BAD NEWS about free-range eggs
The Nutrition Nerd 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 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.
Eggs raised this way (“pastured eggsâ€) 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.
For example, a farmer could say that its hens are “cage-free†but, in fact, they could still be packed into an overcrowded barn in the dark â€" leading to very poor life conditions for them and ultimately 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-3â€.
It’s true that using flax as part of poultry ration canincrease the ALA omega-3 content of egg yolk fat.
BUT --- there’s a caveat: this type of omega-3 is 8 to 33 times less absorbable than the animal-based omega-3 (EPA and DHA) naturally contained in eggs.
To make it even worse, the Center for Science in the Public Interest’sindependent lab tests revealed that certainenriched eggs contain less than half of theomega-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, but if you’re still in doubt, make sure to verify the color of the yolk.
In the meantime, if you'd like to learn more SHOCKING truths about “healthy†foods in your pantry, my buddy Nick Pineault gives you some awesome tips here:
