ORganic eggs versus eggs

Jonathan Silverman · 08-28-2010, 10:09 AM

There is no real reason to buy organic eggs right?

Chad Cilli · 08-31-2010, 09:34 PM

Organic eggs? No, not really. Omega-3 eggs? Yes.

Chris Butler · 08-31-2010, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad Cilli

Omega-3 eggs? Yes.

Free Range? Yes

Arien Malec · 09-01-2010, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Butler

Free Range? Yes

Free range is often a bit of a joke, but slightly better than non free range. Organic ensures your chickens are free range, fed with organic feed, and a couple other non-essential things.

Pastured is your best bet from both a nutrition and health perspective, but far more pricey ($8/doz).

Seems expensive, until you realize that <$2 eggs means:

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2010/08/...h-manure-pile/

Chad Cilli · 09-01-2010, 06:37 PM

Hmmm, I've never had access to free range. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen them at the store. I usually just look for Eggland's Best Omega-3 eggs. I'm sure they're not the "best" choice, but they're they best I have available.

As for organic, I keep seeing more and more criticism of "organic" foods. It would be great if organic really meant organic, but apparently it's not very hard to get that label, and the methods are not always ideal. Still, I suppose it's better than just buying the conventional store brand.

Brian Stone · 09-02-2010, 05:34 AM

Does anyone have scientific data that they can cite on the demonstrated health benefits of free range / organic / omega-3 eggs vs. conventional eggs?

Chad Cilli · 09-02-2010, 10:06 AM

I think in one of Robb Wolf's podcasts or blog posts he addressed the advantages of eating eggs that had omega-3s. I'd imagine it's pretty much the same reasons why grass fed, free range beef is better. You get a better omega 3 to omega 6 balance, and you get some fatty acids like CLA that the conventionally grown meat/food/eggs/dairy don't have. I'll dig around and see if I can't find an article.

Brian Stone · 09-03-2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad Cilli

I think in one of Robb Wolf's podcasts or blog posts he addressed the advantages of eating eggs that had omega-3s. I'd imagine it's pretty much the same reasons why grass fed, free range beef is better. You get a better omega 3 to omega 6 balance, and you get some fatty acids like CLA that the conventionally grown meat/food/eggs/dairy don't have. I'll dig around and see if I can't find an article.

Thanks. My understanding is also that most of the evidence in support of organic foods / grassfed meat is largely anecdotal for the most part. There might be very marginal discernable nutritional differences for minor things in some cases (like Omega-ratios and what have you), but I believe that biological data in support of the superiority in diet is largely absent / inconclusive. I'm not extremely well-versed in the topic but I did some cursory research not too long ago to try to find anything objective in support of how I "should" eat. That failed to produce anything scientific of substance.

My personal guess at this point is that a great deal of the weight behind a number of these things is largely conjecture.

marcus allen · 09-03-2010, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Stone

My personal guess at this point is that a great deal of the weight behind a number of these things is largely conjecture.

Take a look at the link in Darryl's thread on Grass Fed beef in this same forum.

Chad Cilli · 09-04-2010, 09:10 AM

Well.... alot of things are largely anecdotal. I believe I heard Robb state once that the existence of the universe is largely anecdotal. But in any case, research studies have also proven alot of BS. I've seen studies where they insisted that high carb diets were better. I've seen studies that found that eating meat was bad for you. At every family gathering, my vegan cousin brings me another study "proving" that eating meat is bad.

All I can say is what works for me. Eating more omega-3s makes me feel better whether it's from drinking fish oil or eating free range grass fed beef. I noticed the difference when I switched from conventional foods to foods with more omega-3s, and when I go on vacation and don't have those foods available, I can feel the difference then too.

If you want a case study, my 66 year old uncle lives on a farm in Kentucky and all the animals are free to roam, so the eggs, dairy, beef, chickens, goats, etc are all free range and grass fed. At 66, he can still do 30 dead hang pullups. I'd like to think that his diet plays some role in his health. You don't see too many men in their 60s who can do 10 pullups let alone 30.