Sometimes, there’s no telling what you’ll find when you crack open an egg. It’s everyone’s general hope that nothing unusual will come out of it, but one thing that’s often ignored when inspecting the contents of that freshly cracked egg is the color of the yolk. Sure, it’s supposed to be yellowish, but are we paying enough attention to just how yellow our egg yolks are? Findings indicate this detail may reveal more than you think.

As the video below demonstrates, the color of an egg’s yolk will often vary based on where it came from. This isn’t a coincidence: An egg yolk’s color is a direct consequence of the nutrients that the hen was fed, and as such, will dictate just what it is you’re consuming too.

The Broad Ripple Farmers Market clarifies things a little: the darker your yolk is, the more nutrients it contains. This is generally due to the healthier, more varied diet that free-range hens are offered, containing not only corn and grain but also the occasional bug and vegetable. Most eggs that are found in supermarkets come from factory farms, which tend to only feed their hens grain, heavily limiting their diet – and ours in turn. While not exactly harmful per se, these lighter yellow yolks are much less effective at delivering the nutrients you’re expecting to ingest.

An SFGate story goes a step further in explaining what you can find in free-range eggs compared to factory farm products. The varied diets contain much more vitamin A, which is excellent for bone and eye strength; vitamin E, which promotes circulation and prevents oxidation; and omega-3 fatty acids, which can lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Better yet, free-range eggs also contain a lot less saturated fat and cholesterol than factory farm eggs, according to SFGate, making them better in every way — except perhaps price. A worthy expense, wouldn’t you say? Share this with your friends to let them know about the benefits of darker, straight-from-the-farm eggs! 500_3169