Image courtesy of George Groutas on Flickr
Start crackin’ because if you’re not, you could be missing out on the great health benefits eggs have to offer.
Offering 6 grams of protein-goodness and other essential nutrients, here are some egg facts you might not have known:
- Eggs reduce your risk of cancer:
Eggs contain 20% of your daily value of choline. It has been found that women with a high intake of choline decrease their chances of getting breast cancer by 24%.
- The nutrient choline has also been found to play a role in memory function and assists in fetal brain development.
- Recent studies have been finding that people who consume eggs actually have lower cholesterol than people who do not eat eggs.
- The protein and healthy fat in eggs can help you feel full longer, helping to reduce your calorie intake. It has been found that individuals that ate eggs for breakfast lose more weight than individuals that eat a bagel.
- Eggs are good for your eyes! Eggs contain lutein zeaxanthin, which are carotinoids that help reduce the risk of macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is the loss of vision in older adults. These fat soluble nutrients are found in the egg yolk.
- Eggs are a great source of vitamins A, B2, B6, B9, D, and E. Eggs are also packed with iron, potassium, and phosphorous.
Which so many different labels on eggs at the grocery store, you may be wondering which eggs are the best to buy for your family. Lets settle some common questions about eggs…
- White eggs or brown eggs?
You may not believe this, but white hens lay white eggs and brown hens lay brown eggs. Yes it is that simple. There is no significant nutritional difference between white and brown eggs. You may notice that brown eggs are more expensive; this is because the hens that lay brown eggs are actually larger in size and therefore require more food for feeding.
- What does an eggs’s ‘grade’ mean?
Eggs are given a grade based on their quality. Grade AA is the highest quality of egg. The funny thing is, there is no nutritional difference between eggs of different grades.
- What is a conventional egg?
These hens have room to live in about the size of a sheet of paper. Wow—cozy. These living conditions are said to promote the spread of bacteria and disease. It is rumored that to fight the spread of bacteria and disease, antibiotics are used which can end up in your eggs.
- What are cage-free eggs?
Also called pasture or free-range, these chickens are’nt confined in a cage per se but they are permitted to roam around a barn. These chickens are allowed wander amongst each other’s feces, which can spread disease, and they are often given antibiotics.
- What are organic eggs?
Organic eggs offer no health benefits over conventional eggs or cage-free eggs. These hens have the ability to roam around outside, and they are also fed certified-organic food that do not contain pesticides, antibiotics, synthetic fertilizers, and hormones. Organic eggs are said to be the best eggs for purchase.