Poultry farming is the agricultural practice of raising birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, etc. since historic times. But industrial revolution changed the game in the early 1800s and brought about modernization to the poultry business. Today, the egg poultry farms are equipped with modern equipment and automated control systems to mimic the outside climate within the barns.
But does all of this affect the eggs? Will this have an effect on the egg yolks, and how does the yolk determine the nutritional value of the whole egg?
It is common knowledge that a richer colored yolk means a healthier and more nutritious egg. Chicken that is raised in a poultry house with access to grass, bugs, seeds, etc. are well-nourished and produce bright orange yolk with a high constitution of nutrients and healthy fats. However, that is not the case in the case of chickens whose living accommodation is tightly packed cages with primary feed consisting of grains alone.
We are aware that the color of the yolk is often determined by the hen’s diet, due to the presence of nutrients such as carotenoids which give the bright yellow hue. So better the diet of a hen, more is the carotenoid content and healthier the yolk with deep yellowish-orange color.
Does the yolk determine the nutritional value?
One egg yolk contains 8mg of sodium, 2.7g of protein, 1.6g of saturated fats, 4.5g of total fat, 55 calories, and 210mg of cholesterol. It is the presence of cholesterol that alarms many people and they try to avoid the yellow yolk. This is true, but we should not overlook the nutrients that come along in the form of fat-soluble vitamins, essential fatty acids, and other nutrients.
The following table from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) gives us a peep into the comparative nutritional value of egg whites and egg yolks:
| Nutrient | White | Yolk | % Total in White | % Total in Yolk |
| Protein | 3.6 g | 2.7g | 57% | 43% |
| Fat | 0.05g | 4.5g | 1% | 99% |
| Calcium | 2.3 mg | 21.9 mg | 9.5% | 90.5% |
| Iron | 0.03 mg | 0.4 mg | 6.2% | 93.8% |
| Phosphorus | 5 mg | 66.3 mg | 7% | 93% |
| Zinc | 0.01 mg | 0.4 mg | 0.2% | 99.8% |
| B6 | 0.002 mg | 0.059 mg | 3.3% | 96.7% |
| Folate | 1.3 mcg | 24.8 mcg | 5% | 95% |
| B12 | 0.03 mcg | 0.331 mcg | 8.3% | 91.7% |
| Vitamin A | 0 IU | 245 IU | 0% | 100% |
| Vitamin E | 0 mg | 0.684 mg | 0% | 100% |
| Vitamin D | 0 IU | 18.3 IU | 0% | 100% |
| Vitamin K | 0 IU | 0.119 IU | 0% | 100% |
| DHA and AA | 0 | 94 mg | 0% | 100% |
| Carotenoids | 0 mcg | 21 mcg | 0% | 100% |
It is very clear from the table that an egg yolk is highly nutritious and actually increases the nutritional value of eggs.
Egg whites are primarily rich in proteins that aid in muscle development and choline which aid in maintaining the nervous system balance. Most of the vitamins and minerals are available in the yolk whose health benefits outmatch that of the egg whites.
Benefits of Egg Yolk for our health:
Now that we know the nutritional content of egg yolks, read further to understand the benefits of consuming egg yolks in our daily diet.
- Protecting the eyes from various diseases:
The high content of Vitamin A in egg yolks assists in the prevention of diseases such as night blindness, poor eyesight, etc. Carotenoids and Lutenin present in egg yolk protect our eyes against macular degeneration, cataracts, and other eye-related diseases.
- Lowering Blood Pressure:
Egg yolks contain peptides that help lower our blood pressure and in the process reduce the risk of heart attacks.
- Boosting Immunity:
Sulfated glycopeptides are compounds present in the membrane of egg yolk. These compounds stimulate cell growth in the immune system and boost our immunity, thus protecting the body from infections.
- Lower risk of gastrointestinal distress:
Proteins such as phosvitin present in the egg yolk can eliminate a number of compounds that cause inflammation in our body, thus reducing the risk of gastrointestinal distress.
- Nutrition in the form of fat soluble vitamins:
Vitamins A, D, E, and K are the fat-soluble vitamins that are present in high doses in the egg yolk. Together they work wonders on our bodies, keeping us healthy and safe. Vitamin D regulates several cellular pathways in the body and acts as a pre-hormone. Vitamin K is essential for clotting and healing wounds. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant helping in reducing the risk of heart attack and cancer.
- Provides essential fatty acids:
Egg yolk is packed with essential fatty acids such as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and AA (arachidonic acid), which are very important for cell membrane health.
You can have a guaranteed deep orange yolk in OVO Farm Eggs
Keeping with the times and its ever-changing circumstances OVO Farm has taken steps to evolve itself into an innovative layer poultry farm with special attention to R&D as well as process optimization to improve the hens’ wellbeing, safety, and environmental protection. Our farm processes ensure the best quality eggs with higher uniformity, longer shelf life, and better freshness. We provide high-quality nutritious and varied feed to the chicken, which results in a very deep yellow-colored yolk rich in vitamins and other nutrients. Our eggs are 20% bigger in size when compared to normal eggs. So, make your day tastier with an OVO Farm Egg platter.
