Eggs are truly eggs-traordinary! All jokes aside, we really don’t give the basic egg enough credit when it comes to our health. A lot of that is because of all the marketing done by cereal companies. Obviously, eggs and pork are their top breakfast competitor, and they’ve done a wicked job at making us fear them both. Sadly, many animal activist groups and vegans have also done their part in sharing false information about what an egg even is.
So, first off, let’s talk about what eggs are NOT. Eggs are not aborted chickens. Never have been and never can be. In order for an egg to become a chicken it has to be fertilized. In order to do that, the rooster has to fertilize the egg while it is still inside the hen. Much like human females, a hen will produce an egg whether or not a rooster is even present. Each egg only takes about 24-27 hours to form. One hen will typically lay one egg a day, so if we don’t eat it, it just goes to waste! Why let all those vitamins and nutrients go to waste just because it was laid by an animal through a natural process?
But what about the red spots you see in the yolks at times? While it only happens 1% of the time, it can be disconcerting if you don’t understand what it is. Any red spots seen on yolks from unfertilized eggs are simply a glitch in the egg forming process, often occurring even before ovulation. Rest assured you will never see a fertilized egg in your cartons bought at the store.
Egg-cellent Source of All Nutrients
Do you know what’s inside an egg? Yes, protein! Eggs are well known for the protein they provide. But there’s so much more than that! Eggs are actually the healthiest food on the planet because they are power packed with nutrients! Like beef, eggs are full of Vitamin Bs: B12, B2, Vitamin A, and Vitamin B5. They also have selenium and choline. Amazingly, they have a little bit of every vitamin and mineral required by our bodies!
Surprisingly, most of the nutrients are in the yolk! So, eat it! Yes, it has dietary cholesterol, but eggs have been proven to not increase your cholesterol. In fact, they help reduce LDL cholesterol. Our bodies actually need cholesterol! If we eat what we’re supposed to, our liver produces less! If we don’t eat what we need, our liver will produce more. Getting cholesterol from natural sources like eggs, beef, and other animal products are the best sources! We cannot be scared of eggs or beef and the cholesterol they contain because it is essential to our bodies! More and more studies are starting to point towards sugar causing the problems that we’ve been blaming cholesterol and salt for all this time!
And no, white eggs are not bleached to make it look “prettier.” White eggs, blue eggs, brown eggs, cream eggs, even speckled eggs are all natural colors. The breed of the chicken determines the color of the egg. For example, Rhode Island Reds lay off white eggs, Ameraucanas lay blue eggs, White Leghorns lay white eggs. Each color is a naturally occurring, safe to eat process!
Next time you crack open an egg for breakfast, remember how incredible and amazing this food source is! And remember that a hen will lay an egg regardless of the presence of a rooster, or even a human! Enjoy the egg-stra nutrients and thank nature for such a wonderfully power-packed source of nutrients!
Here's some fascinating facts behind this simple yet amazing food!
Fun Egg facts!
1. Did you know decorating eggs predates Christianity? Many religions, dated thousands of years ago, have been using eggs to symbolize new life not only for the chicks fertilized eggs protect, but also the new life an unfertilized egg gives us through the many nutrients it contains. Persians decorated eggs in celebration for springtime, kicking off the Vernal Equinox. They could also be a choice of decorating because of how strong the shell actually is! It’s made of calcium carbonate and a single eggshell can support a weight of around 3.85lbs (1.75 kg)!
2. In 1973, astronauts aboard Skylab used egg whites as a glue substitute for crafting. This creative use of eggs showcases their versatility.
3. Egg yolks can vary in color from pale yellow to deep orange, depending on the hen's diet. Hens that eat a diet rich in carotenoids, like corn or alfalfa, produce darker yolks.
4. The egg carton was invented in 1911 by Canadian newspaper editor Joseph Coyle. It was created as a way to safely transport eggs without breaking them.
5. In some cultures, "egg dancing" is a traditional game where people dance around raw eggs placed on the ground without breaking them. It's a popular game during Easter in certain parts of the world.
6. Eggs have inspired many sayings, such as "don't put all your eggs in one basket" and "walk on eggshells." These phrases emphasize the importance of caution and careful decision-making.
7. A fun trick to test an egg's freshness is to place it in a bowl of water. If it sinks, it's fresh; if it floats, it's past its prime.