egg beaters vs real eggs

aml17

I recently started using egg beaters instead of real eggs because the calories and cholesterol were lower. I've realized that the sodium is way higher though. So what is better to have? lower cholesterol or lower sodium?

CallejaFairey

lower sodium all the way.

only time i use the egg beaters is if something calls for just egg whites, i hate seperating eggs, specially if there is no use for the yolk.

Pandorian

I'll take the whole egg any day, not just partial because I get about 3 dozen every 4 days for free
I don't care about the cholesterol, my numbers are fine despite eating a 3 egg omelet every couple days and taking hard boiled eggs as snacks for work.

Alphastate

Some of the cholesterol in eggs is good cholesterol. Too much sodium can make you hold water and feel bloated. I definitely suggest using at least one egg with egg whites, maybe look into getting a carton of egg whites instead of egg beaters.

sheeleza

It is a matter of taste for me. I rather egg whites. I don't like artifical food in general. I've learned recently that if there are names in the ingrediants that are chemically named then it isn't something you should eat.

BryanAir

Like others have said, I prefer the egg whites and I mix in a whole egg or two. You just need to get over how thin the egg whites are when you put them in the pan as it cooks up quite nicely.

aml17

Even if I make the egg beaters for breakfast with the higher sodium, I generally stay around 1500 mg of sodium for the day... should I probably still stop eating them or since I can afford to have that sodium is it not so bad in my diet? I love eggs.. whole eggs, egg whites and egg beaters so taste is not a factor in my decision.

busub

Eat the real eggs... take the time to separate the whites if you're concerned about the fat/cholesterol. Egg Beaters taste awful... yechh...

ShellyMacchi

the less processed the food you eat.. the healthier you *S*
go for omega 3 whole eggs all the way.

Grokette

I recently started using egg beaters instead of real eggs because the calories and cholesterol were lower. I've realized that the sodium is way higher though. So what is better to have? lower cholesterol or lower sodium?

Real eggs are always the way to go. Sodium is more important to keep lower than cholesterol. With cholesterol, the more you eat the less your body has to make in the liver, so it is good to eat a healthy amount of cholesterol.

I eat free range farm fresh eggs only, nothing added except for the chicken ate.

Mayor_West

Real eggs all the way.

From a nutrition standpoint, you get more protein and nutrients from a whole egg, without all the sodium and other additives in Egg Beaters. If you're concerned about the fat count, mix in some egg whites with a whole egg or two.

From a cost standpoint, there's no comparison. A 16oz carton of Egg Beaters is around $5, whereas I got 3 dozen whole eggs at Costco for less than $4.

broadsword7

Wow - I just happened to see this topic and you all have convinced me. I am not one to waste stuff so I won't throw out the open carton of eggbeaters I started, but when it's done, I am done with it. After that it's egg whites or whole eggs for me from now on! Thank you all!

Atlantique

I also vote for the real eggs over the processed eggbeaters.

The only thing that eggbeaters are good for is baking; if you are trying to reduce fat in baked goods, eggbeaters work well because they will make baked goods crwon well and replacing eggs with a combination of whole eggs + eggwhites won't. And even then you'd probably still be better off just using the real eggs.

spatticus

I second omega 3 enriched eggs! Egg yolks are sooo good for you! One egglands best egg is only 70 cals, worth it!

ladyhawk00

Eggs! It's funny this came up... I was just talking on my feed about how I'm getting chickens this week so I'll have my own farm fresh WHOLE eggs.

hajjcomb

I'll chime in for egg beaters here. I eat omelets regularly, and if I used regular eggs my cholesterol levels would be unhealthy.

I feel like some of the reasons to eat real eggs here are a little off the mark. Regarding the comments that egg beaters are "way higher" in sodium, I disagree. It's 115 mg (5% of RDA) vs 65 mg. Also I worry much less about sodium as I exercise regularly and sweat a lot. You can sweat out sodium, but you don't sweat out cholesterol.

Secondly, protein. It's the same in each.

