First and Final Draft:

Rios 1

Juliene Rios

Professor Weyn

First Draft – Describe an Egg

February 4, 2023

      The Breakfast Phenom

When a person wakes up in the morning to prepare themselves and/or their families breakfast, a common query that occurs is how one would like their egg done. Whether that is prepared in an omelet, scrambled, hard-boiled, or in a sunny-side-up fashion, it is almost certain that a significant portion of our lives will be spent consuming a small/round-shaped but abundant resource. The question of how we desire our egg to be done is asked on a daily basis by billions of individuals worldwide who administer their evident dependency on the resource. The common form of eggs that are eaten during breakfast time are those that come from a chicken. Quail, duck, fish roe, and other species of eggs may also be considered acceptable alternatives which differ in the manner of shape, size, etc. Though for the sake of convenience, this essay will be solely focused on the complex biological resource of the chickens’ eggs.

The common form of egg production that lands on our plates begins on the farm where they will come out of the hen (female chicken). Although many sexual organisms that mate do not lay eggs, species among the avian bracket (like chickens) are separated due to the reasoning that they do. They are laid in two separate states that determine their longevity. One of those states is when they end up fertile during the process of mating with a Rooster (male chicken). When in a fertile state, the egg has the opportunity through being natured under the warmth of its biological mother to hatch into a chick once the development process within the egg is 

Rios 2

completed and the egg finally hatches. This is a reasonable process by a farmer if he intends for the chick to grow into its adult stages of life and repeat the process of hatching eggs at 18-22 weeks old (Stuttgen, When do hens begin to lay eggs?) and/or has the chance to be deemed as nourishment in the department of poultry if slaughtered. However, the fate of the egg can be shifted if a farmer snatches the eggs immediately upon being laid and stored in a cool area where they ultimately will never earn the chance to develop fully and will be left in a brittle state that we know them to be in when cracking them open when ready for usage. Additionally, the underdeveloped egg state can be accomplished when the egg is infertile upon being laid without the assistance of a rooster. This is done through the hen inherently undergoing ovulation every 24-26 hours when the yolk has been created, followed by the albumen surrounding it and its shell. (Stuttgen, Are eggs laid every day?) This goes to show that with or without a male influence, the hen holds the primary purpose throughout her lifespan to populate the globe with its much-desired product because of its natural selection. After the farmers have earned a profit from their stock of eggs, the eggs are then sent to the factory where they are packaged in cartons according to their elements such as size, color, and zone of the farm where they have been laid at; Hence, will be shipped out to stores nationwide. The eggs that individuals will end up buying from the dairy aisle at stores will not only induce nourishment in our early morning routine but also in the means of enhancing our health to a certain extent. 

In order for our bodies to continue growing and repairing in the manner that they should, we must intake all of the essential nutrients supplied by vitamins and minerals; A significant amount is held within the egg: Vitamins A, D, B2, B12, Folate, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Choline and Minerals phosphorus, Iodine, and Selenium are found in a medium egg. (Egg 

Rios 3

info/British Lion Eggs) Regular consumption of egg vitamins and minerals such as these promotes the longevity/well-being of our teeth, bones, and organs (including your skin which is the largest of your organs and most visible to the naked eye).On the other hand, risks are prevalent given that a human should never have too much of a singular product even if it may be the healthiest. Risk factors discovered from the eggs’ known fat and cholesterol include chronic illnesses such as Diabetes, Heart Disease, and even Cancer! Although the pros and cons of the by-product would incline one to wonder if they should be consuming eggs normally in the first place, the true answer lies within moderation. 

As mentioned, over-consumption of anything is never alright; but, if a particular regime is set for the days that a by-product like an egg is known to have its health benefits, it would result in a much more adequate response. Other foods that maintain different vitamins and minerals can take the place of days in which a person is no longer eating their eggs such as Oatmeal or Greek yogurt. Eggs should not be neglected by any means but rather ingested responsibly. Also, by limiting egg usage, people are able to save their money in a society battling an inflation predicament that has egg cartons in stores reaching soaring prices that could not have been envisioned just a couple of years ago. In essence, the egg is one of a kind due to its complex path from the moment it comes out of the hen to when it is cracked open and eventually eaten.

Rios 4

Sources:

Egg info/British Lion Eggs. “Vitamins and Minerals in Eggs.” Source, www.gov.uk. Available at: https://www.egginfo.co.uk/egg-nutrition-and-health/egg-nutrition-information/vitamins-and-minerals
Stuttgen, Sandra. “Life Cycle of a Laying Hen.” Livestock/Division of Extension. Available at: https://livestock.extension.wisc.edu/articles/life-cycle-of-a-laying-hen/