Actor and singer Seolhyun recently opened up about her deep love for eggs, identifying them as the cornerstone of her weight-management routine.
In a video posted to her official YouTube channel, Seolhyun visited her family home and prepared a bowl of traditional soy sauce egg rice—mixing eggs with soy sauce and sesame oil. "If I had to live eating only one food for the rest of my life, it would be eggs," she shared, adding, "These days, I buy and eat baked eggs every single day."
Standing 167 cm tall and maintaining a weight of 47 kg, Seolhyun credited the food item for helping her stay trim. "Recently, while dieting, I've been eating two to four eggs a day. I think I've eaten about 150 of them so far," she revealed.
High Satiety and Quality Muscle Building
Eggs are a staple in many weight-loss diets due to their high satiety value, which helps curb hunger and reduce cravings for high-calorie snacks. They are also considered a complete protein source, offering high-quality protein rich in essential amino acids.
A single large egg contains roughly 6 g of protein. Consuming just two eggs provides about 20% of the recommended daily protein intake for an average adult.
Protein plays a critical role in preserving lean muscle mass, especially during periods of caloric restriction. When calorie intake drops without adequate protein, the body risks losing muscle mass. This loss reduces the basal metabolic rate (BMR)—the number of calories the body burns at rest—making long-term weight loss increasingly difficult.
The Hidden Risks of Excessive Protein Intake
While protein is essential, health experts warn against consuming eggs in unlimited quantities. For most healthy adults, eating one to three eggs per day is considered appropriate.
Consuming significantly more protein than the body requires can lead to increased urinary calcium excretion, which may negatively impact bone density over time. Research shows that animal proteins tend to trigger higher rates of calcium loss compared to plant-based proteins.
Furthermore, increasing protein intake without engaging in regular exercise can backfire. Unused protein can ultimately be stored as body fat, while the metabolic breakdown of excess protein produces nitrogenous waste like ammonia. Processing this waste places an added burden on the kidneys, raising uric acid levels and elevating the risk of conditions like gout.
To maintain optimal health, experts emphasize balancing protein intake with physical activity. According to guidelines from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the recommended daily protein allowance is 0.8 to 1.2 g per kilogram of target body weight. For example, a woman standing 160 cm tall with a healthy target weight of 52 kg should aim for approximately 42 to 62 g of protein daily.
