Eggs have gotten a bad rap over the years. First they are declared a wholesome food and then they are blamed for raising many people’s cholesterol. These days, eggs are in again, but not just any eggs. Free range eggs are enjoying greater notoriety because farmers who raise the hens that lay these eggs claim they provide more health benefits than other eggs. This claim is definitely a truthful one.
Try this experiment: crack a free range egg in one bowl and a normal farm factory egg in another. Compare the appearances of the eggs to one another. The yolk of the free range egg is a deep vibrant yellow-orange color whereas the factory egg is a wimpy yellow color. The color differentiation is due to the high beta carotene content in the free range yolk – over six times more than factory eggs. Beta carotene, also known as vitamin A, is just one of many benefits free range eggs have to offer.
Vitamin D and E Benefits and More
The USDA has measured the nutrients in free range eggs and has found that the vitamin D levels were a lot higher than the average in regular eggs, as much as six times! Eggs are one of the few natural ways to obtain vitamin D through food sources. The vitamin E levels were almost four times the average of factory eggs. Vitamin D and vitamin E are both essential nutrients for optimal brain, heart, skin and immune system operation.
There are other benefits of free range eggs too. For instance, they have 33% less cholesterol than their factory farm egg counterparts. In addition, there is 25% less saturated fat and two times the average omega three fatty acids. Just eating two free ranges eggs could virtually satisfy the minimum daily requirements for vitamin D.
Why Free Range Eggs are Best
Free range chickens are allowed to roam freely eating insects and grass with abandon. There are no cages to contend with. However, with farm factory eggs, chickens are kept in wire pens or special cubicles resembling chicken jails. They rarely get to roam and are mainly kept within the confines of their cages or cubicles. Therefore, not being exposed to daily sunshine and fresh air can inhibit a hen’s natural bodily instincts about producing quality eggs.
When chickens are allowed to roam freely, their eggs are more nutritious because they are allowed to eat items with nutritional value like the green grass and bugs. This of course produces omega 3 rich eggs, plenty of vitamins and less cholesterol and saturated fat. The great news is that free range eggs have no more calories than the average factory farm egg but do have three or more times the nutritional value.
Factory farm hens often do not have a varied diet but rather the same chicken feed day in and day out. With no extra nutrition, it is no wonder that the benefits for free range eggs far outweigh factory farm eggs.
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