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More Nutritious.
A major benefit of raising animals on pasture is that their products are healthier for you. For example, compared
with feedlot meat, meat from grass-fed beef, bison, lamb and goats has less total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol,
and calories. It also has more vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and a number of health-promoting fats,
including omega-3 fatty acids and “conjugated linoleic acid,” or CLA.
Healthy Eggs: What We Knew in 1932
In the 1930s, animal scientists were trying to determine the best diet for cows, pigs, and chickens that were raised
in confinement. It was a time of trial and error.
In a 1993 experiment conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, breeding hens were taken off pasture and
fed a wide variety of feed ingredients. When the birds were fed a diet that was exclusively soy or corn or wheat or
cottonseed meal, the chickens didn’t lay eggs or the chicks that developed from the eggs had a high rate of
mortality and disease.
But when birds were fed these same inadequate diets and put back on pasture, their eggs were perfectly normal.
The pasture grasses and the bugs made up for whatever was missing in each of the highly restrictive diets.
“The effect of diet on egg composition.” Journal of Nutrition 6(3) 225-242. 1933.
When chickens are housed indoors and deprived of greens, their meat and eggs also become artificially low in
omega-3s. Eggs from pastured hens can contain as much as 10 times more omega-3s than eggs from factory
hens.
Eggs from pastured hens are far richer in vitamin D
Eggs from hens raised outdoors on pasture have from three to six times more vitamin D than eggs from hens
raised in confinement. Pastured hens are exposed to direct sunlight, which their bodies convert to vitamin D and
then pass on to the eggs.
Vitamin D is best known for its role in building strong bones. New research shows that it can also enhance the
immune system, improve mood, reduce blood pressure, combat cancer, and reduce the risk of some autoimmune
disorders.
This latest good news about eggs comes from a study just released by Mother Earth News, a magazine that plays
a leading role in promoting health-enhancing, natural foods. The editors found that eating just two eggs will give
you from 63-126% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin D.
Note that this benefit comes only from hens that are free to graze fresh greens, eat bugs, and bask in the sun.
Most of the eggs sold in the supermarket do not meet this criterion. Even though the label says that the eggs are
“certified organic” or come from “uncaged” or “free-range” hens or from hens fed an “all-vegetarian” diet, this is no
guarantee that the hens had access to the outdoors or pasture.
Free Range Eggs Nutritionally Superior
As it turns out, all those choices of eggs at your supermarket aren't providing you much of a choice at all.
Recent tests conducted by Mother Earth News magazine have shown once again that eggs from chickens that
range freely on pasture provide clear nutritional benefits over eggs from confinement operations.
Mother Earth News collected samples from 14 pastured flocks across the country and had them tested at an
accredited laboratory. The results were compared to official US Department of Agriculture data for commercial
eggs. Results showed the pastured eggs contained an amazing:
1/3 less cholesterol than commercial eggs
1/4 less saturated fat
2/3 more vitamin A
2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
7 times more beta carotene
Full results of the tests are available in the October/November 2007 issue of Mother Earth News, or on their
website at http://www.MotherEarthNews.com/eggs.
Eggs from free-range hens are higher in folic acid and vitamin B12
Now there's another good reason to purchase eggs from pastured poultry farmers: you may be getting more folic
acid and vitamin B12, two very important vitamins. This information comes from a British study published in 1974.
At the time, British consumers were concerned about the trend toward factory farming. Specifically, they thought
factory eggs might not be as nutritious as eggs from free-ranging birds. An elaborate study confirmed their
suspicions. The eggs from free-range hens contained significantly more folic acid and vitamin B12.
The researchers also looked for differences in the fatty acid content of the eggs but did not find any. Now we know
why. In the 1970s, little was known about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, so the researchers didn't even
bother to look for them in the eggs.
For more information on grass-fed visit: www.eatwild.com
A major benefit of raising animals on pasture is that their products are healthier for you. For example, compared
with feedlot meat, meat from grass-fed beef, bison, lamb and goats has less total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol,
and calories. It also has more vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and a number of health-promoting fats,
including omega-3 fatty acids and “conjugated linoleic acid,” or CLA.
