A good old family friend, and Doctor of Natural Healht, encouraged me to eat raw eggs....
Are raw eggs safe?
First I thought 'Yuck!" and then, "is it safe to eat raw eggs?". I have since come to learn that raw eggs are very safe and nutritious, as long as it comes from the right source.Pastured raw eggs are a rich source of nutrition, and will boost your intake of vitamins, minerals and fat-soluble vitamins. Raw eggs should be eaten on an empty stomach for best results.
Do you know where your eggs come from?
Conventional eggs, as found in grocery stores are not safe, as the chickens are factory farmed - raised in unsanitary conditions where they are caged up indoors, with no access to sunlight and green pastures; they are also fed an unhealthy GMO soy/grain diet. DO NOT eat supermarket eggs raw, even if they say free range or organic! Studies show that caged hens have a higher percentage risk of salmonella, whereas pastured are healthy and safe.
You need to eat 'pastured' eggs. You will find these in health stores or at farmers markets. It is advisable to purchase your eggs from small organic farms where the chickens are raised in clean, spacious environments and allowed access to sunlight and green pastures.
Let's look at the various types of eggs:
It is necessary to understand the labeling, and know your eggs, in order to make the right choice when choosing to go raw.
Grade A or B eggs - Conventional eggs, sold without specific marketing terms, are tightly confined chickens who never see the light of day. They are regularly dosed with antibiotics and are de-beaked to prevent them from pecking themselves or each other.
Cage Free eggs - “Cage free” hens are confined in a packed shed, also painfully de-beaked. They receive antibiotics and a soy/grain-based diet.
Free Range eggs - means they have some access to outdoor space – for just a few minutes a day, maybe in a gravel-paved lot. They are usually de-beaked, given antibiotics and fed soy/grain-based feed.
Organic eggs - these chickens are fed only organic, non-GMO feed and do not receive hormones or antibiotics. The hens must have "outdoor access", however, this does not guarantee that they get to forage in green pastures.
Pastured eggs - These hens are allowed to roam in pasture just as nature intended! Chickens are not vegetarians, they are meant to forage for grubs and bugs in grass and manure. While supplementing their diet with some grain-based feed (not soy feed) is a traditional practice, the chickens should also be eating grubs.
If you are purchasing pastured eggs directly from a farmer whom you trust, there is no need for the eggs to be certified organic. Certification is very pricey and many family farmers cannot afford it.
Based on nutrition, studies show that pastured eggs have:
3 X more vitamin A
5 X more vitamin D
3 X more vitamin E
2 X more omega-3 fatty acids
7 x more beta carotene
Egg Yolks: Are Nature’s Multivitamin
The white of the egg contains protein. The yolk is most nutritious, and is packed with nearly all of the vitamin and mineral content; as well as healthy fat and cholesterol.
Vitamin A – Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin, it is paired with the healthful fats in the yolk so we can absorb it. It also balances hormones.
Vitamin D – Vitamin D is also a fat-soluble vitamin, it is sorely lacking from the Western diet. Most individuals do not receive adequate vitamin D from sunlight.
Vitamin B6 – Raw egg yolks contain a moderate amount of B6. This heat-sensitive vitamin is diminished with cooking, so consuming raw yolks ensures maximum absorption.
Biotin – An egg provides about 25% of your daily needs for biotin. This plays a key role in skin, hair, metabolic and blood-sugar health. 80% of the biotin is found in the yolk and 20% is in the white.
Cholesterol – Humans have thrived on old-fashioned, cholesterol-rich animal fats like egg yolks for centuries. In a meta-analysis of over 35,000 individuals, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that there is no significant evidence that the consumption of saturated fat is associated with heart disease. As a matter of fact, studies show that low cholesterol shares an extremely strong correlation to depression, suicide and acts of violence. The cholesterol in egg yolks provides strongly health-protective properties and plays a key role in immune strength and mental health. HDL cholesterol is a good fat that your heart and brain needs; avoid LDL fats, those are bad
Choline – Most are deficient in this B vitamin and one pastured egg yolk provides 35% of your daily value. Choline has been shown to reduce memory loss and plays and important role in the body’s detoxification pathways, because it provides methyl groups to the liver which help neutralize toxins.
Iodine – Pastured egg yolks are a valuable source of iodine, one yolk contains 27 micrograms.
Omega-3 fatty acids – Pastured egg yolks are particularly rich in omega-3 fatty acids, the anti-inflammatory fats so crucial to all aspects of wellbeing.
Selenium – is necessary for the conversion of thyroid hormones from the inactive form to the active form. Egg yolks are nature’s thyroid support supplement, due to the selenium content, vitamin content and healthful fats. (About 40% of the selenium is found in the white and 60% is in the yolk.)
Raw Egg Whites And Biotin Deficiency:
Egg whites are known to cause biotin deficiency if eaten alone. Egg yolks, however, have one of the highest concentrations of biotin found in nature. So....it is advisable to consume the whole raw egg.I eat two raw eggs a day - one, half an hour before exercising, and one again straight after exercise. I should in fact be eating three! I send it down the hatch with a teaspoon of raw honey comb sprinkled with cinnamon...yum!
Purchase your eggs from a small trusted farmer rather than commercial. You can find good eggs at Earthmother Organic or various health stores in and around Durban.
Please...make sure your eggs are organic, 'pastured' eggs.
Go on...be Brave...try raw eggs today!
Nourish your body...Nurture your Soul!
xxx
#raw #organic #egg #pastured #nutrition
Source: www.empoweredsustenance.com
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