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Egg protein

What is egg protein?

Eggs are an excellent source of high-quality biological protein. Unfortunately, eggs are quite difficult to digest and can be like a stone in your stomach when eaten before training. In addition, eggs contain relatively high levels of fat and cholesterol. Egg protein in powder form, which is usually spray-dried egg white, is a good alternative to eggs as it provides you with very high-quality protein that is easily digestible, cholesterol-free and virtually fat-free.

Egg protein is used by athletes all over the world who are looking for a very high quality protein. Before these products were developed, athletes were forced to drink egg whites - which can be unhealthy - or cook dozens of eggs at a time. The high cholesterol and fat content in eggs made this a somewhat unhealthy way to meet protein needs.

Now, excellent quality egg protein products have solved this problem, making it easier than ever to consume as much egg protein as you want in the form of a delicious shake!

What are the benefits of egg protein?

Egg protein is naturally very low in fat and carbohydrates, which means it provides you with a large amount of protein without unnecessary calories. As egg protein contains no lactose or soy ingredients, it is an excellent alternative to milk protein sources and soy protein for anyone with a soy allergy or lactose intolerance. In addition, egg protein contains large amounts of the sulphur-containing amino acids methionine and cysteine. Sulphur fulfills important tasks in the body and plays a key role in detoxifying the body and stimulating protein metabolism. Sulphur is also required for the growth and remodeling of body tissue.

Why is egg protein so popular during competition preparation?

In addition to the fact that egg protein is very low in fat and carbohydrates and provides your body and muscles with plenty of protein without unnecessary extra calories during a diet or competition preparation, egg protein is free from milk protein and lactose. Many bodybuilders avoid all dairy products during contest preparation as they can promote water retention under the skin and a spongy appearance. For these athletes, egg protein is an excellent choice because, unlike milk protein-based protein supplements, it cannot cause unwanted water retention.

For which applications is egg protein particularly suitable?

In terms of digestion speed, egg protein is slightly slower to digest than whey protein and faster to digest than casein. As a result, it supplies your body and muscles with amino acids for longer than whey protein, while the amino acid levels in the blood reach significantly higher values than after consuming an equivalent amount of casein. This makes egg protein an ideal source of protein for any time of day and, due to its faster digestibility than casein and meat, it can also be used before and after training to provide your body and muscles with a relatively quick and sustained supply of much-needed amino acids for recovery.

What are the main benefits of egg protein?

  • High quality, highly digestible protein source
  • Very low-carbohydrate and low-fat source of protein
  • Lactose-free and therefore also suitable for people who suffer from lactose intolerance and cannot tolerate milk protein
  • Popular protein for competition preparation that does not promote water retention
  • High content of sulphur-containing amino acids

Current studies

The consumption of protein supplements can help prevent the effects of overtraining: A protein intake of about 2 grams per kilogram of body weight resulted in improved protection against overtraining. This study was conducted at Ball State University with 17 men training with weights. The subjects performed a four-week overtraining program in which they performed 3 sets of 8 exercises with 8 to 12 repetitions each until muscle failure during the first two weeks. During the following two weeks, they performed 5 sets of 5 exercises with 3 to 5 repetitions each until muscle failure occurred. During these 4 weeks, the men received either an amino acid supplement (2 grams of protein/kilogram of body weight/day) or a placebo. The men taking the amino acid supplement showed measurable positive changes in total testosterone levels, the ratio of testosterone to the proteins that transport it and hemoglobin levels compared to the subjects taking the placebo. This proves that adequate protein intake is the key to gaining muscle mass! You should therefore ensure that you always consume enough protein (about 2 grams per kilogram of body weight).

Protein in combination with carbohydrates is better for muscle building than protein alone: A study conducted at the University of Texas Medical Branch determined the amount of the amino acid L-phenylalanine that was absorbed into healthy leg muscle tissue when one of three shakes was consumed. The shakes were consumed one and two hours after an intense leg workout and provided either 6 grams of protein, 34 grams of carbohydrates or both per shake for a 70 kilogram bodybuilder. L-phenylalanine intake was three times higher with the protein + carbohydrate shake than with the carbohydrate shake and about twice as high as with the pure amino acid shake. As we know, the post-workout shake is the most important meal for increased anabolism. You should therefore make sure that you eat some carbohydrates with your post-workout shake for best results!

It is also rich in the amino acid arginine, which triggers nitric oxide (nO) production, resulting in increased blood flow that delivers more oxygen, nutrients and anabolic hormones to the muscles. This provides more energy and a stronger pump during training as well as improved recovery and muscle growth after training. Arginine also increases growth hormone levels, which can be important during and after training.