The problem with eating raw eggs is not that humans can't digest them. It's that cooking your eggs is the only way to destroy the salmonella bacteria that might be in them. You can't tell whether an egg is infected with salmonella bacteria by looking at it before or after cooking, so minimize your risk of infection by cooking eggs thoroughly.
Function
When you cook an egg, the heat causes its protein molecules to unfold and form new bonds. As the network of proteins tighten, they squeeze out moisture and become opaque. That's why cooking eggs for a long time makes them rubbery. The human body can digest eggs whether they are raw or cooked, but cooked eggs are much safer. A fully cooked egg will be solid, while an undercooked egg will be runny.
Unsafe Practices
Most people cook their eggs, but not everyone. Some people, such as bodybuilders, need to take in many calories every day. As a preparation shortcut, they might crack eggs into a glass and drink them raw, obtaining a large number of calories in a short time. Other people prefer their eggs semicooked. For example, people who boil their eggs might prefer the yellow yolk to have a runny texture.
Risk
If you eat raw or undercooked eggs, you're at risk for salmonella infection. Salmonella is a bacteria that can be on the outside or inside of the shell because it can contaminate the egg as it passes through the hen or after laying. While salmonella bacteria won't make hens sick, salmonella infection can be dangerous for humans, especially to those who have relatively weak immune systems, including young children, older adults and pregnant women.
Effects
Symptoms of salmonella infection can begin 8 to 72 hours after you eat undercooked eggs. They include vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, fever, headache, chills, muscle pains and blood in the stool. The infection can last four to seven days, but it could take months for your bowels to return to normal, according to MayoClinic.com. Healthy people might recover without treatment from a doctor, but extreme cases can lead to dehydration, which can be life-threatening. The safest approach is to contact your doctor if you think you might have a salmonella infection.
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