Better Taste. Better Nutrition. Better Eggs.

 
Egglands eggs part of a healthy diet

Distinctive Qualities of an Eggland's Best Egg

In addition to the great taste, the nutrition of Eggland's Best eggs just got better:

  • 175mg of cholesterol.  Clinical tests have shown that people on a low-fat diet who ate 12 Eggland's Best eggs a week did not increase their serum cholesterol level.
  • Higher in Vitamin E, at least 10 times more than in an ordinary egg. One Eggland's Best egg provides 25% of a person's recommended daily allowance of Vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps to protect body cells and tissues whether in the heart, skin, lungs, joints or elsewhere in the body.
  • Higher in Vitamin D, at least 2 times more than in an ordinary egg and 20% of the recommended daily intake.  Vitamin D aids in the body's absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones.  It is important for maintaining muscle strength, healthy body fat levels and body tissue health.
  • Higher in Vitamin B12, Eggland's Best eggs are an excellent source of vitamin B12 and have 75% more vitamin B12 than ordinary eggs.  The most important function of vitamin B12 is to form healthy red blood cells, which may help prevent heart disease. 
  • Higher in Vitamin A, Eggland's Best eggs are a good source of vitamin A and have 50% more vitamin A than ordinary eggs.  Vitamin A, also called retinol, helps your eyes adjust to light changes when you come in from outside and also helps keep your eyes, skin and mucous membranes moist.  
  • Higher in Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Eggland's Best eggs are a good source of vitamin B2 and supply 15% of the recommended daily value of vitamin B2.  Vitamin B2 is required by the body to utilize oxygen and for the metabolism of amino acids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates.
  • 10% of RDI for Folate, which is important for healthy development of fetal brain and spinal cord.
  • 25% less saturated fat than in an ordinary egg. Cutting back on saturated fat is recommended for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels and cardiovascular functions.
  • 4 grams of total fat compared to 4.5 grams in an ordinary egg.
  • 115mg of Omega 3, compared to only 49mg in an ordinary egg. Omega 3 fatty acids are termed "essential" and are believed to be beneficial for heart health, brain and eye function, infant development, and alleviating hypertension.
  • 200mcg of Lutein compared to 135mcg lutein in an ordinary egg. Lutein is an important antioxidant that helps to maintain healthy vision which is important to those who could be at high risk of cataracts and macular degeneration (the elderly and people with diabetes).
  • Higher in Iodine. 40% of the Daily Value of Iodine compared to 15% in an ordinary egg. Iodine is an essential element for thyroid function, necessary for the normal growth, development, and functioning of the brain and body.
  • A "complete protein". A single egg supplies about 10% of the protein needed daily, along with vitamins A, D, and B12. Eggs are an economical, convenient, and easy-to-prepare source of high-quality protein.

Cholesterol

Our quality assurance laboratory regularly tests our eggs from each of our farms across the country to ensure that Eggland's Best eggs have a lower level of cholesterol.

Vitamin E

Through normal bodily processes and external sources, such as air pollution, we are exposed to highly reactive, oxygen-containing chemicals called "free radicals." Free radicals can damage our cells and tissues. In fact, scientists have begun to establish links between oxidative, free-radical damage to the body's cells and chronic diseases, such as arthritis, atherosclerosis, cancer, cataracts, heart disease, and lung ailments.
Nutritional scientists are studying the roles of various dietary factors against such diseases. There are substances called "antioxidants" that can help curb these damaging oxidative reactions. Among the nutrients most frequently being studied are antioxidants, such as Vitamin E, which are capable of neutralizing free radicals and other reactive chemicals. It is believed that the antioxidant vitamin terminates these harmful chemical reactions, thereby helping to protect body cells.
There are other good sources of Vitamin E, but most of these sources contain higher levels of total fat and calories than an Eggland's Best egg.

Vitamin E Source Size/Amount Vitamin E Total Fat Calories
Eggland's Best Egg 1 Large Egg 5.0mg 4.0g 70
Regular Egg 1 Large Egg 0.7mg 4.5g 75
* Wheat Germ 1/4 c 5.0mg 3.0g 109
* Hazelnuts 1/4 c 8.0mg 21.0g 213
* Sunflower Seeds 1/4 c 18.0mg 18.0g 205
* Peanut Butter 2 Tbsp 3.0mg 16.0g 188
1. Eggcyclopedia. American Egg Board. Rev. 4/94
* Reference: Becker, Gail L., The Antioxidant Pocket Counter, Times Books, New York. 1993

