Archive for January, 2011
Benefits of Organic Eggs
by Holly Roberts
Source: Livestrong
Eggs can be a good source of protein, an easy last-minute or early morning meal and a key ingredient in plenty of baked goods. Eggs are also one place where buying organic can make a big difference. If you’re trying to improve your diet and eat more responsibly, make the switch from commercially produced eggs and reap the benefits of organic eggs. It’s an easy way to make your kitchen a healthier place in the new year.
More Nutrients
Pasture-raised organic hens produce eggs that have 2/3 more vitamin A, three times more vitamin E, seven times more beta carotene and twice the omega-3 fatty acids compared to commercially produced eggs, according to a study conducted by “Mother Earth News” and reported in the October/November 2007 issue. Make the switch to organic eggs, and you could more than double the nutritional value you get when you eat an egg.
Less Cholesterol
Eggs are little protein powerhouses that tend to get a bad rap because they’re high in cholesterol, but organic eggs tend to have 1/3 less cholesterol than commercially raised eggs, according to “Mother Earth News,” making them a healthier choice. Even better: Organic eggs have 1/4 less saturated fat than commercially raised eggs, according to the “Mother Earth News” study. Reducing the amount of cholesterol and saturated fat in your everyday diet can decrease your risk of cardiovascular problems, including heart disease.
Fewer Toxins
Eggs that come from chickens who’ve been fed organic food are less likely to have pesticide residue than commercially produced eggs. Trace amounts of pesticides can be particularly hazardous for children and pregnant women, so if you’re feeding people in those two categories, organic eggs may be a good choice. Eggs from organic chickens also come without added hormones or antibiotics, which some commercial farmers may use to treat poultry to increase their production.
Better Taste
Organic eggs may taste better–or at least “egg-ier”–than commercially produced eggs, according to a taste test done by the Cleaner Plate Club and cited in the Huffington Post. When tasters compared the flavors of organic eggs and commercially produced eggs, they noticed that organic eggs had a stronger flavor and color.
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Mountain Valley View Farm is now taking orders for organic eggs!
We have Barred Plymouth Rock and Red Star laying hens that are producing around 15 dozen eggs per week. These chickens are free range, hormone and antibiotic free, and fed a fresh grain feed that contains no soy or animal bi-products. Eggs are ready for purchase now, and we are also taking pre-orders for future batches. We can only sell 15 dozen each week, so get on our waiting list quick to ensure that you get some of these nutritious and tasty eggs! Eggs are $4.00/dozen.
Mountain Valley View Farm is a small family farm serving the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area with healthy, farm fresh produce and more. We are located in beautiful Spokane Valley.
Eggs are available for pickup at Mountain Valley View Farm:
4227 S Chapman Rd
Greenacres, WA 99016
Call 509-928-1800 for more information, or to schedule a time to pick up your delicious farm fresh eggs!
Ancient human remains found in Israel
By DANIEL ESTRIN, Associated Press Source: Yahoo
JERUSALEM – Israeli archaeologists said Monday they may have found the earliest evidence yet for the existence of modern man, and if so, it could upset theories of the origin of humans. A Tel Aviv University team excavating a cave in central Israel said teeth found in the cave are about 400,000 years old and resemble those of other remains of modern man, known scientifically as Homo sapiens, found in Israel. The earliest Homo sapiens remains found until now are half as old. “It’s very exciting to come to this conclusion,” said archaeologist Avi Gopher, whose team examined the teeth with X-rays and CT scans and dated them according to the layers of earth where they were found. He stressed that further research is needed to solidify the claim. If it does, he says, “this changes the whole picture of evolution.” The accepted scientific theory is that Homo sapiens originated in Africa and migrated out of the continent. Gopher said if the remains are definitively linked to modern human’s ancestors, it could mean that modern man in fact originated in what is now Israel. Sir Paul Mellars, a prehistory expert at Cambridge University, said the study is reputable, and the find is “important” because remains from that critical time period are scarce, but it is premature to say the remains are human. “Based on the evidence they’ve cited, it’s a very tenuous and frankly rather remote possibility,” Mellars said. He said the remains are more likely related to modern man’s ancient relatives, the Neanderthals. According to today’s accepted scientific theories, modern humans and Neanderthals stemmed from a common ancestor who lived in Africa about 700,000 years ago. One group of descendants migrated to Europe and developed into Neanderthals, later becoming extinct. Another group stayed in Africa and evolved into Homo sapiens — modern humans. Teeth are often unreliable indicators of origin, and analyses of skull remains would more definitively identify the species found in the Israeli cave, Mellars said. Gopher, the Israeli archaeologist, said he is confident his team will find skulls and bones as they continue their dig. The prehistoric Qesem cave was discovered in 2000, and excavations began in 2004. Researchers Gopher, Ran Barkai and Israel Hershkowitz published their study in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.
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