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There has been no debate about the fact that eggs are good for us. Eggs are one of the best ways to get your protein fix; they are both affordable and delicious. They are versatile, easily available, easy to cook and can be transformed with simple recipes.
The many health benefits of eggs make for a separate story. A large egg contains about 6 grams of protein and because of this, eating an egg, especially for breakfast, makes you feel full and satiated. You also need this protein to build muscle and repair tissues. It’s probably why eggs are always included in diets for sports people and athletes.
You end up reducing your calorie intake for the rest of the day. Eggs are also a rich source of vitamins such as A, B12, and D and minerals such as iron. Vitamin D is not easily found in many foods but egg yolks are a good source of it. It’s considered good for the heart, eyes, bones and immune system.
These nutrition and health benefits are, however, common in both white and brown eggs. The fact that brown eggs are healthier and have additional vitamins, minerals and protein content is a myth.
Video Credit: Dr. Eric Berg DC
Where Do Brown Eggs Get Their Colour From?
The colour of the eggshells of white and brown eggs is determined by the breed of hen they come from. There are breeds of hens that have red feathers and earlobes. Examples of these are breeds of hens such as Rhode Island Red and Plymouth Rock, which usually lay brown eggs. The white eggs come from hens, who have white feathers and white earlobes.
The White Leghorn is the most common breed of hen that lays white eggs. This really is the only difference between the two kinds of eggs and is also the only reason for the colour of the eggshells. In fact, even the thickness of the shell has nothing to do with whether the egg is brown or white. The thickness of the eggshell depends on the age of the hen. Younger hens tend to lay eggs with thicker shells.
Why Is There A Notion About Brown Eggs Being Healthier?
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It’s possible that people end up thinking that brown eggs are healthier because of the way they look. They are different from the way the usual white ones look. Earlier, they weren’t available in India as easily and one saw them in only what was considered ‘premium stores'. Your usual Kirana stores wouldn’t always stock them.
There is a modern phenomenon where all things brown are considered healthier. For example, brown bread, brown rice and brown sugar, among other things, while some of these may be healthier than their white, refined counterparts, don’t hold merit in the case of brown eggs, whose nutritional value and taste are exactly the same as those of white eggs.
The nutritional content of an egg is actually influenced more by what the hen is fed and what its living conditions have been. It has nothing to do with the colour of the shell of the egg.
Are Brown Eggs Really Premium?
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Brown eggs have been marketed in such a way that, in the mind of the buyer, they are associated with free-range and organic farming practices. This basically means that the hens have been living in hygienic conditions and that the eggs are obtained through more humane and environmentally sustainable practices. It is believed that hens are fed a more natural diet, which makes the eggs more nutritious.
While it is good practice to consider the source of your eggs and choose those from well-managed farms, it is also important to know that these ethical farms also produce white eggs. As long as the farm is good and you know that the conditions there are humane, it shouldn’t matter whether the eggs are brown or white.
Brown eggs usually cost more than white eggs. One of the reasons for this could be that the breeds of hens that lay brown eggs tend to be larger in size and need to be given a larger quantity of feed. This increases the production cost of the poultry farm.
The cost of organic produce in India is always higher. Since there is a misconception about brown eggs being free-range and organic, even though this isn’t always true, it allows sellers to command higher prices. This doesn’t really make much sense since brown eggs taste exactly the same as white eggs. While cooking or even baking, you can use either variety, and there will be no difference in taste or quality. The nutritional value of the eggs also remains the same.
