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Nutrition and daily life

Eggs — food card: great value in a small shell

Fried eggs, kuku, boiled eggs — eggs are in every home. They are cheap, quick and very nourishing. This card covers why eggs are useful and how to prepare them safely during treatment.

Last updated: ~2 min read
Fully cooked egg dishes provide protein and vitamins
Figure 1.Fully cooked egg dishes provide protein and vitamins.

01Short answer

One egg gives about 6–7 g of complete protein plus B12, vitamin D, choline and selenium. Eggs are soft, easy to chew and quick to make, which helps when appetite is poor. Raw and undercooked eggs can carry Salmonella, so during neutropenia eggs are cooked until both white and yolk are firm (71 °C). Keep eggs in the fridge and discard cracked ones.

02Simple explanation

Eggs give complete protein, building material for muscles and immune cells.

The yolk contains vitamin D, B12 and choline, which matters for the brain.

A raw egg can carry Salmonella, which causes serious gut infection.

A hard-boiled egg is safe: white and yolk are fully set.

03Scientific explanation

Temperature: FoodSafety.gov advises cooking egg dishes to 71 °C (160 °F) inside.

Salmonella: according to CDC it can be inside clean, intact eggs; full cooking destroys it.

Pasteurised eggs: sold in some countries and a safer choice for recipes that need raw egg.

04What happens in the body?

What does an egg provide?

One medium egg: 6–7 g protein, about 70–80 kcal, B12, vitamin D, choline, selenium and lutein.

Three glowing spheres rise from a halved egg with a firm yolk towards the outline of a muscle.
Figure 2.Eggs are a source of protein, choline and B12.

Storage

Keep eggs on a middle fridge shelf in their box, not in the door. Throw away cracked and dirty eggs.

Safe cooking

Boil for 9–12 minutes, fry on both sides, bake kuku right through.

A hard-boiled egg cut in half with a fully firm yolk
Figure 3.During neutropenia, only firm-yolk eggs.

What to watch

Homemade mayonnaise, tiramisu, raw dough and eggnog contain raw egg. Set them aside during neutropenia.

On hard days

A soft but fully cooked omelette, egg soup or kuku is easy to chew and rich in protein.

05Eggs: four steps

Choose clean, skip raw, cook firm, wash hands.

Clean, uncracked — Keep in the fridge.1Clean, uncrackedKeep in the fridge.
No raw egg — No homemade mayo or eggnog.2No raw eggNo homemade mayo or eggnog.
Cook firm — 9–12 minutes, 71 °C.3Cook firm9–12 minutes, 71 °C.
Wash hands — After raw eggs.4Wash handsAfter raw eggs.
ProteinA lot in a small portion.
Choline and B12For the nervous system.
Salmonella protectionFull cooking.

06Egg dishes during neutropenia

DishRiskierSafer
Fried eggRunny yolkCooked on both sides
Boiled eggSoft-boiledHard-boiled
MayonnaiseHomemadeFactory-made, sealed
DessertsTiramisu, raw-egg creamsBaked cakes
KukuWet centreCooked through

* The table is general information; follow your team.

07Key terms

Salmonella
A bacterium found in eggs and poultry.
Choline
A nutrient important for brain and liver.
Pasteurisation
Gentle heating that kills germs.
Hard-boiled
An egg with fully set white and yolk.
Complete protein
Protein with all essential amino acids.
Cross-contamination
Germs passing from raw food to other food.

08Key points

  • Eggs are cheap, valuable protein.
  • Yolk and white fully set.
  • No homemade mayo or raw dough.
  • Discard cracked eggs.
  • Store on a middle fridge shelf.
  • Wash hands after raw eggs.

09Frequently asked questions

How many eggs a day?

For most people 1–2 eggs a day is considered fine. If you have cholesterol or kidney problems, ask your doctor.

Are village eggs safer?

No. Farm eggs can carry Salmonella too and must be fully cooked.

Are quail eggs better?

Nutritionally they are similar to hen eggs. The same rule applies: cook fully.

Should I wash eggs?

There is no need to wash them before cooking; a dirty egg is better thrown away.

10Questions for your doctor

Take these questions to your appointment. The ones you save are collected on the “My questions” page and stay on this device only.

  1. How many eggs a day?

  2. Are village eggs safer?

  3. Are quail eggs better?

  4. Should I wash eggs?

My questions

12Sources

  1. NHS. The Eatwell Guide
  2. FoodSafety.gov (U.S. HHS). Egg safety
  3. CDC. Salmonella and Eggs
  4. CDC. Safer Food Choices for People With Weakened Immune Systems
  5. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Diet Guidelines for Immunosuppressed Patients
  6. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Food Safety During Cancer Treatment
  7. NCCIH (U.S. NIH). Herbs at a Glance
  8. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Eating Hints: Before, during, and after Cancer Treatment
  9. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2022. Exercise, Diet, and Weight Management During Cancer Treatment: ASCO Guideline
  10. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2019. Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors: Consensus Statement from International Multidisciplinary Roundtable
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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