients and minerals that are good for your body. One of the benefits of eggs is that it can be a great food to lose weight. Just take note of the possible side effects that it has.