Eggs are a staple food for many people and a great source of protein. However, some people claim that eggs can have a laxative effect. This article examines whether eggs truly act as a laxative and cause diarrhea or loose stools.
What Are Eggs?
Eggs are laid by female birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Chicken eggs are the most commonly consumed type of egg. The shell, white, and yolk contain different nutrients:
- Shell: Made of calcium carbonate and protects the insides of the egg.
- Egg white: Contains mostly water and protein.
- Egg yolk: Contains protein, fat, and vitamins.
The full nutritional profile of a large chicken egg is:
- Calories: 72
- Protein: 6 grams
- Fat: 5 grams
- Carbs: 0.6 grams
- Sugar: 0.4 grams
- Fiber: 0 grams
- Calcium: 25% RDI
- Iron: 5% RDI
- Potassium: 2% RDI
- Vitamin A: 6% RDI
- Vitamin B12: 9% RDI
As you can see, eggs are high in protein but contain almost no carbs or fiber. The nutrient composition of eggs can influence their effects on digestion.
Do Eggs Have Laxative Properties?
Eggs themselves do not contain any ingredients that are known laxatives. However, there are a few reasons why some people may experience loose stools after eating eggs:
1. High Fat Content
The egg yolk contains 4.5 grams of fat per large egg. A high intake of fat can accelerate digestion, as fat is more quickly absorbed than other nutrients.
Eating a meal very high in fat like scrambled eggs cooked in oil or omelets with cheese may stimulate bowel movements. People with sensitive digestive systems may be more prone to loose stools when consuming high-fat foods.
2. Allergies
Some people have egg allergies and experience digestive symptoms after eating eggs. An egg allergy can trigger diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea, or vomiting.
These can begin as quickly as minutes or hours after consuming eggs. If someone experiences an urgent need to have a bowel movement after eating eggs, they may have an undiagnosed egg allergy.
3. Cholecystokinin Secretion
Egg yolks are one of the foods highest in cholecystokinin (CCK), a hormone that triggers the release of pancreatic enzymes and bile to digest food. Higher secretions of CCK also increase gut motility.
This means CCK makes the muscles in your digestive tract contract more to move food through faster. In healthy people, higher CCK levels upon eating eggs may mildly accelerate transit time in the large intestine, leading to looser stools.
4. Sulfur Content
Eggs contain a decent amount of sulfur-containing amino acids like cysteine and methionine. Sulfur can sometimes cause undesirable odors in farts or stools when digested.
Sulfur-rich foods like eggs, meat, garlic, or cruciferous vegetables may make some people’s stools smell worse or seem looser. However, this does not necessarily mean eggs are harming digestion.
Do Eggs Promote Regularity?
While eggs may have a laxative effect in some people prone to diarrhea or loose stools, they do not seem to promote regularity.
In fact, eggs may do the opposite and lead to temporary constipation for a few reasons:
Low Fiber Content
Eggs contain almost no fiber, with 0 grams per large egg. Fiber normalizes bowel movements by adding bulk and moisture to stools. Without adequate fiber, stools can become dry and hard to pass.
Protein-Rich Food
Since protein is absorbed slowly in the gut, high-protein foods can temporarily firm up stools. Meat, dairy, eggs, and other high-protein foods may increase constipation risk if not balanced with enough fiber from vegetables, fruits, and grains.
Dehydrating Foods
Eggs are very low in water content. Foods like eggs that absorb a lot of fluid in the colon to digest may lead to dehydration and constipation symptoms.
So while eggs supply important nutrients, their low fiber and moisture content does not support regularity. People prone to constipation may want to enjoy eggs alongside high fiber foods and hydrate well.
How Many Eggs Can Cause Diarrhea?
Most healthy people do not experience diarrhea from eating 1-2 eggs at a time. Issues arise when consuming many eggs in one sitting, like 5-8 eggs.
Possible causes of diarrhea from excess egg intake include:
- Too much fat – High fat meals accelerate digestion.
- Sulfur overload – Sulfur from many eggs may irritate the gut.
- Egg allergy reaction – Allergies get worse with more exposures.
- High cholesterol – Excess cholesterol intake can lead to loose stools.
Consuming too many eggs may also displace fiber from the diet, reducing stool bulk. Fat malabsorption may also occur when protein and fat intake is very disproportionate.
