Reality of drinking raw eggs as viral trend explained

Plenty of folks have recreated the infamous Rocky scene where Sylvester Stallone memorably started the day off by necking five raw eggs.

Although consuming this yellow concoction has become something of a health trend online, a lot of people aren't sure whether it actually provides any real benefits.

Eggs are famously full of protein and 'almost every nutrient you need', according to BBC Good Food, making them a popular snack for those who like to stay in good shape.

The things that come out of chickens are packed with vitamins D and B12, iodine and certain kinds of eggs are also bolstered with Omega-3 fatty acids.

Eggs also boast the nine essential amino acids that humans need for 'growth, development and repair', as well as being one of the 'best sources of choline', which is essential for brain function and the formation of cell membranes.

Experts say that eggs also support the health of your heart, muscles, eyes and immune system, so you really should be sneaking at least a few into your diet.

One bloke previously ate 900 eggs in one month to see what benefits it brought, and he yielded some seriously interesting results from his experiment.

The dad of Manchester United legend David Beckham also told how he put his son on a diet of 'Guinness and a raw egg' to bulk him up before joining the club.

Some people seem to think that if drinking raw eggs was good enough for Rocky, it's good enough for them (Chartoff-Winkler Productions)

But medical experts don't share the same love for the trend, as demonstrated when a doctor reacted to a video of a fitness influencer claimed eating a raw egg and raw meat for breakfast in disgust.

So, let's get to the bottom of this raw egg trend once and for all, shall we?

According to experts at Healthline, eggs are 'highly nutritious', but you are running the risk of contracting salmonella if you wolfing them down raw.

Brits thankfully don't have to worry too much about this though, as runny eggs with the British Lion mark stamp are considered 'safe to eat' according to the UK government.

The Food Standards Agency altered its advice in 2017, explaining that raw and lightly cooked eggs which have this red lion logo stamped on them are safe for pregnant women and young children.

The NHS concurs, explaining that 'eggs produced under the British Lion Code of Practice are safe for pregnant women to eat raw or partially cooked, as they come from flocks that have been vaccinated against salmonella'.

"Eggs that have not been produced under the Lion Code are considered less safe, and pregnant women are advised to avoid eating them raw or partially cooked, including in mousse, mayonnaise and soufflé," it adds.

"These eggs should be cooked until the white and the yolk are hard."

Eggs with the red lion logo stamped on them in the UK are 'safe to eat' runny (British Lion Eggs)

However, consuming raw eggs can 'interfere with the absorption of certain nutrients' - as a 1998 study published in The Journal of Nutrition found that people retained more from cooked ones.

Those who ate raw eggs only absorbed 50 percent of the protein on offer, while those who had cooked eggs absorbed 90 percent.

Similarly, consuming raw ones can impact your absorption of biotin, which is also known as vitamin B7.

Healthline explains: "Almost all of these nutrients are concentrated in the yolk. The egg white mostly consists of protein.

"While egg yolks provide a good dietary source of biotin, raw egg whites contain a protein called avidin. Avidin binds to biotin in the small intestine, preventing its absorption.

"Because heat destroys avidin, this is not an issue when the egg has been cooked."

The experts admit that further scientific research is needed, but on a whole, it seems like you may be better off just slinging your eggs in a pan.

But it seems you might be better off cooking your eggs before consuming them (Getty Stock Images)

"Raw eggs have many of the same nutritional benefits as cooked eggs," Healthline concluded. "However, protein absorption may be lower from raw eggs, and the uptake of biotin may be prevented.

"Most concerning is the risk of raw eggs being contaminated with bacteria leading to the potential contraction of a salmonella infection. Buying pasteurised eggs will lower your risk for infection."

Nutritional therapist Laura Southern also chimed in on the long-running debate last year and shared her thoughts on why drinking raw eggs has become so trendy.

"I think it probably stems from convenience - consuming protein from several eggs at once is easier when they’re in raw, liquid form," the founder of London Food Therapy told The Times.

Commenting on the contradicting advice people often struggle to navigate, she added: "Studies show frying an egg can increase its cholesterol levels, although other research suggests protein is easier to absorb in cooked eggs as it’s broken down into smaller components."

However you like your eggs in the morning, just make sure you're doing it safely.