To keep up with the ever-increasing demand for food, some companies raise chickens and other animals on commercial farming facilities. This can result in cramped conditions that may pose health risks to animals. Farm-raised eggs are purported to be one ethical alternative. Farm-raised eggs refer to eggs laid by chickens raised on traditional farms, rather than commercial ones. Despite that difference, farm-raised eggs do not differ very much nutritionally from commercial eggs.
Calories
Farm-raised eggs are low in calories. One egg provides 72 calories, or just 3.6 percent of the daily suggested intake of 2,000 calories. One egg has less than half the calories of oatmeal, which has 150 calories per 1/2-cup serving. If you are dieting, a farm-raised egg can be a good choice, as it would take just 12 minutes of low-impact aerobics or 8 minutes of swimming laps to burn 72 calories.
Fat
Farm-raised eggs are rich in fat, with 5 g in each egg. Of this fat, nearly half -- 2 g -- comes from saturated fat. Consuming too much saturated fat can increase your cholesterol levels, which may promote an increased risk of heart disease. The American Heart Association suggests a daily limit of 16 g of saturated fat.
Protein
Farm-raised eggs contain 6 g of protein, a nutrient required for building and maintaining your body's tissues and cells. According to the Institutes of Medicine, you should eat at least .8 g of protein per kg of body weight every day for optimal health.
Carbohydrates
Farm-raised eggs don't contain any carbohydrates. Carbohydrates provide your body with energy, so consuming carbohydrate-rich foods can be beneficial for athletic events. However, research from the October 2008 issue of the "International Journal of Obesity" suggests that the lack of carbohydrates can be beneficial for weight loss, as a study found participants who ate eggs for breakfast lost more than those who ate bagels, a carbohydrate-rich food.
Vitamins
Farm-raised eggs do not contribute many vitamins, but each egg does contain 6 percent of the daily suggested intake of vitamin A, which can promote eye health.
Minerals
Farm-raised eggs provide 6 percent of the daily suggested intake of iron and 2 percent of the daily suggested intake of calcium.
Cholesterol
Farm-raised eggs are relatively high in cholesterol, as each one contains 212 mg, which is 8.5 percent of the daily suggested intake of 2,500 mg.
Comparison to Traditional Eggs
Farm-raised eggs have similar nutritional characteristics to regular eggs, although there are some exceptions. According to research from "Mother Earth News," a sustainable living magazine, farm-raised eggs have less cholesterol and saturated fat than regular eggs but provide more vitamin E, vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids, which are purported to support heart health. Farm-raised eggs also contain 2 more calories and no carbohydrates, while regular eggs contain 1 g of carbohydrates.
References
- MyFitnessPal: Calories in Farm Raised Egg
- LIVESTRONG.COM MyPlate: Calories in Quaker Oatmeal
- Mayo Clinic; Exercise for Weight Loss: Calories Burned in 1 Hour; December 2009
- American Heart Association; Know Your Fats; June 2011
- Harvard School of Public Health: Protein: Moving Closer to Center Stage - What Should You Eat?
- "International Journal of Obesity"; Egg Breakfast Enhances Weight Loss; J.S. Vander Wal et al.; October 2008
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