Conventional Eggs vs Free Range Eggs
Are Free Range Eggs Worth It?
On this episode of Live Lean TV, I’m comparing the nutrition benefits of conventional eggs vs free range eggs.
Yes, it’s my favorite time of the week.
Welcome to Food Wars.
This is the series that provides the truth about which foods will help bring you closer to your health goals, and which will take you further away.
In other words, we compare two different foods, and find out which one should remain in your kitchen, and which one should be in the garbage.
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Lets be real
Food marketers often trick you into buying certain foods, even when they are not healthy.
Unfortunately in today’s world, you just can’t trust what the colorful labels printed on the food packaging says.
So that’s why I developed this Food Wars series.
However, you should also ask yourself, why should I trust you, Brad?
Well, look at me, I’m not a local farmer, and I’m not profiting from you buying real whole foods.
It is my goal to to help you become one of our Live Lean Transformation 1,000,000 success stories.
I’m in it to make an impact, and for the occasional program sale.
So with that said, lets dig into today’s food, eggs.
When you go to the grocery store and look at the shelf, there are probably 10 to 15 different types of
eggs that you can buy.
Are all eggs created equal?
In other words, if you buy a carton of eggs at the grocery store, is the nutritional value of every single egg on the shelf, the same?
The answer is no.
Today we are comparing grocery store bought conventional eggs vs free range eggs.
What is the difference: conventional eggs vs grass fed eggs
What are free range eggs?
According to the USDA’s Shell Egg labelling guidelines for free range eggs:
Eggs labelled as Free Range:
“…must be produced by hens that are able to roam vertically and horizontally in indoor houses, and have access to fresh food and water, and continuous access to outdoors during their laying cycle. The outdoor area may be fenced and/or covered with netting-like material. Housing systems vary from farm-to-farm, and can include multi-tier aviaries. They must allow hens to exhibit natural behaviors and include enrichments such as scratch areas, perches and nests. Hens must have access to litter, protection from predators and be able to move in the barn in a manner that promotes bird welfare.”
This means chickens with free access to roam around outside, in nature, and eat grass and forage, produce free range eggs.
What are conventional eggs?
Conventional eggs are mass produced in chicken coops, where the chickens are mostly stored in cramped cages, without having access to the outdoors.
This is not the way mother nature intended it.
So does the environment and welfare of the chicken affect the nutrition quality of the eggs?
I’m here to say it absolutely does.
If I want you to take one thing away from this post, always remember this:
The health of the food that you are eating, is only as healthy as the health of the animal, that it came from.
Try saying that three times in a row.
But it’s true.
Healthier animals produce healthier food
There is a big difference in the health benefits of consuming free range eggs vs conventional eggs.
The eggs that a chicken produces is going to be much healthier, when the chicken is living a natural, healthy life, and eating foods that it was intended to eat.
This means eggs produced by healthy chickens, will be healthier for the end consumer, in this case, you, the human.
Free range eggs are higher in omega 3 fatty acids
This is important because one of the criteria for a healthy diet is keeping the omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acid ratio to approximately 2:1.
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This is the ratio that our body is needs to thrive.
However, unfortunately in today’s standard American diet, the over consumption of inflammatory foods is creating an omega 6 to omega 3 ratio closer to 20:1.
When comparing conventional eggs vs free range eggs, free range eggs are lower in omega 6 fatty acids, and higher in omega 3s.
This is because the chickens producing conventional eggs are being fed an unhealthy diet primarily of grains and other unnatural foods to their diet.
However, chickens that have access to walk around and eat grass outside, produce eggs with a much healthier omega fatty acid profile.
This means you, the end consumer, consumes those nutrition benefits as well.
Free range eggs are high in vitamins and minerals
Also when comparing conventional eggs vs free range eggs, free range eggs tend to be higher in vitamins and minerals.
You can also tell the difference by breaking the shells.
If you take two eggs, one conventional egg and one free range egg, there is a noticeable difference when you break them.
Some conventional egg shells are so brittle, you can break it by just flicking it with your finger.
A free range egg’s shell is more solid and harder to break.
The color of most high quality free range egg yolks are a deeper orange color.
This is because free range eggs have more vitamins and minerals, when compared to conventional eggs.
The orangish color of the free range egg’s yolk comes from a higher amount of carotenoids.
