A type of fad crash diet, the hard boiled egg diet gained popularity thanks to movie actors and other celebrities who had success shedding weight while eating little more than eggs each day. However, eating such a restricted diet is never good for your overall health, and relying so heavily on eggs will pose certain health risks.
Description
There are numerous variations on the hard boiled egg diet. While the details may vary, the basic core principle of getting most, if not all, of your protein from eggs remains consistent throughout the different plans, which are all high in protein and low in carbs. Eggs are a complete protein food, meaning they contain all the essential amino acids for protein production, with the average medium egg delivering 6 grams of protein, according to the Egg Nutrition Center.
Features
On a standard hard boiled egg diet, you'd eat two eggs for breakfast, perhaps with a slice of grapefruit or some other fruit. For lunch, you'd partake in a sensible meal featuring a lean protein, like chicken or turkey, and a salad or some other green leafy vegetables. Dinner brings two more eggs. The diet strictly prohibits any carbohydrates like bread, pasta or potatoes.
Function
High-protein, low-carb diets like the hard boiled egg diet help shed pounds due in large part to appetite suppression. Consuming large amounts of protein and few carbs creates a fuller feeling and limits food cravings. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition reports that individuals who consume eggs for breakfast are less hungry at lunch, resulting in fewer calories consumed over the course of the day.
Benefits
Eggs do provide several nutritional benefits. Not only are they loaded with protein, but eggs also offer potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorous, zinc and vitamins A, B-6, B-12 and D. Eggs are also relatively cheap and easy to prepare, making the hard boiled egg diet affordable and easy to follow. Eating eggs in the morning can help reduce food cravings, with the high protein levels also assisting with calorie burning.
Considerations
Eating so many eggs each day may result in bad breath, constipation, gas and other digestive complaints. More importantly, one average egg contains 160 milligrams of cholesterol, making an egg diet potentially troublesome. All the accumulated protein from an egg diet can also be taxing on the kidneys. And because egg diets place such an emphasis on protein over carbohydrates, you may feel fatigued and lack the necessary energy to undertake strenuous activity, inhibiting weight loss and muscle building.
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