Last night my wife and I made some amazing red velvet cupcakes with creamy white chocolate frosting. Needless to say, they were amazing, but not the healthiest snack ever. So why do I bother mentioning them on a blog about healthy choices? Because aside from their taste, the cupcakes had another redeeming quality - they were made from omega-3 eggs.
Here's the skinny: Omega-3's are a healthy type of fat called an essential fatty acid (EFA). EFA's come in several varieties. EPA and DHA are the two most beneficial of the omega-3's, as they have been linked to better brain development and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, among other things (the benefits of EFA's are too many to name in just one blog post, so there will be more to come). Eggs that claim to be high in omega-3's are made from hens that have been fed things like flax seed, which are a natural plant source of omega-3's. These eggs are a great option because they have all the same nutrients as normal eggs with the added benefit of an extra helping of omega-3's.
Tip: As always, don't just trust the label. Apparently there is a lot of false advertising in the omega-3 egg industry. Just like "antioxidant," it is a buzzword that has been abused by marketers. When buying these special eggs, be sure the label tells you how much DHA and/or EPA the eggs have. The ones I bought have 100mg of DHA - not bad for an egg. Also remember that there are much better sources of EPA and DHA than eggs, like fish and fish oil supplements. If you want a regular source that is high in EFA's, choose the fish or fish oil supplements, but next time you need some eggs check out the O-3's.
More about O-3 egg advertising and some brands to watch out for: http://www.cspinet.org/new/200706211.html
Sunday, August 9, 2009
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