Healthy Eggs: What We Knew in 1932
In the 1930s, animal scientists were trying to determine the best diet for cows, pigs, and chickens that were raised
in confinement. It was a time of trial and error.
In a 1993 experiment conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, breeding hens were taken off pasture and
fed a wide variety of feed ingredients. When the birds were fed a diet that was exclusively soy or corn or wheat or
cottonseed meal, the chickens didn’t lay eggs or the chicks that developed from the eggs had a high rate of
mortality and disease.
But when birds were fed these same inadequate diets and put back on pasture, their eggs were perfectly normal.
The pasture grasses and the bugs made up for whatever was missing in each of the highly restrictive diets.
“The effect of diet on egg composition.” Journal of Nutrition 6(3) 225-242. 1933.
When chickens are housed indoors and deprived of greens, their meat and eggs also become artificially low in
omega-3s. Eggs from pastured hens can contain as much as 10 times more omega-3s than eggs from factory
hens.
Eggs from pastured hens are far richer in vitamin D
Eggs from hens raised outdoors on pasture have from three to six times more vitamin D than eggs from hens
raised in confinement. Pastured hens are exposed to direct sunlight, which their bodies convert to vitamin D and
then pass on to the eggs.
Vitamin D is best known for its role in building strong bones. New research shows that it can also enhance the
immune system, improve mood, reduce blood pressure, combat cancer, and reduce the risk of some autoimmune
disorders.
This latest good news about eggs comes from a study just released by Mother Earth News, a magazine that plays
a leading role in promoting health-enhancing, natural foods. The editors found that eating just two eggs will give
you from 63-126% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin D.
Note that this benefit comes only from hens that are free to graze fresh greens, eat bugs, and bask in the sun.
Most of the eggs sold in the supermarket do not meet this criterion. Even though the label says that the eggs are
“certified organic” or come from “uncaged” or “free-range” hens or from hens fed an “all-vegetarian” diet, this is no
guarantee that the hens had access to the outdoors or pasture.
Free Range Eggs Nutritionally Superior
As it turns out, all those choices of eggs at your supermarket aren't providing you much of a choice at all.
Recent tests conducted by Mother Earth News magazine have shown once again that eggs from chickens that
range freely on pasture provide clear nutritional benefits over eggs from confinement operations.
Mother Earth News collected samples from 14 pastured flocks across the country and had them tested at an
accredited laboratory. The results were compared to official US Department of Agriculture data for commercial
eggs. Results showed the pastured eggs contained an amazing:
1/3 less cholesterol than commercial eggs
1/4 less saturated fat
2/3 more vitamin A
2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
7 times more beta carotene
Full results of the tests are available in the October/November 2007 issue of Mother Earth News, or on their
website at http://www.MotherEarthNews.com/eggs.
Eggs from free-range hens are higher in folic acid and vitamin B12
Now there's another good reason to purchase eggs from pastured poultry farmers: you may be getting more folic
acid and vitamin B12, two very important vitamins. This information comes from a British study published in 1974.
At the time, British consumers were concerned about the trend toward factory farming. Specifically, they thought
factory eggs might not be as nutritious as eggs from free-ranging birds. An elaborate study confirmed their
suspicions. The eggs from free-range hens contained significantly more folic acid and vitamin B12.
The researchers also looked for differences in the fatty acid content of the eggs but did not find any. Now we know
why. In the 1970s, little was known about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, so the researchers didn't even
bother to look for them in the eggs.
For more information on grass-fed visit: www.eatwild.com
| At Silver Leaf Farms we have "pasture chickens". Our chickens are kept in their coop over night and let out every morning to browse the fresh "buffet" and bask in the sun. Not only does this make our eggs and chicken more nutritious, we have noticed a huge advantage in less parasites! The following pictures are of our farm chickens as well as information on pasture chickens. Feel free to contact us if you are interested in eggs or chicken. Phone: 320-693-2007 or Email: mail@silverleaffarms.net |