As it turns out, all those choices of eggs at your supermarket aren't providing you much of a choice at all.
Recent tests conducted by Mother Earth News magazine have shown once again that eggs from chickens that range freely on pasture provide clear nutritional benefits over eggs from confinement operations.
Mother Earth News collected samples from 14 pastured flocks across the country and had them tested at an accredited laboratory. The results were compared to official US Department of Agriculture data for commercial eggs.
Results showed the pastured eggs contained an amazing:
1/3 less cholesterol than commercial eggs
1/4 less saturated fat
2/3 more vitamin A
2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
7 times more beta carotene
Full results of the tests are available in the October/November 2007 issue of Mother Earth News, or on their website at MotherEarthNews.com.
The critical element in nutritionally superior poultry is the amount of forage the birds ingest.
The green material of fresh forage provides B vitamins as well as carotenes, some of which the chicken turns into vitamin A. Omega-3 fatty acids in the forage end up in the fat. Exposure to sunlight ensures that the fat will also contain vitamin D. The more yellow the fat, the more nutritious. The same is true for egg production, with the yolk carrying the signature dark orange color characteristic of high forage intake.
Modern conventional chicken production takes places in windowless buildings that house tens of thousands of birds, stacked in cages three high. Feed is taken to the birds on conveyor belts and the eggs brough back the same way. The birds are debeaked so that they do not cannibalize each other. Every few days a human being walks through to remove dead birds.
Dr. Heidi Dulay said, "There are degrees of quality/nutrition/real-ness of eggs (and other foods). It's not detrimental to health to eat organic eggs from a natural food/health-oriented market.
Recent tests conducted by Mother Earth News magazine have shown once again that eggs from chickens that range freely on pasture provide clear nutritional benefits over eggs from confinement operations.
Mother Earth News collected samples from 14 pastured flocks across the country and had them tested at an accredited laboratory. The results were compared to official US Department of Agriculture data for commercial eggs.
Results showed the pastured eggs contained an amazing:
1/3 less cholesterol than commercial eggs
1/4 less saturated fat
2/3 more vitamin A
2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
7 times more beta carotene
Full results of the tests are available in the October/November 2007 issue of Mother Earth News, or on their website at MotherEarthNews.com.
The critical element in nutritionally superior poultry is the amount of forage the birds ingest.
The green material of fresh forage provides B vitamins as well as carotenes, some of which the chicken turns into vitamin A. Omega-3 fatty acids in the forage end up in the fat. Exposure to sunlight ensures that the fat will also contain vitamin D. The more yellow the fat, the more nutritious. The same is true for egg production, with the yolk carrying the signature dark orange color characteristic of high forage intake.
Modern conventional chicken production takes places in windowless buildings that house tens of thousands of birds, stacked in cages three high. Feed is taken to the birds on conveyor belts and the eggs brough back the same way. The birds are debeaked so that they do not cannibalize each other. Every few days a human being walks through to remove dead birds.
Dr. Heidi Dulay said, "There are degrees of quality/nutrition/real-ness of eggs (and other foods). It's not detrimental to health to eat organic eggs from a natural food/health-oriented market.
That's the lowest rung in the healthy-egg ladder.
Next is organic omega 3.
These two classifications do not address whether the chickens' feet ever touch the ground (many never do!) or whether their organic diet is grain or green vegetable or both. But they are acceptable - ie, not risky or dangerous industrial food like some supermarket eggs might be."
"While folks are searching for the top-of-the-line egg, it's ok to eat just organic eggs. This may help make foraging for the ER egg an enjoyable adventure rather than a stressful one. Ideally, pastured eggs would be our staple eggs (from happy chickens) and use organic and organic omega 3 eggs only when pastured eggs are not available."
"Even an egg McMuffin is a choice - when the alternative is starvation or acute depression... :)" Dr. Heidi Dulay
Surprise source of vitamin D
Real Food with Dr. Heidi Dulay - Little Spa
My Whole Food Nation website.
Good Food Making You Fat Video w/Dr. Heidi
"While folks are searching for the top-of-the-line egg, it's ok to eat just organic eggs. This may help make foraging for the ER egg an enjoyable adventure rather than a stressful one. Ideally, pastured eggs would be our staple eggs (from happy chickens) and use organic and organic omega 3 eggs only when pastured eggs are not available."
"Even an egg McMuffin is a choice - when the alternative is starvation or acute depression... :)" Dr. Heidi Dulay
Surprise source of vitamin D
Real Food with Dr. Heidi Dulay - Little Spa
My Whole Food Nation website.
Email Robin Here
No comments:
Post a Comment