Eggs are a wonderful, complete food that offer much for us. Free range, organic eggs are an excellent protein option. The protein in eggs is complete, which means that it contains all of the essential amino acids that the body requires.
One egg has on average of six grams of protein. Contrary to what was once thought, there is no real correlation between egg consumption and heart disease.
In fact, eggs are now being found to protect against blood clots, heart attack and stroke. Eggs contain 13 essential vitamins, antioxidants, vitamin K2 and minerals. With a mere 70 calories each, eggs are a great option for anyone watching their waistline.
Now, in order for us to get all of the nutritional benefits from eggs, we must eat whole, real eggs, preferably free-range and organic. Food manufacturers would like us to think that trading fresh eggs for some kind of egg product in a box is a healthy move. However, I am here to tell you that not only are eggs in cartons highly processed, but they are also void of the myriad of nutritional goodness found in free range eggs. They contain some potentially dangerous ingredients.
Eggs in a box are highly processed
The most well-known brand of eggs in a box, Egg Beaters, has nutrients supposedly added back into them — known as fortification. This makes them a highly processed food, just like any other processed food.
A study published in Pediatrics compared lab rats fed real eggs or Egg Beaters. When researchers fed both mothers and pups Egg Beaters, they developed diarrhea and lost large chunks of hair when gently washed. This is an indication of the lack of nutrition provided by the eggs.
Egg Beaters contains 31 ingredients
Here is just a glimpse at a popular boxed egg product, Southwestern Egg Beaters. This product contains a whopping 31 ingredients, many of them known to be unhealthy:
Egg(s) Whites, Water, Pepper(s) Red, Pepper(s) Green, Onion(s) Contains Less than 1% of the following:, Pepper(s) Chili, Salt, Spice(s), Onion(s) Powder, Garlic Powder, Flavoring Natural, Food Starch Modified, Yeast Extract Autolyzed, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Lactic Acid, Color(s) Artificial (Beta Carotene), Vitamins And Minerals (Calcium Sulphate (Sulfate), Ferric Phosphate, Alpha Tocopherol (Tocopheryl) Acetate, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (HCL), Biotin, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Vitamin D3.
Foodfacts.com gives this egg product a food rating of D and cites several concerning ingredients:
Yeast extract autolyzed
Autolyzed yeast extracts are the result of the breakdown of yeast cells. Cell walls are disrupted when yeast enzymes break down proteins and release amino acids, carbohydrates and salts. The soluble portions are separated from the insoluble and called autolyzed yeast extract.
What does all this mean for health? Well, autolyzed yeast extract always contains free glutamic acid or MSG. Manufacturers put it in Egg Beaters as a flavor enhancer. Experts associate MSG with uncomfortable symptoms for individuals who are sensitive to the chemical. Headaches, digestive problems and rectal bleeding are common complaints.
Artificial colors
Artificial coloring is just that, artificial. Blue 1, Blue 2, Orange B, Green 3, Red 3, Red 40 and Yellow 5 are the food colorings manufacturers use. They first created these dyes from coal tar, but now they make them from petroleum products. Experts have found that they increase hyperactivity in kids.
Food manufacturers use dye to change the appearance of food to make it seem more desirable than it really is. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is currently petitioning the FDA to ban many artificial colorings, due to research highlighting their dangers.
Natural flavors
It is important to understand that just because natural flavors come from something natural, does not necessarily make them healthy. For instance, strawberry flavor does not always come from strawberries or blueberry flavor from blueberries.
Cystine, for example, is a natural conditioner that food manufacturers use in dough. They make it from duck feathers and human hair. Maltodextrin, as another example, is made from genetically-modified corn. It is the main ingredient in some “all-natural” sweeteners like stevia, which is somehow considered natural. In addition, xantham gum (a thickener) is also made from genetically modified corn.
Here’s the bottom Line
Boxed eggs are a waste of money and offer very little nutritional value. When you grocery shop, treat Egg Beaters like any other highly processed food item. If health is a priority, keep it simple, keep it real!
— Susan Patterson
