Eggs are a protein-packed, nutrient-rich, and affordable breakfast food that can help you get fit and healthy without breaking the bank. Here are 10 amazing facts about eggs you need to know.
Natural — Anyone can use the term "natural" to describe their eggs, so this means nothing.
Free-range — This means hens are free to roam the outdoors at some point, but there is no regulation specifying how long is necessary, so there is no way to know how long the hens are actually outside.
Certified Organic — Hens have some access to the outdoors and are fed an organic vegetarian diet that excludes any pesticides, animal by-products, or genetically modified foods.
1. Brown Vs. White Shells
An egg's shell color doesn't indicate the quality or nutritional value of an egg, but rather the breed of the hen that laid it. Hens with white feathers tend to lay white eggs and hens with red feathers tend to lay brown eggs.2. What Yolk Color Means
The color of an egg yolk is determined by a hen's diet. Like shell color, it has nothing to do with an egg's nutritional value. If you crack open your egg to discover a dark yellow yolk, the hen was probably fed green vegetables. A medium-yellow yolk would indicate a diet of corn and alfalfa while a light-yellow yolk could be the result of eating wheat and barley.3. Long Shelf Life
The next time you buy a carton of eggs, notice that the package comes with a Sell By date rather than an expiration date. Your eggs should be edible for a 3-4 weeks after that date, so don't toss them in the garbage until then. If you're not sure an egg is still good, take a big whiff of it after cracking. Your nose will be offended by an unpleasant odor if it is no good.4. Sky High Demand
The average American eats 250 eggs per year, which translates to a total annual consumption of 76.5 billion eggs in the U.S. I eat a three-egg omelet every morning, so that means I eat roughly 1,095 eggs per year (whoa!).5. Translating the Label
Cage-free — These hens are free from the confines of a cage, but this doesn't mean they are frolicking in an open field with the sun overhead. More often, they are free to roam a barn or warehouse, but their living conditions can vary widely.Natural — Anyone can use the term "natural" to describe their eggs, so this means nothing.
Free-range — This means hens are free to roam the outdoors at some point, but there is no regulation specifying how long is necessary, so there is no way to know how long the hens are actually outside.
Certified Organic — Hens have some access to the outdoors and are fed an organic vegetarian diet that excludes any pesticides, animal by-products, or genetically modified foods.