Get Cracking!

Eggs are convenient, low-cost, and nutrient-packed. But with so many different choices in the dairy aisle, it's easy to get your facts scrambled about which are the most eco-friendly options, and what the bottom line is nutritionally. So before you pick up your next dozen, check out the scoop from the April issue of Women's Health. 

Pasteurized -- They have been treated with heat to kill potential salmonella bacteria. A good choice for recipes that don't require cooking, such as Caesar dressing; however, the process may reduce levels of certain vitamins.

USDA-certified organic -- From chickens whose feed is grown organically, without the use of most synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Hens must have year-round access to the outdoors and cannot be confined in cages.

Free-range -- The hens have access to the outdoors. This may satisfy animal lovers, but it has no bearing on the eggs' nutritional content.

Omega-3 enriched -- The result of feeding hans higher doses of foods rich in the fatty acid, such as flaxseed, marine algae, and fish oil.  


Cage Free -- While the hens that lay these eggs aren't caged, that doesn't necessarily mean they have access to the outdoors.  Many live on the floor of a barn or warehouse.  


See more at www.womenshealthmag.com