This is a Guest Post: We appreciate guest authors! I am honored to have someone from Dr. Mercola’s team write this particular guest post! As with any guest post, the viewpoints expressed in this blog post may, or may not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of Living Natural Today.
Eggs are one of the most healthful foods you can add to your diet. They are a wonderful source of high-quality fat and protein, as well as amino acids like l-arginine.
However, conventional health advice recommends avoiding eggs, claiming that they are unhealthy and are a source of saturated fats that may lead to heart disease. But this is false. The fat found in eggs will not harm you (it is, in fact, one of the healthiest fats on the planet), and may even help protect you against various diseases.
However, choosing the right type of eggs is extremely important in order for you to maximize the nutrients you get from this wonderful food.
Eggs from Free-Range Chickens Are the Best Type of Eggs You Can Eat
A majority of the eggs found in supermarkets today come from confined animal feeding operations (CAFOS). These are large commercial egg facilities that usually house tens or hundreds of thousands of hens. CAFO hens live in cramped areas and are not allowed to forage freely – they are usually fed a diet of corn, soy, cottonseed meals and synthetic additives.
The result? The hens produce low-quality eggs that are tainted with hormones and bacteria, including salmonella.
In order to ensure that you are consuming only healthy eggs, you must buy organic eggs from free-range hens. Free-range hens are allowed to roam freely outdoors on clean pastures. They forage for their natural diet of seeds, green plants, worms, and insects. Free-range hens are healthier than CAFO hens, and produce healthier and bacteria-free eggs.
In terms of nutrition, organic free range eggs are superior to commercially farmed eggs. In fact, studies show that real free-range eggs from hens raised on clean pastures contain:
- 2/3 more vitamin A
- Two times more omega-3 fats
- Three times more vitamin E
- Seven times more beta carotene
Where Can You Buy Free-Range Eggs?
You can find free-range eggs in organic farms or in farmers’ markets.
Make sure you ask the supplier or farmer how they raise their chickens. If possible, visit the farm and ask for a tour.
Fresh free-range eggs also don’t need to be refrigerated. As long as their cuticles are intact and they are going to be consumed within a few days, you can leave them in a cool cupboard or on the counter. They will stay fresh and palatable for seven to 10 days. When refrigerated, they will stay palatable for 30 to 45 days.
As much as possible, avoid all omega-3 eggs. They are not as healthful as they seem, and often come from chickens that are given poor-quality sources of oxidized omega-3 fats. These eggs also perish quicker than regular eggs.
Try This Healthy Egg Recipe: Brown Rice and Poached Egg Nest with Dulse.
Author Bio:
Elaine R. writes for Mercola.com. She strongly believes that eating a holistic diet and staying stress-free are the best, most foolproof ways to stay healthy. She is currently putting together a report on multivitamin benefits.
Image courtesy of jiggoja/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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