And as far as all the other stuff in egg beaters, it is 99% egg whites. All the other ingredients account for less than 1%.

While I am generally a proponent of choosing the most natural form of any food, in the case of eggs I use the substitute 95% of the time. For the amount of eggs I eat I cannot afford having 71% of my RDA of cholesterol in one egg yolk.

stormieweather

I mix them if I'm making a fritatta or omelette. 1 or 2 whole eggs, 1/4 cup egg beaters. That is purely to keep the fat count down. Mostly I eat cage free organic eggs, 1-2 at a time, in their entirety. I prefer whole eggs, just fubars my fat count if I eat a whole omelette full of them

Atlantique

I'll chime in for egg beaters here. I eat omelets regularly, and if I used regular eggs my cholesterol levels would be unhealthy.

I feel like some of the reasons to eat real eggs here are a little off the mark. Regarding the comments that egg beaters are "way higher" in sodium, I disagree. It's 115 mg (5% of RDA) vs 65 mg. Also I worry much less about sodium as I exercise regularly and sweat a lot. You can sweat out sodium, but you don't sweat out cholesterol.

Secondly, protein. It's the same in each.

And as far as all the other stuff in egg beaters, it is 99% egg whites. All the other ingredients account for less than 1%.

While I am generally a proponent of choosing the most natural form of any food, in the case of eggs I use the substitute 95% of the time. For the amount of eggs I eat I cannot afford having 71% of my RDA of cholesterol in one egg yolk.

The RDA is still based on the mistaken junk science that dietary cholesterol has a strong correlation to blood cholesterol.

A 56% increase in sodium is "way higher", yes.

You're eliminating a great source of Omega fatty acids if you're eliminating egg yolks, along with a good source of selenium, phosphorous and B vitamins.

freerange

Let's see fake eggs v REAL eggs, nuff said

TS65

Eggs! It's funny this came up... I was just talking on my feed about how I'm getting chickens this week so I'll have my own farm fresh WHOLE eggs.

Me too, we're in the process of building the chicken coop (does that count as exercise? LOL!)

Fresh eggs all the way - just limit it to 1 or 2 a day, or mix in egg whites.

DeniseGdz

COMPROMISE!!

Here's what I do-

1 whole egg & 1 egg white....a little bit of soy milk - whipp it all together.
Eggs end up low in sodium, still taste fantastic and their even a little fluffy!

it's cheaper than the egg beaters too!!

Grokette

I'll chime in for egg beaters here. I eat omelets regularly, and if I used regular eggs my cholesterol levels would be unhealthy.

I feel like some of the reasons to eat real eggs here are a little off the mark. Regarding the comments that egg beaters are "way higher" in sodium, I disagree. It's 115 mg (5% of RDA) vs 65 mg. Also I worry much less about sodium as I exercise regularly and sweat a lot. You can sweat out sodium, but you don't sweat out cholesterol.

Secondly, protein. It's the same in each.

And as far as all the other stuff in egg beaters, it is 99% egg whites. All the other ingredients account for less than 1%.

While I am generally a proponent of choosing the most natural form of any food, in the case of eggs I use the substitute 95% of the time. For the amount of eggs I eat I cannot afford having 71% of my RDA of cholesterol in one egg yolk.

Your cholesterol would actually improve by eating real eggs with chosterol. The more cholesterol you eat the lower your cholesterol will be due to your liver not having to make as much.

If you don't mind eating processed foods.....................

lbetancourt

Damn! Egg beaters are bad for me?? I never win with this thing. Will finish up the small carton & switch back.. I guess??

Aps123

Wow - I just happened to see this topic and you all have convinced me. I am not one to waste stuff so I won't throw out the open carton of eggbeaters I started, but when it's done, I am done with it. After that it's egg whites or whole eggs for me from now on! Thank you all!

same here! thanks!

ladyhawk00

Eggs! It's funny this came up... I was just talking on my feed about how I'm getting chickens this week so I'll have my own farm fresh WHOLE eggs.

