By Nick Pineault
Food Investigator and author of Truth About Fat Burning Foods.
Claims on eggs cartons can be VERY misleading.
Free-range… pastured… organic… added lutein… added omega-3…
So which ones are really the best?
The simple answer is: you want the eggs than come from the healthiest hens possible.
In other words, hens need to have access to sunshine and be able to eat the omnivorous diet they’re supposed to. Yes, hens are in fact omnivores (mostly insectivores), and do not usually eat the grains most farmers feed them with nowadays.
That’s why pasture raised eggs pack a ton more nutrition than regular factory eggs.
– 66% more vitamin A
– 200% more omega-3
– 300% more vitamin E
Very much like beef, eggs’ claims are mostly NOT regulated.
Example: a farmer could say that its hens are “cage-free” but, in reality, they could still be packed into an overcrowded barn in the dark – leading to very poor life conditions, leading to eggs that contain way LESS nutrients in your shopping cart.
Also, another misleading claim (that just isn’t worth the extra money you pay) is “Added Omega-3.”
In fact, the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s independent lab tests revealed that certain enriched eggs contain less than HALF of the omega-3 claimed on the packaging.
The bottom line: just like buying grass-fed beef, knowing your egg farmer personally remains the best way to make sure you’re getting
the nutrition you’re paying a premium for.
“Pastured” and “organic” are probably the two labels that I would trust the most.
If you can only get regular factory eggs from your local grocery store, remember that they’re still a MUCH better choice than any granola bar, pastries, or breakfast cereals.)
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