All About Eggs
Poached, well done or sunny side up?
Easter week is a great time to talk about eggs! As a nutritionist, eggs are an important tool in my basket (no pun intended).
Egg whites are high in protein and contain, on average, just 17 calories per egg. This makes egg whites a great way to pack a protein punch while reducing caloric intake. For sulfur-sensitive individuals who love eggs, sticking to the whites can even lower the egg’s total sulfur burden.
Egg yolks are one of the most nutrient-dense foods on Earth. Rich in liver-supportive choline, healthy fats, iron, folate, Vitamins D and A, and the nutrients lutein and zeaxanthin, which are both excellent for eye and brain health, egg yolks truly are a superfood.
However, egg yolks are often demonized for their cholesterol content, and can be irritating for the sulfur-sensitive.
When it comes to cholesterol, I believe that everything is balance. Studies show that cholesterol from egg yolks does not raise cholesterol levels the same way that saturated and trans fats do. If you eat a diet that is rich in healthy fats and good cholesterol, such as grass-fed dairy and wild game, egg yolks should be a healthy addition.
If you suffer from high cholesterol or a sulfur sensitivity, temporarily removing egg yolks to your diet may be prudent decision - but that’s not to say that they should be permanently excised!
When it comes to buying eggs, look for pasture-raised organic options. Most standard eggs at the grocery store come from cage-raised chickens. Due to the stressful crowding conditions and poor feed that these chickens are exposed to, their eggs often lack the nutrient properties of pasture-fed eggs from happy, healthy hens. A hen raised on GMO corn or soy simply won’t have the same biochemical makeup of a hen raised on grass.
One way to gauge the health of an egg is to take a good look at the yolk. The brighter and more pigmented the yolk, the more carotenoids and nutrients it contains. If the yolk is a wan, dull yellow - it is probably a watered-down nutritional shadow of a real egg.
Personally, I like to buy Vital Farms Organic Pasture Raised eggs. Vital Farms is recognized for its humane growing practices and transparency - I urge you to take a look at their site! It will make you think twice about the quality of your eggs.
To The Tru Of You,