Me too, we're in the process of building the chicken coop (does that count as exercise? LOL!)

Fresh eggs all the way - just limit it to 1 or 2 a day, or mix in egg whites.

I had to move the coop (8x6x12 shed) 3 miles. :indifferent: Not a fun day (and you're darned right it counted as exercise!). :laugh: But I'm excited to get the chicks! My son wants to name all 2 dozen of them.

TS65

Eggs! It's funny this came up... I was just talking on my feed about how I'm getting chickens this week so I'll have my own farm fresh WHOLE eggs.

Me too, we're in the process of building the chicken coop (does that count as exercise? LOL!)

Fresh eggs all the way - just limit it to 1 or 2 a day, or mix in egg whites.

I had to move the coop (8x6x12 shed) 3 miles. :indifferent: Not a fun day (and you're darned right it counted as exercise!). :laugh: But I'm excited to get the chicks! My son wants to name all 2 dozen of them.

I forget where, but someone said craigslist is crawling with free chicks after easter (people get tired of them pretty quickly when they aren't fuzzy little balls).

ladyhawk00

Eggs! It's funny this came up... I was just talking on my feed about how I'm getting chickens this week so I'll have my own farm fresh WHOLE eggs.

Me too, we're in the process of building the chicken coop (does that count as exercise? LOL!)

Fresh eggs all the way - just limit it to 1 or 2 a day, or mix in egg whites.

I had to move the coop (8x6x12 shed) 3 miles. :indifferent: Not a fun day (and you're darned right it counted as exercise!). :laugh: But I'm excited to get the chicks! My son wants to name all 2 dozen of them.

I forget where, but someone said craigslist is crawling with free chicks after easter (people get tired of them pretty quickly when they aren't fuzzy little balls).

Probably not as much where I live (very rural). But yeah, I'm guessing there are a lot of them. The only issue with that is that a lot of those will be colored chicks (dyed) - and usually the only ones they dye are leghorns, which aren't very good hens for a small free range flock (they are flighty).

If you haven't looked into it, I would suggest researching the different kinds of hens, as there are big differences between breeds and how they handle climate, whether they brood well (which you may or may not want them to do depending on your needs), how many eggs they lay, and how well they deal with people (some get anxious around people and won't lay well if you interact with them at all.)

Sorry if I'm hijacking the thread, OP.

donicagalek

If you really love egg whites only, separate them yourself. I promise it isn't hard to do. :-) Feed the yolks to a pet, make a facial with them or bake with them. :-D

Personally, since I only eat an egg about 4 times a week I love my yolks. They keep me feeling fuller for longer. But that's just a personal preference. I'm not going into the whole "preachy" eggs are a perfect food thing.

But, as a cheapskate I will plead with you not to overpay for a carton of eggs whites.

donicagalek

On the "Free Chickens" thing. I've looked into it because I live in a super rural area. It's seriously cheaper to get eggs at Aldi.

You have to make a coop for them, pay for feed, spend time feeding/watering/cleaning the coop. Then if you live in a cold area (I do) you have to have a heat lamp running in the coop all winter (and then do you *want* to care for them in the freezing cold outside?). Also when the weather cools they lay less often. Then after about 3 years they aren't productive egg layers and you're stuck with, basically, pets. :-D

Unless you are the kind of person that can kill them from meat or be willing to give them to someone else that can do it (I can't).

amberaz

Egg Beaters are not "bad" for you, you just don't get the benefits from the yolk. I eat both. I eat whole eggs more often lately, becaue I am preferring fried eggs over scrambled, but if I eat scrambled, I mix 1 egg with 1 egg beater egg. I do use them to cook a lot of times and have not seen any difference in the outcome. Costco has Egg Beaters, you get 6 cartons for $8, its equal to about 4 dozen eggs. I don't think that's too expensive considering the convenience factor, and you can freeze the cartons, too if you don't use them fast enough.

hajjcomb

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol/HQ00608

From a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic. Just an FYI.

The interwebs are too funny.