As people pay increasing attention to nutritional supplements, in addition to ordinary eggs, a variety of new types of nutritional and health eggs have been launched in recent years, which can be truly dazzling for the public, making it difficult to choose. What kind of egg is truly healthy and nutritious? What should people pay attention to when buying eggs? Which groups of people are suitable for which type of nutritional egg? What misconceptions do people still have about eggs? How can one buy eggs with confidence? It might be a good idea to listen to the experts' purchasing suggestions:
Purchase Eggs with Caution: Three Major Misconceptions Shell Color Has No Relation to Nutrition
Eggshells come in various colors: white, light brown, brown, dark brown, and blue. Some people prefer red-shelled eggs, while others like blue-shelled eggs, believing they are more nutritious. In fact, the nutritional value of an egg has no necessary connection with its shell color.
In terms of an egg's nutritional value, it is mainly determined by the nutritional structure of the feed and the chicken's feeding situation, and has little to do with the color of the shell. Generally, the shell color is darkest at the beginning of the laying cycle and then gradually becomes lighter. High-laying hens tend to have lighter-colored shells. The depth of the shell color can be changed through selective breeding. Therefore, shell color cannot be used to determine if it is a free-range egg or if its nutritional value is high. Small Eggs Are Not All Free-Range Eggs
Egg weight is greatly influenced by genetic factors; different breeds of chickens lay eggs of different weights. The physiological stage also affects egg weight, and nutritional factors and feed management also have a certain impact on it. In the past, free-range eggs were smaller, but not all small eggs are free-range eggs. With the development of modern science and technology, people can now breed chicken varieties that lay eggs of different sizes according to their needs. "Red-Yolk Eggs" Might Be Dyed with Pigments
Many people like to buy "free-range eggs" and believe that a golden yellow or reddish-brown yolk means it is a free-range egg. In fact, this judgment standard is not scientific. In the past, an egg's yolk was light yellow in winter and golden yellow in summer. But now, the season no longer affects the color of the yolk.
In order to make laying hens produce more eggs, regular eggs have light yellow yolks from their feed. To make the yolk "red," pigments must be added to the feed. Therefore, the eggs we buy after spending extra money are very likely to have had pigments added to them. Thus, yolk color cannot be used as a standard to determine if it is a "free-range egg."
Therefore, when buying eggs, be purposeful and don't worry too much about the color of the yolk or the shell; however, pay attention to indicators such as whether the shell color is even (what is commonly called a "pure" color), whether the shell is smooth, and whether the egg's shape is too long or too round. If the shell color is uneven or the shell is relatively rough, it could be an egg laid by an unhealthy chicken. "Prescribe the Right Medicine" to Choose Nutritional Eggs
Nutritional eggs on the market today can be divided into the following categories: eggs with regulated mineral element content, such as high-calcium, high-zinc, high-iron, high-iodine, and high-selenium eggs; eggs with regulated fatty acid composition, such as low-cholesterol eggs, high n-3 fatty acid eggs, and high conjugated linoleic acid eggs; and vitamin-fortified eggs.
Different nutrients have different requirements for different age groups and health conditions. For a person who is not deficient in iron, eating high-iron eggs can affect their absorption and utilization of other trace elements. However, under normal circumstances, eating a few eggs a day is unlikely to have a significant impact on the body. "Heart Eggs" Boost IQ
Eggs with regulated fatty acid composition, such as low-cholesterol eggs, high n-3 fatty acid eggs, and high conjugated linoleic acid eggs. Cholesterol is a nutrient essential to the human body and contains a large amount of various unsaturated fatty acids, such as linolenic acid, linoleic acid, EPA, DHA, and ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Because unsaturated fatty acids such as DHA, EPA, especially ω-3 PUFA, can promote brain development, increase IQ, improve memory, lower cholesterol, and prevent senile dementia, this type of egg is called a "high-IQ egg" in terms of boosting IQ. Furthermore, because ω-3 PUFA plays an important role in preventing atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, it is also called a "heart egg" by some. Reasonable Supplementation of High Trace Elements
Regulated eggs with high mineral element content mainly refer to high-trace-element (selenium, iodine, zinc) eggs such as high-calcium, high-zinc, and high-iodine eggs.
Taking iodine eggs as an example, they can promote human metabolism, improve disease resistance, lower blood cholesterol, and lower blood sugar. For people with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, bronchial asthma, etc., appropriate supplementation of iodine eggs can improve their condition. Fortified Vitamins for a Healthier Body
Vitamin-fortified eggs currently mainly include high-vitamin-A eggs, high-B-vitamin eggs, and high-vitamin-E eggs. Vitamin E is a main ingredient in many products and can act as an antioxidant in the human body. Vitamin A has a certain effect on improving eyesight.
In conclusion, when buying nutritional eggs, target the applicable population. Do not blindly supplement; be sure to purchase reasonably according to your actual situation and needs.