This study discovered eating an egg a day could boost growth in children.
Roughly 160 infants between the ages of 6 and 9 months were split into two groups. One group ate an egg a day for six months.
This led to a 47 percent lower prevalence of stunting when compared to the control group that didn’t eat eggs.
Around the world roughly 1 in 4 kids under the age of 5 are affected by stunted growth.
Poor nutrition, especially in the first one-thousand days of a child’s life can cause this. They’re not as tall as they should be and may have poor cognition and educational performance.
This can affect them later in life - they’re often paid lower wages and may have an increased risk of chronic diseases.
Eggs contain many vitamins and minerals like Vitamin A, D, B12, Selenium and Riboflavin. They’re also a great source of protein which is needed for building and maintaining muscle.
To add eggs into your child’s life, here are my prescriptions:
- You can introduce eggs into your baby’s diet after 4 to 6 months.
- Scramble or hard-boil the egg and cut into small bites before giving to your child.
- Never serve raw or undercooked eggs due to the possibility of bacteria.
- Avoid eggs that are cracked or past their expiration date. Best to store eggs in the fridge.
The children in the study were closely monitored for allergic reactions to eggs and researchers reported no incidents.
There’s no evidence that waiting longer than 6 months will prevent an allergy to eggs. If allergies run in your family, please speak to your doctor first.
