Myths About Eggs

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Posted by Erika Pitera on May 26, 2007

Myths About Eggs It takes a hen anywhere from 24 to 36 hours to produce an egg. A mere half hour after laying that egg, she starts the process all over again! There are more than 200 million laying hens in the United States that produce over 5 billion dozen eggs per year. Despite all this hard work, sometimes eggs get an undeserved bad rap. Here are some common misconceptions about eggs and why you should dispel them.

Myth #1: Brown-shell eggs cost more at the market than white-shell eggs because they are better for you.

False. Brown-shell eggs are simply more expensive to produce because they come from larger hens, which in turn consume more feed. Less than 10% of all eggs produced in the U.S. are brown shell. Some consumers think brown-shell eggs are better (and are willing to pay more) because they are more "natural" than white-shell eggs. In reality, it's all about the laws of supply and demand.

Myth #2: Wash eggs before refrigerating them for safety.

Bad idea. Washing eggs removes a protective coating, and the USDA strongly advises against it.

Myth #3: Egg whites are healthy to eat, but you shouldn't eat too many yolks.

Not true at all. Both egg whites and yolks have health benefits. The yolk contains about half of the egg's total protein, as well as all of the nutritious fats and vitamins, including vitamins A, D and E. The yolk also contains more zinc, phosphorous, manganese, iron, iodine, copper and calcium. So think twice before eliminating the yolk from your diet.

Myth #4: You shouldn't eat eggs more than three or four times a week.

Wrong. Eggs are heart healthy, and you shouldn't worry about restricting your egg intake. Most research has concluded that most people shouldn't worry about eating one or two eggs daily.

Myth #5: Eggs, which have cholesterol, are bad for your health.

Nope. Cholesterol can be good for your body, as it aids many bodily processes, including the production of steroid hormones and bile acids. Some people are allergic to eggs, and some vaccines even contain eggs, so if you have this food allergy, be mindful of what you are exposed to. Egg-tolerant people should include this inexpensive protein in their daily diets.