The unpleasant sensation of your stomach churning after eating eggs is common. Eggs are among the foods that can cause gastroparesis or stomach paralysis because of their high content of proteolytic enzymes. These enzymes break down protein in all types of food, not just eggs, but other foods don’t contain as much protein as eggs. As a result, your small intestine has to work harder and faster to digest them. The good news is that once you know why eggs hurt your stomach, you can manage your condition with simple dietary changes and avoid further discomfort.
Why Do Eggs Hurt My Stomach?
Well, one thing many don’t know is that eggs can be difficult for the stomach to digest. They are high in both protein and fat. The combination of these two elements can cause your stomach to become upset, which is the result of it not being able to digest the food. For this reason, eating eggs may cause nausea or even vomiting. Another element that is present in eggs that may cause digestion problems is something called a ‘gestation period.’ This period refers to the time it takes for an egg to become fertilized. After this period, a developing embryo begins to develop within the egg. When an egg has reached this stage of development, it will then begin to secrete hormones called progesterone and estrogen, which are potent stress hormones that can make you feel nauseous.
Why Is Eggs Bad For The Stomach?
Eggs Are Full of Bad Fats
Eggs are extremely high in saturated fats, which can contribute to high cholesterol and heart disease. One large egg has about 5 grams of saturated fat, which is about the same amount that is in 10 strips of bacon! Studies have found that for every 3% increase in your daily cholesterol intake, your risk of heart disease increases by about 5%. Eating too many eggs can lead to high cholesterol which increases your risk of heart disease. But eating one or two eggs a day probably won’t hurt your heart. Still, it’s best to choose omega-3-rich eggs, which have less saturated fat than conventional eggs.
Eggs Can Cause Inflammation
Eating too many fatty foods can cause inflammation in the body, which is linked to many diseases such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and others. Studies have found that eating eggs boosts the level of a specific protein in the blood that is a marker for inflammation. Eating too many eggs can increase inflammation in the body, which can raise your risk for a number of diseases. To reduce the risk of inflammation, you should eat fewer eggs and other high-fat foods, such as red meat and full-fat dairy products. You should also exercise regularly and get enough sleep.
Egg allergy is common
Egg allergies are the most common food allergy in infants and children. In adults, the allergy is much less common, but it does occur. An allergy to eggs can cause symptoms such as itching, swelling of the lips, face, and tongue, and abdominal cramps. Egg allergies can be difficult to diagnose, because the symptoms can be similar to other disorders, including food poisoning or irritable bowel syndrome. An allergy to eggs can be treated with an antihistamine, but not everyone with an allergy can completely avoid eggs. If you have a serious allergy to eggs, you should see an allergist, who can test you for an egg allergy and give you advice on how to avoid eating eggs.
Eggs May Cause Stomach Problems
Eggs contain a type of protein called the globulin protein, which can trigger stomach problems in some people. If you have excess globulin protein in your stomach, it can cause you to experience diarrhea, vomiting, or stomach cramps. This happens more often in infants than in adults. Infants with high levels of globulin in their stomachs can experience poor feeding, vomiting, and diarrhea. Eating too many eggs might cause stomach problems in some people, especially infants. You can limit the amount of globulin in your diet by eating fewer eggs and choosing foods that don’t contain eggs. These include beans, rice, and meat.
How To Stop Eggs From Hurting Your Stomach?
Change up how you eat your eggs
Cooking methods matter as much as amount when it comes to eating eggs. If you’re someone who is sensitive to eggs, you may find that soft-boiled or sunny-side-up eggs are less irritating to your stomach, because there’s less yolk involved. Scrambled, poached, and hard-boiled eggs may be better options for you, even if you don’t normally have problems with eating eggs. If you’re sensitive to eggs, you may also want to avoid consuming them at the same time as other foods that cause you discomfort.
Eat egg whites instead
Egg whites are just as healthy as the yolks. Some people are afraid to eat the yolks because of cholesterol fears, but not many people know that egg whites actually have even less cholesterol than the yolks do. If you’re one of those people who don’t like eating the yolks, you should try eating the egg whites instead. You can try omelets, scrambled eggs, or any other dish that uses egg whites instead of egg yolks.
Toast your bread before adding the egg
Toast your bread before adding the egg. The reason for this is that some types of bread might contain a small amount of corn which is known to trigger digestive issues in many people. This is especially a problem if you are eating a large amount of bread since the amount of corn in each slice is so small that many people don’t even notice it. Most types of bread also contain yeast which is a source of FODMAPs that can trigger digestive issues for people with IBS. Toasting the bread will remove the yeast, and using gluten-free bread will remove it from that source as well.
Add ginger and turmeric to your meal
Eating foods that soothe your stomach like ginger, turmeric, and peppermint can help reduce any discomfort that you may have after eating eggs. Ginger is an herb that’s used for cooking in many different cultures. It’s also a potent anti-inflammatory and digestive aid that can help ease nausea, stomach aches, and even menstrual cramps. Turmeric is another superfood that has a lot of anti-inflammatory properties and can help with fighting diseases such as Alzheimer’s, some cancers, and diabetes. These ingredients are delicious and easy to add to your meal. You can also try adding peppermint, which has been shown to help with stomach issues by relaxing the muscles in your stomach.
Eat slowly, not during a rush or while doing something else
Eating slowly is one of the best things you can do to improve digestion. Food is more easily digested when you eat it slowly and don’t rush the process. It’s a good idea to set a timer for 20 minutes and eat your meal in that time period. It’s also important to not eat while you’re distracted or doing something else. Instead, focus on your meal and give it your full attention. When we eat while doing something else, like watching TV, reading, or traveling, we don’t give our bodies enough time to properly chew and break down our food before moving on to the next task.
What Can I Eat Instead Of Eggs?
- To replace the nutrients and protein you would get from eggs, you can try eating legumes like beans, lentils, and peanuts.
- You can also eat grains like oats, quinoa, barley, and amaranth. There are also several commercial egg replacers, made from ingredients like potato starch, tapioca flour, and plant protein.
- These can be used in baked goods and some recipes that call for eggs. You can also try eating eggs in moderation if you are not sensitive to them.
- You can reduce your sensitivity by slowly introducing eggs into your diet and by eating smaller amounts.
- You can also try eating foods that complement the sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in your gut, such as yogurt, kefir, and cultured vegetables like sauerkraut and kimchi.
Conclusion
Eating eggs can cause gastroparesis, which is a condition where your stomach takes too long to digest food. The best way to avoid this is to eat smaller meals and eat foods that don’t irritate your stomach, like bananas, apples, pears, and oatmeal. If you are sensitive to eggs, you can replace them with legumes, grains, and cultured vegetables to stay healthy and vibrant.