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Easter is one of those holidays we eagerly spend at the table, consuming enormous amounts of food. It's as festive as it is delicious, and the egg-tapping game awakens such a competitive spirit that we find ourselves surprised by our stomach’s unexpected capacity. Recently, people—Bulgarians included—seem to forget the value of moderation, turning the holiday from a religious occasion into a purely culinary one. While this doesn’t harm religion, it can certainly take a toll on our health.
A Cholesterol Bomb
Contrary to expectations, but fully in line with nature’s principles, the most colorful Easter treat, eggs, can also be the most dangerous. Eating two eggs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus snacking on a few in between, is far from a healthy diet. This overloads the body with a high concentration of identical nutrients.
It's well known that eggs are a "cholesterol bomb," and unless your doctor has advised you to increase your fat intake, it's best to consume them in moderation. In large amounts, eggs can also trigger allergic reactions and are strictly off-limits for people with diabetes due to the increased risk of coronary heart disease.
Remove the Yolks
A recent medical study in the UK has identified another reason to cut back on eggs—the yolks. It turns out they are just as harmful as smoking, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. British doctors found that both smoking and egg yolks thicken the walls of carotid arteries and other blood vessels, leading to dangerous blockages and impaired circulation.
For this reason, experts recommend that people over 40, whose blood vessels are already under stress, should limit egg consumption or at least separate the yolks from the whites.
Eat Pure Proteins
The good news is that this won’t interfere with your Easter egg-tapping tradition. Boiled egg whites are a true delicacy and offer numerous health benefits. From a nutritional standpoint, they are more valuable, as they are one of the few sources of pure protein. Each egg white contains about 3 grams of protein, a small amount of sodium, and almost no fats or carbohydrates. Additionally, egg whites are quickly absorbed by the body, making them a great choice when you need a rapid boost of amino acids—such as in the morning or after exercise.
Always in Moderation
Of course, even the healthiest foods become harmful if consumed excessively. Overeating egg whites, especially after a long period of fasting, can cause so-called "protein poisoning." This occurs when toxic, nitrogen-containing compounds build up in the blood faster than the kidneys can filter them out.
This condition is extremely dangerous, as excessive protein intake can literally "consume" muscle tissue, potentially leading to arthritis or osteoporosis. Symptoms include fatigue, headaches, nausea, acid reflux, and low blood pressure.
Recommendations
To keep Easter celebrations within a healthy range, experts warn them not to consume more than three eggs per day. The same goes for Easter bread (kozunak), which contains not only additional eggs but also significant amounts of sugar and fat. This makes it highly caloric, and doctors recommend limiting intake to 100 grams per day.
Nutritionists note that these recommendations assume that people eat other foods as well—not just eggs and Easter bread. However, if your holiday menu consists solely of these, you may be able to increase your portions slightly.
No Need to Panic
Eating 10-20 eggs on Easter won’t poison you, but it will likely leave you feeling sluggish, frequently needing to sit or lie down due to muscle fatigue. Headaches and discomfort could further dampen your holiday spirit, potentially keeping you in bed instead of enjoying the celebration.
As the saying goes, “Too much of a good thing is never good.” Appetite is a wonderful thing, and so is sharing a meal with loved ones, but Easter is more than just abundance.
So, here’s our advice: Be mindful with the eggs—and cheers!