In most cases, diarrhea is not due to eggs themselves, but eating too many eggs or related gut intolerance issues.
Who May Experience Egg Diarrhea?
While most people can eat normal amounts of eggs without issue, certain groups are more prone to getting diarrhea from eggs:
- Those with egg allergies – Allergy mast cells release histamine.
- People with IBS – Hypersensitive colons react to food poorly.
- Anyone with fat malabsorption – Fat outpaces ability to absorb.
- Older adults – Gut motility and digestion decline with age.
- Very young children – Still developing digestive capacity.
People who already deal with frequent diarrhea or loose stools are more likely to have worsened symptoms after eating eggs. Healthy adults without sensitivities can typically tolerate eggs better.
Ways Eggs May Cause Loose Stools
There are a few ways eggs can lead to looser stools or diarrhea symptoms:
1. Accelerated Transit Time
The high fat and protein in eggs may speed up the passage of food through your digestive tract. Food has less time to absorb water in the colon, so stools stay loose.
2. Changes to Gut Bacteria
Sulfur compounds in eggs may increase growth of certain sulfur-loving bacteria like Bilophila wadsworthia. Higher amounts of these bacteria could upset the normal balance of gut flora.
3. Incomplete Fat Digestion
People with conditions like pancreatic insufficiency don’t produce enough lipase enzymes. Undigested fats can draw extra fluid into stools and cause orange, greasy diarrhea.
4. Stimulation of Secretion
Bile and fluids may be “pulled” into your colon too quickly due to eggs, causing watery stool. People with conditions like bile acid malabsorption are more impacted.
5. Inflammation
Egg allergies trigger immune cells to release histamine, prostaglandins, and other inflammatory chemicals that stimulate bowel movements and secretion.
So in different people, eggs may cause looser stools through effects on gut flora, fat digestion, transit time, inflammation, and fluid secretion.
Tips to Prevent Egg Diarrhea
If you experience diarrhea after eating eggs, there are some ways you can prevent or manage it:
- Avoid cooking eggs with too much added fat like oil or cheese.
- Reduce your egg intake to see if smaller amounts are tolerated better.
- Take eggs with gentler foods like rice, toast, or applesauce.
- Drink plenty of non-caffeinated fluids to stay hydrated.
- Eat eggs alongside high fiber foods like vegetables or fruit.
- Take digestive enzymes like lipase to help break down fat.
- Check for egg allergies by limiting intake for 2 weeks then reintroducing.
Making dietary tweaks to improve digestion and hydration can often prevent loose stools from eggs. See your doctor if diarrhea persists despite lifestyle changes. They can check for underlying conditions and suggest targeted treatment.
When To See A Doctor
Occasional loose stools after eating eggs are usually not a major concern. However, see your doctor if you experience:
- Severe diarrhea lasting over 2 days
- Visible blood in stool
- Intense cramping or abdominal pain
- Unintentional weight loss
- Ongoing nausea or vomiting
- Fever over 101 F (38.3 C)
These can indicate an infection, inflammation, or serious digestive disorder. Food intolerances usually cause milder diarrhea. Seek medical care for any severe symptoms after eating eggs.
Foods Less Likely To Cause Diarrhea
If eggs frequently cause diarrhea, here are some alternative high protein breakfast foods less likely to trigger loose stools:
- Oatmeal or porridge – Rich in soluble fiber.
- Smoothies with nut butter – Contains fat for satiety.
- Cottage cheese and fruit – More readily digested.
- Greek yogurt with granola – Probiotics aid digestion.
- Avocado toast – Has fiber and most digestion-friendly fats.
Avoiding eggs may relieve diarrhea symptoms. But continue eating them in moderation if they don’t bother your digestion.
The Bottom Line
In most people, eggs do not have significant laxative effects. Healthy individuals can eat normal amounts of eggs without issue.
However, those with sensitivities may get diarrhea from eggs due to:
- High fat, protein, and sulfur content
- Low fiber content
- Stimulation of secretion and motility
- Inflammation in those with allergies
Diarrhea is more likely when excess eggs are eaten, especially alongside other fats or cholesterol-rich foods. The best way to prevent egg-related diarrhea is to avoid eating many eggs at once if you are prone to loose stools.