Few foods have been as misunderstood as eggs. It wasn’t that long ago that health experts warned people about the potential dangers of eggs because the cholesterol and saturated fat in the yolks were both thought to boost your risk for heart disease. But nutrition is a relatively new science and later research didn’t support these concerns. Let's say there's been a lot to unscramble, as previously noted. Here Taylor Jones, HealthLine.com, reflects on brown vs white eggs – is there a difference:

“Many people have a preference when it comes to egg color. Some people believe brown eggs are healthier or more natural, while others feel that white eggs are cleaner or simply taste better. But are the differences between brown and white eggs more than shell-deep? This article explores whether one type of egg is truly healthier or tastier.

Eggs Come in Many Colors

Chicken eggs can come in different colors, and it's common to find both brown and white eggs in the supermarket.

However, many people don't know what causes eggs to have different colors.

The answer is quite simple — egg color depends on the breed of the chicken. For example, White Leghorn chickens lay white-shelled eggs, while Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds lay brown-shelled eggs (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source).

Some breeds of chicken, such as the Araucana, Ameraucana, Dongxiang and Lushi, even lay blue or blue-green eggs (3Trusted Source).

The different eggshell colors come from pigments the hens produce. The main pigment in brown eggshells is called protoporphyrin IX. It is made from heme, the compound that gives blood its red color (4Trusted Source).

The main pigment found in blue eggshells is called biliverdin, which also comes from heme. It’s the same pigment that sometimes gives bruises a blue-green color (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source).

But while genetics is the main factor that determines egg color, other factors can have an influence too (4Trusted Source).

For example, as hens that lay brown eggs age, they tend to lay larger and lighter-colored eggs.

The hen's environment, diet and level of stress may also affect shell color, to some extent (4Trusted Source).

These factors can make the shade lighter or darker, but not necessarily change the color itself. The main factor determining color is still the breed.

Are Brown Eggs Healthier Than White Eggs?

Often, people who prefer brown eggs do so because they believe brown eggs are more natural and healthy than white eggs.

However, the truth is that all eggs are nutritionally very similar, regardless of size, grade or color (2Trusted Source, 6, 7).

Both brown and white eggs are healthy foods. A typical egg contains lots of vitamins, minerals and high-quality protein, all wrapped up into less than 80 calories (8).

However, scientists have compared eggs with brown shells to those with white shells to see if there is any difference. Several studies have found that shell color has no significant effect on egg quality and composition (9Trusted Source).

This means that the color of an egg's shell doesn't have much to do with how healthy it is. The only real difference is the pigment in the shell.

However, there are other factors that can affect the nutritional content of an egg.”

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Read More … Article Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/white-vs-brown-eggs