Misconception 1: Eggs should not be eaten with soy milk
Those who advocate "not eating eggs with soy milk" claim that "raw soy milk" contains trypsin inhibitors, which suppress the activity of human proteases and impair the digestion and absorption of proteins (like those in eggs).The problem is, no one drinks raw soy milk—we all consume it heated. Heating destroys the trypsin inhibitors, rendering them ineffective. Thus, consuming eggs and soy milk together poses no issue. However, note that some people habitually add eggs to raw soy milk while boiling it. This practice should be avoided; it's best to add eggs only after the soy milk has come to a boil.
Misconception 2: Farm-fresh eggs (free-range eggs) are more nutritious
Genuine farm-fresh eggs (not counterfeit ones) may taste better, but testing shows they contain no more nutrients than commercial eggs (from egg-laying farms).
Misconception 3: "First-laid eggs" are more nutritious
There is no evidence that "first-laid eggs" (the first few eggs laid by a hen) are more nutritious than later eggs. This is a typical marketing gimmick.However, existing "techniques" can easily enhance yolk color without affecting nutritional content. Remember the "red-yolk duck eggs" scandal?
Misconception 5: "Fuzzy eggs" are tonics
"Fuzzy eggs" (also called "mummified eggs") are partially developed embryos from failed hatchings. In many regions (including numerous cities in Liaoning), they're consumed as tonics (often grilled).In reality, feathered eggs offer little nutritional benefit. Moreover, they often harbor significant bacterial contamination and are highly unhygienic.
Misconception 6: Raw eggs are more nutritious
Consuming raw eggs interferes with biotin absorption (a B-complex vitamin). While occasional, infrequent raw egg consumption won't cause biotin deficiency, raw eggs are generally unhygienic. Remember, hens lay eggs and defecate through the same passage, making contamination highly likely.
Misconception 7: Postpartum women should eat lots of eggs
The old custom of postpartum women consuming large quantities of eggs has become a complete fallacy in today's era of abundant food. New mothers should eat a variety of foods (including meat, eggs, dairy, beans, grains, vegetables, and fruits) to achieve dietary balance (one or two eggs per day is sufficient). The practice of "millet porridge + eggs" is extremely foolish.
Misconception 8: "Functional eggs" are superior to regular eggs
So-called "functional eggs" are enriched with nutrients like zinc, iodine, selenium, and calcium through feed technology. While this sounds beneficial, the lack of standardized testing in real-world applications makes counterfeiting common.
Misconception 9: Red-shelled eggs are more nutritious than white-shelled eggs
Historically, red-shelled eggs were perceived as more nutritious, commanding a market price about ¥0.20 per 500 grams higher than white-shelled eggs. However, testing shows eggshell color has no bearing on nutritional value. Egg nutrition depends on the hen's diet. Recently, I've noticed red-shelled and white-shelled eggs are priced identically in markets.