But what about the eggs?

Often you hear that eggs are good for you or they’re not. Has anyone told you that brown eggs are more nutritious? Do you ever wonder why sometimes your hard boiled egg has a green ring around it, and is it safe to eat? Read the facts about eggs.

Benefits:

• Eggs are an excellent source of high quality protein. 
• They have the right mix of essential amino acids needed to build tissues, and have 13 essential vitamins and minerals. 
• The egg yolk is the major source of the egg’s vitamins and minerals and is one of the few foods that provide natural vitamin D.

Nutrition Content (1 large egg):

• According to the American Egg Board and the Egg Nutrition Center, the cholesterol content in eggs has decreased by 13 percent and the amount of vitamin D has increased, while the calories and protein have stayed the same.
• Cholesterol 185 mg
• Vitamin D 41 IU
• Calories 70
• Protein 6 gm
• While the cholesterol content has lowered, it is still recommended to limit egg yolks to two per week or less if you have elevated cholesterol levels.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Are brown eggs really better for you than white eggs? There is no difference in nutritional content or taste between white and brown eggs. The color of the shell has to do with the color of the hen. White shelled eggs are produced by hens with white feathers and ear lobes, and brown shelled eggs are produced by hens with red/brown feathers and red ear lobes.
2. What does it mean if my hard boiled egg has a green ring around it? A green ring on a hard boiled egg means the egg has been overcooked, and is caused by sulfur and iron compounds in the egg reacting on the yolk’s surface. The green color can also be caused by a high amount of iron in the cooking water. The green color is safe to eat.
3. Why is the yolk sometimes darker or lighter in color? The color of the yolk varies in shades of yellow depending on the diet of the hen, but does not affect the quality of the egg. If the hen eats plenty of yellow/orange plants the yolk will be a darker yellow than if she eats white cornmeal, a colorless diet.
4. How can I tell if an egg is raw or hard boiled? If you spin the egg and it spins easily, it is hard boiled. If it wobbles, it is raw.

Egg Safety and Storage:

• The color of eggs can vary due to many factors. A cloudy egg white is a sign that the egg is very fresh, while a clear egg white is an indication that the egg is aging. A pink or iridescent egg white indicates the egg has spoiled and should not be consumed.
• Store eggs in the carton to keep them fresh since the egg shell has thousands of tiny pores over the surface that can absorb flavors and odors.
• Eggs should be refrigerated because they can age more in one day at room temperature than in one week in the refrigerator.
• Eggs can be kept refrigerated in their carton for at least 4 to 5 weeks past the pack date (this is the day the eggs were packed, not when they expire).