Eggs

 Your Pet Chicken's Perfect Gift 

Every once in awhile, someone will say to me, “Oh, I wouldn’t want to have chickens, after all, eggs aren’t all that good for you.”  To which I respond, “You gotta be kidding!”

Eggs have certainly gotten a bum rap and plenty of bad press, but the scientific truth is eggs are a nearly perfect food.

Though the egg yolk does contain cholesterol, some scientists believe that because Lecithin is also present, the cholesterol becomes soluble. Research  reportedly has shown free range hens lay eggs that are lower in cholesterol, due to their eating more greens, bugs and other available natural foods.  Many who worry about cholesterol in eggs causing heart disease use the egg whites only, but add a teaspoon of olive oil to it.

Personally, I couldn’t be more grateful for having eggs available, especially since experiencing the financial crunch of being a new homeowner. I eat lots of eggs (4-5 at a time), usually with fried potatoes, and if I have orange juice on hand I know I’ve had a perfectly nourishing meal. Recently, I had my cholesterol levels checked and . . . no problem.

In addition to containing some oil, which is at the heart of the cholesterol scare, eggs also contain minerals, trace elements, sugar, and water. Almost 50% of eggs are high quality protein. They contain Vitamin A, D, and 8 B vitamins. The only essential Vitamin lacking is Vitamin C. 

It’s no wonder eggs are advertised as both “incredible” and “edible”.

After all, the baby chicks live off the eggs, and can even survive for hours after hatching. Eggs contain antibodies that protect them from bacteria and disease. The egg white contains the amino acid, Lyozyme, which has antibacterial properties that provide further protection for the babies.

Eggshells, though we don’t eat them, have some interesting qualities, as well. They actually have pores in them, which allows oxygen to enter and carbon dioxide to be emitted. Scientists marvel at the genius of their shape . . . from every angle they’re curved and therefore stronger than you might think.

The color of eggshells has no impact on the nutritional content, but is determined by the breed of hen. If you choose the Araucauna breed, you'll get light green or bluish eggs, great conversation starters.