For many making the transition to a plant-based lifestyle, cheese and eggs can be the hardest things to give up. In fact, a love for eggs and cheese in particular is often cited as one of the reasons people go vegetarian as opposed to vegan. It seems meat is easy to give up for some, while many can’t let go of the dairy stuffs. Recently, a Huffington Post blogger posted on “5 Smart Reasons to Eat Eggs,” with mention of the high protein content of the food, a possible reduced risk of cancer, and more. We’re here to tell you, Green Monsters, this advice isn’t so great for you – or for the animals involved in the egg industry. Here are 5 Reasons to NOT Eat Eggs:

1. Many studies show egg consumption actually increases the risk of certain types of cancers, including colorectal and bladder cancers. Check this out: “A case-control study done in Argentina found that people consuming approximately 1 1/2 eggs per week had nearly 5 times the colorectal cancer risk compared with individuals consuming less than 11 eggs per year. And, the World Health Organization analyzed data from 34 countries and determined that egg consumption was significantly and positively correlated with mortality from colon and rectal cancers in both men and women. Moderate egg consumption also tripled the risk of developing bladder cancer as determined by a case-control study of 130 newly diagnosed bladder cancer patients published in the journal International Urology and Nephrology.” In other words, don’t risk it! There are so many egg alternatives out there that it’s silly to risk your health.
2. When it comes to U.S. egg farms, 90 percent of the country’s 280 million egg-laying hens are crammed into tiny cages so small that they can’t move, let along flap their wings. As the Human Society writes, “the science proves what common sense already told us: that animals confined in such an extreme way endure constant suffering.” And this also means potentially disgusting results on those eggs – hens in these conditions become sick, with open wounds and fecal matter dispersed all over their bodies quite often. Do you really want to contribute to this situation?
3. One word: cholesterol. Eggs are extremely high in cholesterol – about 186 mg per large egg –  and diets high in cholesterol can contribute to high blood cholesterol levels. High cholesterol can lead to heart problems. As PCRM explains, “every day, nearly 2,600 Americans die of some type of cardiovascular disease, an average of one death every 34 seconds, and 7.1 million Americans have had a heart attack during their lifetimes.” Do you really need eggs in your diet, knowing you can help cut this killer from your life just by cutting down on your egg intake (among other animal proteins)?
4. For athletic fuel, plant-based protein is the way to go. The Huffington Post article states, “Keep in mind that you don’t have to limit egg consumption to breakfast. Make hard-boiled eggs ahead of time and keep them on hand for snacks — eggs are a great fuel source before a run.”  Check out these awesome athletes who will show you that don’t need animal protein to fuel a workout. And there are plenty of cleaner, plant-based foods that can fuel your protein needs to choose from. Why grab an egg, which can actually hurt you and also contributes to animal suffering?
5. Not a big fan of food poisoning? Then stay away from eggs, people. PCRM explains that eggs can be a host for contamination: “Porous and fragile shells and crowded egg farms allow eggs to become the perfect host for salmonella, the leading cause of food poisoning in the United States.” Add this to the conditions described in reason #2 above, and you’ve got yourself one big cesspool of potential illness.

What are your reasons for ditching or cutting down on eggs? Let us know in the comments!

Image source: BrokenSphere / Wikimedia Commons