A conventional egg yolk is much more yellow.
Are free range egg worth the money?
Free range eggs cost a little bit more, but it’s worth it for your health.
Over the long run, you should be investing in your body, just like you do with your retirement accounts.
Don’t feel guilty about investing your money into higher quality, more nutrient rich foods, like free range eggs.
That’s it.
The winner is: conventional eggs vs free range eggs
The obvious winner of this episode of Food Wars is, free range eggs.
Again, free range chickens have access to freely roam around and eat grass and forage, like mother nature intended it.
This means free range eggs have more vitamins, minerals, and a healthier ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids, closer to 2:1.
But, if you can’t afford free range eggs, stick with conventional eggs.
Conventional eggs are still much better for you than processed cereal.
Eat your eggs in the morning for breakfast.
There are so many success stories of people who eat eggs in the morning, versus people that eat cereal.
People that eat eggs for breakfast rather than cereal every morning, tend to lose fat faster, easier, and are healthier.
Thanks for checking out this episode
Please click the social media buttons to share this Conventional Eggs vs Free Range Eggs post with your friends.
Don’t forget to subscribe to our Live Lean TV YouTube channel so you never miss an episode.
Also, leave a comment below on which foods you’d like to see me compare on an upcoming episode of Food Wars.
Lastly, just wanted to say a big hello and thanks to all the new subscribers of our Live Lean TV YouTube channel.
And I can’t forget about all the subscribers that have been here from the beginning.
I love you guys.
I’ll be back tomorrow with another 4 minute tabata workout that is going to kick your butt, and get you beach ready for the summer.
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Brad Gouthro is the founder of Live Lean TV, a media company focused on helping men and women “Live Lean” 365 days a year. Brad’s programs and content have helped millions of people all over the world learn how to get in shape, and more importantly, sustain it for life.
Can I have it at night time. Does it make any difference
FREE RANGE ORAGANIC IS THE WAY TO GO . http://WWW.OLDWORLDORGANICNUTRITION.COM
FOR MORE ON EGGS
What about free range vs omega 3 eggs?
wonder what happen to the free range eggs on his table..
I go for the conventional.
The Cornucopia Institute has a scorecard out that can help you find the real free range eggs. A lot of the big, corporate associated organic farms don’t actually give the birds much or any outdoor access even though the eggs may be labeled free range organic. You have to investigate where your eggs are really coming from.
interesting…it’s unfortunate how sketchy guidelines can be.
Glad to have you on bored Miss Sarah … get ready to get sweaty!
Hi Brad! I was in bed last night bored out of my mind and somehow I luckily came across your videos. I absolutely agree with the idea of spending a bit more on natural organic food than buying basically fake cheap food. I want to loose about 10 pounds so I will definitely be doing those four minute workouts every week!
🙂
I totally agree! 🙂
4 sho!
even if you can’t find free range i still want you having eggs in your diet. buy those until you find a free range option
Hey Brad, I found Eggland’s Best Eggs.. but doesn’t say ‘free range’.. it just says ‘all natural, vegeterian fed hens’… box says 130mg of Omega 3…. my question is, are these eggs any good? Since they don’t say “Free Range” like you recommended.. I’m wondering if these are just a gimmic to get people to think they are healthier eggs.. So should I keep looking for “Free Range” eggs?
awesome…i really need my own chickens!
approved. just try to stick with the plain version and if you need to sweeten it…add in your own natural sweetener like stevia or maple syrup/honey/fruit
You’re welcome. just look on the carton for it to say “Free range” … if they don’t have any, look for something that says Omega 3. I’d recommend eating your eggs after your run to aid in recovery.
Not all do, but factory owners presume public want white so have hen species that lays white eggs. Different species, different coloured eggs, I can tell each egg of my four hens by there colouring. Each individual hen of mine has its own speckle pattern on its eggs. Its amazing and beautiful.
I have three breed of hens, all the eggs are good. Typically, old confectionery is used in cheep chicken feed used with battery hens. Take a look at some video’s of how battery hens live then you will see about what you are eating. Once hens have finished laying at 6 months they become nuggets – look at the video’s of their treatment at KFC then ask if it is there breed or conditions.
