Egg yolks

Egg yolk is the inner yellow portion of the egg. Rich in vitamins, minerals, lipids and proteins, egg yolks are a source of nutrition to the embryo or when consumed as food, to those that consume it. Although the egg yolk contains some cholesterol, the excessive concern about dietary cholesterol as a source of blood cholesterol is outdated as recent research shows that dietary cholesterol may not raise cardiovascular disease.

Egg yolk

Egg yolk

Ways to increase omega 3 fatty acids in eggs

Recent research has suggested that people will be healthier and have fewer heart problems if they increase their consumption of omega-3 fatty acids. Traditionally, most of the omega-3 fatty acids in the diet have come from fish and fish oil but many people eat only limited amounts of these foods. Eggs fortified with omega-3 fatty acids offer an alternative method to increase the amount of these fatty acids in your diet.

Flax seed feed to the hens

You can increase the level of omega-3 fatty acids in the eggs that your hens lay by including flaxseed in their feed. The flaxseed contains a type of omega-3 fatty acid called a -linolenic acid and the hen will deposit a significant amount of this dietary fatty acid into the egg yolk. The hen will also convert some of the a -linolenic acid into smaller amounts of other forms of omega-3 fatty acids and deposit them into the egg yolk.

Omega 6 fatty acids

If you include some canola oil or other vegetable oil in the hen's ration, the eggs from your flock will be fortified with omega-6 fatty acids such as linoleic acid. Omega-6 fatty acids have long been associated with improved human health. Canola oil is an excellent source of the omega-6 fatty acids and a modest source of omega-3 fatty acids. Adding some canola oil is also helpful because it helps counter the tendency of the hen to reduce the level of omega-6 fatty acids in the egg when she is fed a high level of flaxseed.