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Omega 3 fatty acids are most commonly found in oily fishes such as salmon, fresh tuna and trout. The health benefits of consuming high-levels of Omega 3 are many including lowering blood pressure, preventing hardening of the arteries and reducing the risk of a heart attack. Typically when you think of foods that are high in Omega 3, you don't think of eggs, however. Now you have a choice of purchasing a new type of egg with high Omega 3 levels in your local supermarket. This is the latest revolution in egg technology. Think of it as "egg 2.0".

Back in the day Hens were allowed to roam free and eat grains, insects and whatever else they could peck. This allowed the hens to produce eggs that were high in Omega 3 levels. They also were open to dangerous predators so a more controlled environment was necessary. Today some eggs are still produced by these "free range" hens. The majority of eggs produced today, however, are hatched by hens sheltered and fed a specific diet. They are often referred to as "conventional hens". These hens are not allowed to roam free and are fed a specific diet of grains. They are caged in windowless building and no fresh air. With their strict grain-fed diet most of the eggs from these hens contain lower levels of Omega 3, around 40 milligrams.
With Omega 3 produced eggs you have an egg that looks and taste just like a regular egg. Researchers have tested and perfected the art of producing these eggs which contain 200 milligrams of Omega-3 fatty acids and 75 milligrams of DHA. Omega 3 eggs are the result of feeding the hens flaxseed which is highly concentrated in Omega 3 fatty acids. These hens are typically given a diet of about 10% flaxseed.

Since flaxseed is high in Omega-3 you may be wondering why you shouldn't just skip the Eggs with Omega 3 levels and take flaxseed. You should actually do both. Flaxseed contains the Omega-3 ALA while the eggs contain the Omega-3 DHA. DHA is critical in depression and probably most critical in depression and pregnancy and postpartum.
By just eating the flaxseed alone your blood levels of DHA won't increase since humans cannot convert ALA to DHA well. However our wonderful flaxseed fed hen's can convert the ALA to DHA and thusly the DHA will be converted into the Omega 3 level eggs she produces.

Learn more about this author, Bruce Gilbert.
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