Are Designer Eggs a Good Way to Get Your Omega 3?
Is it worth the time and money to get Omega 3 from cage-free chickens eggs?
In pursuit of health, many people are increasing their intake of Omega 3. The benefits are many and your choices in foods and supplements are also numerous. Recently, there has been an increase of range-free and cage-free eggs on the market touting their eggs as the best way to get your daily dose of Omega 3. Is this true?
Cage-free eggs
Before you decide if the best way to up your intake of Omega 3 is with designer eggs, you need to know what they are. So what exactly are cage-free eggs?
Designer eggs are eggs that are produced under normal egg laying conditions. Free-range and cage-free eggs are laid by chickens that haven't been confined to a small cage for their entire life.
The chickens that lay these eggs are allowed to run free in their pen eating what comes natural to chickens - bugs, seeds, berries, and grain. This is the natural way for chickens to be raised. Many of these chickens are also antibiotic and steroid free although you shouldn't assume that unless the packaging states it.
Where does the Omega 3 come in?
What sets these chickens apart is their eggs. Companies feeding their chickens a diet that is high in marine algae and feed containing vitamin E claim their "designer" eggs are higher in Omega 3.
Regular production chickens are kept in a cage about the size of their body for their entire life. They are feed grain that keeps them producing eggs at high rates. This feed is usually laced with antibiotics, steroids, and hormones.
So...the bottom line, are these eggs higher in Omega 3? Out of the eggs tested they were higher in Omega 3 than the standard eggs you buy at your local grocery store. The DHA levels were up to seven times higher than those found in regular eggs. The cost was almost double.
Whether you decide to go with designer eggs or not is your decision. You can get higher doses of Omega 3 by taking supplements, but many people recommend getting as much Omega 3 as possible from natural foods in your diet. Weigh the benefits, the cost, and your personal preferences and do what's best for you.
