Balut, or fertilized duck egg, is highly nutritious, but not everyone knows how to consume it properly or who should avoid it. Experts provide advice on how to enjoy this delicacy correctly.
Avoid Eating at Night
Dr. Bui Hong Minh, President of the Ba Dinh Traditional Medicine Association, states that both traditional and modern medicine recognize balut as a highly nutritious food. A single balut contains about 182 kcal of energy, 13.6 grams of protein, 12.4 grams of lipids, 82 mg of calcium, 212 mg of phosphorus, and 600 mg of cholesterol. Additionally, it is rich in beta-carotene, vitamins A, B, C, and iron.
For this reason, balut is considered a medicinal food with benefits for nourishing blood, enhancing intellect, and promoting physical maturity and sexual health. However, it is difficult to digest due to its high protein and cholesterol content. The expert advises to avoid eating it at night as it can lead to discomfort, bloating, and harm to the digestive system. The best time to consume balut is in the morning, but it should not be eaten too frequently or in large quantities at once.
Who Should Avoid It?
According to Dr. Bui Hong Minh, not everyone can enjoy balut, despite its nutritional appeal. In particular, young children and the elderly need to be especially cautious.
Young children and the elderly need to be especially cautious.
Regarding this, Dr. Ho Thu Mai from the Nutrition Department at Vinmec International General Hospital recommends: “In my opinion, children under 5 years old should avoid balut as their digestive systems are not fully developed, making them prone to bloating and digestive disorders, which can be harmful to their health. Children aged 5 and older should only eat half an egg at a time, and no more than 1-2 times a week. Frequent consumption can lead to excess vitamin A, causing jaundice, skin peeling, and negatively affecting bone development, hindering comprehensive growth.”
Aside from children, the following groups should avoid balut:
1. People with Gout
Each balut contains a considerable amount of protein, and consuming more will increase protein levels in the blood, worsening the condition of gout patients.
2. Kidney Patients
Patients with kidney issues face significant metabolic challenges, with reduced urine output preventing the kidneys from filtering toxins effectively.
Eating balut can elevate urea levels in the body, leading to kidney damage and even urinary tract toxicity.
3. Liver Disease Patients
Balut contains excessive protein, which can overwork liver function, leading to rapid liver failure. Additionally, it can cause bloating, indigestion, and abdominal discomfort in liver patients.
4. Fever Patients
It is commonly believed that consuming balut during illness helps the body recover faster. However, the protein in balut generates 30% more heat when metabolized, raising the body temperature of fever patients and worsening their condition.
Hypertensive patients should completely avoid balut.
5. Hypertensive Patients
According to Dr. Bui Dac Sang, hypertensive patients must strictly avoid balut since consuming this food introduces a significant amount of protein and cholesterol—two contributors to hypertension.
6. Postpartum Women
Postpartum women should refrain from eating balut because it contains high levels of protein and fat, which can lead to indigestion and bloating.
Doctors recommend that new mothers only consume balut 1-2 days after giving birth and limit themselves to no more than 2 eggs per day.
Healthy adults should ideally consume no more than 2 baluts per week.
Why Eat with Vietnamese Coriander?
Explaining why balut is often eaten with ginger and Vietnamese coriander, Dr. Bui Hong Minh mentions that this combination creates a harmonious balance for the body. Vietnamese coriander and ginger have a spicy, warming nature that helps warm the stomach, alleviate bloating, disinfect, and dispel cold. Thus, they counteract coldness, bloating, and slow digestion.
Notably, due to the aphrodisiac properties of balut, it is recommended to consume it with Vietnamese coriander to mitigate post-consumption excitement.
“Both men and women who consume excessive amounts of Vietnamese coriander regularly may experience reduced libido, men may face erectile dysfunction, and women could lose their menstrual cycle. For pregnant women, this herb can even lead to miscarriage. Therefore, if consuming balut, pregnant women should avoid Vietnamese coriander and ginger,” Dr. Hong Minh advises.