I have four chicken in my back yard, costs about £6 a month to feed them, they are beautiful, live for about 15 years compared with 6 months that battery hens live for and give me four organic, free range eggs, every day for 8 months of the year AND manure for the garden veg. Cheapest greatest food protein supplement going, they are so much easier to look after than a dog or even a cat (which stay well clear of my hens!). They were forced on me by my X when she moved house best thing ever!
Hi Brad. I was wondering what your view on eating Greek yogurt is. Its something that I have taken a liking towards and wanted to know what you think about it. Thanks.
Hey Brad.. I live in a small town, so we only have a Safeway for grocery shopping, can you give me a brand name of the eggs i should be buying. And Also i run 8 miles in the morning 5 days a week… should i eat eggs before or after my run… Thanks… and I thank god for people like you, that invest their time to help people like me… THANKS ALOT FOR ALL YOU DO!!… didn’t know where to post comments, cuzz i’m new at this.. so apolgies for posting it twice
Hey Brad.. I live in a small town, so we only have a Safeway for grocery shopping, can you give me a brand name of the eggs i should be buying. And Also i run 8 miles in the morning 5 days a week… should i eat eggs before or after my run… Thanks… and I thank god for people like you, that invest their time to help people like me… THANKS ALOT FOR ALL YOU DO!!
got me a bottle right now lol,thank you kindly sir!! this video has me thinking twice about eggs…but iOnly eat the whites iGive the yolks to my dog 🙂
I have my own chickens…I am convinced that happy chickens make better eggs too. 😉
it seems like I’m the only one without my own chickens…this needs to change.
i eat cottage cheese occasionally. i do have some great recipes for it though..i’ll add it to the list for my Brad’s Cookbook segment. hope to get to that video in the coming weeks!
great…so much more to come. thanks for the sub
i’ve never had it, but I checked out their site and product info and it looks legit. Drink away my friend.
Hi Brad,
Do you ever eat cottage cheese? Full of protein I believe but not exactly my favourite thing. Would really appreciate some ideas or a recipe if you’ve got any up your sleeve.
Huge thanks all the way from Ireland,
Cathy x
PS. Made your tuna, sun dried tomato recipe the other day and it was super delish.
subbed couple days ago and im lovn your vids
can you please compare deer park sparkling water vrs regular water…the
ingredients are natural water,natural flavoring and co2…the reason iWant
this specific brand is because iDrink alot of it!
I love this, and think it’s SO IMPORTANT for people to understand where their food is coming from. My chickens make the BEST eggs because they’re happy and healthy. Great Food Wars!
100% agree Bex…it’s funny how many people are telling me “Bex from BexLife would love this video!”
i really do find they are much more flavorful. Inflammatory foods…great
question..here are the major offenders…SUGAR, REFINED VEGETABLE OILS,
TRANS FATS, A LOT OF DAIRY PRODUCTS, GRAIN FED MEAT, PROCESSED MEAT,
ALCOHOL, REFINED GRAINS, FOOD ADDITIVES, AND ANY OTHER FOODS YOU MAY HAVE
AN INTOLERANCE TOO
you’re welcome…glad to help…some eggs are fed flax seeds to increase
the omega 3s…that’s probably what you’re referring too…it’s better than
the others. Superstore does have an organic free range type in a clear
plastic package.
no i typically don’t eat there. none of my oldest friends (except maybe
one) share the lean lifestyle. i know EXACTLY what you’re going
through…just laugh it off and try not to judge them.
You’re welcome…love that acronym…LLTV (i have to start using that)
i’m pretty sure it doesn’t have anything to do if they are free range or
conventional…i think it has to do with the breed of chicken/hen.
oh she has been all over it 😉
Thanks for the info! Food wars has completely changed the way I eat now!
Regarding this video, I’m just wondering what your opinion of eggs labeled
as “Omega 3” and packed in those clear plastic containers? (i.e. found in
superstore etc) I don’t think they are run free but do claim to have a
higher omega 3 content.
do you eat at subway/potbellys? do all of your friends share the same
lifestyle as you? i find it kind of hard to be friends with people who dont
live lean…i find them to be a bit judgemental always questioning why i
wont eat this or that or just saying that im “too skinny” and i should “eat
more”. its frustrating always having to explain myself.
Anyone know why conventional eggs have white shells, were free range has
brownish shells?
bexlife would love this vid!