Tag: Pastured eggs

According to a 2025 study from GoodRx, while all eggs share core nutrients, the difference between free range eggs and pastured eggs lies primarily in the hens' living conditions. This distinction affects not only the chickens' welfare but also the potential nutritional benefits and taste of the eggs you purchase.

While the words sound similar, one refers to the hen's living conditions while the other describes a heat-treatment for safety. The crucial distinction between pasture-raised and pasteurized eggs lies in their meaning: one is about humane animal husbandry and nutrition, while the other is a food safety process.

According to analyses cited in *Mother Earth News*, pastured eggs can contain up to three times more omega-3 fatty acids than conventional eggs. This significant nutritional difference stems directly from the hen's access to varied forage, which answers the common question: how much omega-3 is in a pastured egg?

An average large egg contains about 16% of the daily value for iodine, but the specific amount can vary greatly. So, do free range eggs have iodine, and is their level significantly different from conventional eggs? The answer is nuanced, depending heavily on the hen's diet and environment.

Studies show that pasture-raised eggs can contain four to six times more vitamin D than their conventional counterparts. The amount of vitamin D is in a pasture raised egg is significantly higher due to the hens' access to sunlight and varied natural diets, which directly impacts the egg's nutritional profile.

According to nutrition data, a single large pastured egg can contain a significant amount of iodine, contributing to your daily intake. However, the specific amount of iodine in pastured eggs is not uniform and is highly dependent on factors like the hen's diet and supplementation, rather than just access to pasture.

An average large egg contains about 24 mcg of iodine, which is approximately 16% of the daily value. This essential mineral doesn't appear naturally in eggs at a fixed level but is a direct result of the iodine content present in the hen's feed.

According to the National Institutes of Health, a duck's diet can directly influence the composition of its eggs, including the potential presence of soy compounds. This means the answer to "Do duck eggs have soy?" depends entirely on what the duck is fed. Unlike soy, which does not naturally occur in eggs, soy-derived compounds can be transferred from commercial feed into the final product.

While all eggs contain a small amount of omega-3, the quantity varies dramatically based on the hen's diet. The presence of this essential fatty acid is influenced by how chickens are raised and fed, meaning not all eggs are created equal when it comes to omega-3 content.

According to a 2018 study, eating three eggs a day helped participants with overweight and obesity lose weight and retain lean muscle mass. The so-called happy eggs diet is a restrictive, low-carbohydrate plan that hinges on this primary protein source, but it differs from a typical egg diet by emphasizing the use of high-quality, pasture-raised eggs.