Vitamin D

The primary function of Vitamin D is to aid in the body's absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones.  Important for maintaining muscle strength, healthy body fat levels and body tissue health.  Vegetarians and those not frequently outdoors are especially at risk of deficiency.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is important for healthy protein metabolism, as well as cognitive, cardiovascular and nervous system health.  The most important function of vitamin B12 is to form healthy red blood cells, which may help prevent heart disease.  Vitamin B12 is needed for the process of converting carbohydrates, fats and proteins from food into energy.  Vitamin B12 is also important for keeping the immune system healthy and functioning at its maximum level.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A, also called retinol, helps your eyes adjust to light changes when you come in from outside and also helps keep your eyes, skin and mucous membranes moist.  Vitamin A comes mostly from animal foods, but some plant-based foods supply beta-carotene, which your body then converts into Vitamin A.  It also has antioxidant properties that neutralize free radicals in the body that cause tissue and cellular damage.

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, plays a significant role in the production of energy.  It helps in the conversion of carbohydrates to sugar, which fuels the body function.  Riboflavin has an active part in the electron transport chain that produces cellular energy.  It also helps in the processing of amino acids and fats.  It can also serve as an antioxidant, which can slow down the aging process.  Riboflavin also assists the adrenal gland.  It may be used for red blood cell formation, antibody production, cell respiration, and growth.  It eases watery eye fatigue and may be helpful in the prevention and treatment of cataracts.  Vitamin B2 is required for the health of the mucous membranes in the digestive tract and helps with the absorption of iron and vitamin B6.  It is most beneficial to the skin, hair and nails.

Folate

Folate is important for healthy development of fetal brain and the spinal cord.

Saturated Fat

Saturated fat is believed to be the single most detrimental factor in raising blood cholesterol levels. Reducing one's intake of saturated fat may be the most effective strategy in helping maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels. A reduction of blood cholesterol may result in a lower risk for developing coronary heart disease.
Eggland's Best eggs have reduced saturated fat because the principal source of fat in the Eggland's Best high-quality hen diet is canola oil, which is the lowest saturated fat oil and contains appreciable levels of linolenic acid.

Omega 3

Research indicates that Omega 3 essential fatty acids may play an important role in maintaining cardiovascular health by lowering serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and low density lipoprotein levels. They are also reported to be beneficial for brain and eye function, infant development, and a healthy immune system. The Omega 3 in Eggland's Best eggs comes from the hens' special feed.

Lutein

A powerful antioxidant, Lutein has been shown to contribute positively to eye health, which could be an important consideration for those who may consider themselves at risk for developing macular degeneration, a debilitating eye disorder among the elderly. Researchers are studying Lutein consumption and the role it may play in maintaining the health of eyes, heart and skin, as well as women's breasts and cervixes, along with the possible role of Lutein in cardio-vascular health and aiding in immune system health.
Lutein is not made in the body and must be obtained from food or vitamin supplements. Major sources of Lutein are found in egg yolks, corn, spinach, and other green leafy vegetables. The extra Lutein in Eggland's Best eggs comes from the hens' special feed.

Iodine

Iodine is an essential element for thyroid function, necessary for the normal growth, development, and functioning of the brain and body. Because thyroid hormones are essential to life, the body must have proper levels of thyroid hormone to work well.
Our bodies do not produce Iodine; therefore we must get Iodine through our food. The chart below shows the Iodine content of an Eggland's Best egg compared to some other known sources of Iodine.

Food Iodine
Table salt, iodized (1/4 teaspoon) 100 mcg
Cod, cooked (3 ounces) 87 mcg
Eggland's Best egg (1 large) 60 mcg
Potato, cooked (1 medium) 7 mcg
Spinach, cooked (1/2 cup) 5 mcg
Almonds (1 ounce) 4 mcg

Protein

Protein is a part of every body cell and is needed to repair body cells as they wear out. Protein is also critical to the process of making new body tissue during times of growth, infancy, childhood, adolescence, and pregnancy. Protein also helps regulate body processes. Along with enzymes and hormones, proteins are important to cause various chemical reactions in the body. As antibodies, proteins help protect you from disease-carrying bacteria and viruses.
Protein is often referred to as a single nutrient, yet proteins in foods and in your body cells are made up of 20 amino acids. Nine of these amino acids are considered essential, which means your food choices must supply them.

All proteins are not alike. The protein found in eggs is considered a "complete protein, " or of a composition which can supply all the body's requirements (all the essential amino acids). In fact, many experts believe eggs are the best source of high-quality protein.