Balut eggs are renowned as a nutritious food, packed with high nutritional value and health-boosting properties. However, not everyone should indulge in this delicacy. Certain individuals are advised to refrain from consuming balut eggs, and it’s essential to delve deeper into this matter.
Nutritional Value of Balut Eggs
Research indicates that balut eggs offer an impressive nutritional profile. A single egg provides approximately 182 kcal, 12.4g of lipids, 13.6g of protein, 600mg of cholesterol, 82mg of calcium, and 212mg of phosphorus. Notably, balut eggs are an excellent source of vitamins A, B1, and C, along with trace amounts of iron, glucids, and other essential minerals.
In traditional medicine, balut eggs are believed to have cooling properties, stimulating blood circulation, nourishing the blood, and enhancing vitality. This food can also be combined with other ingredients to create remedies for conditions like stunted growth, weakness, anemia, and headaches.
Who Should Avoid Eating Balut Eggs?
While balut eggs provide essential nutrients, their consumption should be approached with caution. Overindulging in balut eggs may lead to adverse effects on the body.

- Diabetics
Individuals with diabetes should limit their intake of balut eggs due to their high cholesterol content. Elevated levels of bad cholesterol can increase the risk of atherosclerosis and lead to stroke. Diabetes patients are already at a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases, and maintaining stable cholesterol and fat levels is crucial during treatment.
- Gout Patients
Balut eggs are not recommended for people suffering from gout. The high cholesterol content can exacerbate gout symptoms and make it challenging to manage the condition, resulting in painful flare-ups.
- Hypertension Sufferers
With their high cholesterol levels, balut eggs are not a wise choice for individuals with high blood pressure. Excessive consumption can lead to a significant intake of fat, sodium, and cholesterol, making blood pressure management difficult and increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Individuals with Fatty Liver Disease
Balut eggs fall into the category of foods that should be limited for those with fatty liver disease. The high cholesterol content can worsen the condition and contribute to other health issues such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
- Children Under 5 Years Old
While balut eggs are nutritious, they may not sit well with the digestive systems of children under five years old. At this age, their digestive systems are still immature and underdeveloped. Consuming balut eggs may lead to digestive issues such as indigestion, bloating, and difficulty in digestion.
Therefore, parents who wish to introduce balut eggs to their children should wait until they are over five years old and even then, limit their intake to half an egg, once or twice a week.
Overconsumption of balut eggs can also lead to an excess of vitamin A, resulting in skin issues like jaundice and negatively impacting bone development in children.
For adults with normal health, it is advisable to consume no more than two balut eggs per week.
In conclusion, while balut eggs offer nutritional benefits, certain individuals should exercise caution or refrain from consuming them to avoid potential health complications. It’s important to be mindful of these considerations to ensure a healthy and balanced diet.