Organic Eggs, Free Range Eggs + Pastured Eggs: Which Egg Is Best?
Spend Your Money Where It Counts
Posted January 12th, 2011 by noelle | View Comments
Love eggs? Upgrade the quality of your eggs in the new year for a better-for-you breakfast. As you now know, there is a broad spectrum when it comes to feel-good, look-good eating on a cleansing lifestyle diet. It’s not all juices, smoothies and salads. Quality meats and eggs have a place too. Learn more here
Organic eggs – Worth the investment? Yes.
Most hens today are often fed all kinds of hormones and antibiotics in order for egg farmers to ramp up their production of commercially available eggs. Organic eggs are produced from hens fed certified organic grains without conventional pesticides and fertilizers. Growth hormones and antiobiotics are also prohibited.
Free-Range eggs – Worth the investment? Not necessarily.
Free range eggs are not all they’re cracked up to be and are not necessarily worth the extra money. The USDA allows the use of the free range egg label for a farm that allows their hens access to the outside for at least 5 minutes per day. The hen, however, is not required to actually leave the cage and go outside. Free-range eggs are not necessarily produced from hens that eat a healthy, hormone and anti-biotic free diet (though in some instances they may be). Make sure if you are buying free-range eggs, they are also organic eggs.
Omega 3 enhanced eggs – Worth the investment? Not necessarily.
Omega 3 enhanced eggs are from hens fed a diet flax seed or fish oils. Omega 3 enhanced eggs contain more (~2x more according to a study by CBC Marketplace) omega 3 fatty acids and Vitamin E than the regular commercially raised eggs. You still want to make sure that these eggs are organic and that the cost is reasonable. Other great ways to get Omega 3s are from flax seeds, chia seeds and walnuts.
Pastured eggs – Worth the investment? Yes, if you can find them.
Pastured eggs can usually be found at your local farmer’s market. Good quality, pastured eggs are produced by hens that are kept outdoors and are able to move about freely outside. They also maintain access to nesting boxes and perches. The nutritional value in these eggs (compared to eggs from factory farms) is often significantly higher (diet and sunshine play a big part). Speak with the farmers are your local farmer’s market for more information. You can find a farmer’s market close to you here.
