Stop Giving Raw Eggs to Girls Who Are Going Through Menarche
When I got my first period, I was almost subjected to one of the traditional South Indian practices of giving girls raw eggs for their supposedly exceptional nutritional benefits and their ability to prepare the body for future childbearing. I was spared from drinking raw eggs because I had guzzled Indian sesame oil instead - I'm very fond of sesame oil's taste - raw eggs' taste? Not so much. But the issue runs way deeper than taste. First, why raw eggs? Second, what exactly makes them beneficial for future fertility? And third, why does a girl getting her first period suddenly become a family project to prepare her body for motherhood? I have nothing against these traditional foods - in fact, I drink sesame oil and eat one or 2 eggs every morning because they're nutrition-dense. But I have a problem with treating cultural beliefs as established medical facts. Eggs are nutritious. They contain protein, choline, vitamin B12 and other essential nutrients. But there is no...