Egg Albumen Powder

What is Egg Protein?

As the name suggests, egg protein is the protein from eggs, namely the egg white (or albumen). Decades ago, before whey protein came into the scene, the preferred protein of choice for bodybuilding was egg protein. Indeed whey is a superb and convenient source of protein, but does that mean we should forget completely about the humble egg? I think not.

Where Does Egg Protein Come From?

Egg protein comes from...eggs (generally chicken eggs). The chicken egg industry is a huge enterprise producing eggs on a scale that is almost incomprehensible. Therefore there is never a shortage of high quality proteins coming from eggs. There are of course many types of chicken egg production systems. These include free range, barn raised, and cage raised hens. However, it has been shown that there is little difference in the protein content of eggs from different production systems (approximately 13% per egg) (Jones et al, 2010).

Egg Protein Benefits

Egg protein is a complete protein source, meaning it contains all the essential amino acids (and more) needed for life and muscle growth. Not only that but it also has a very high biological value and is the gold standard to which other proteins are compared. Also, unlike some types of whey proteins, egg protein is lactose free, and is therefore suitable for those who suffer from lactose intolerance.

Egg Protein Benefits for Bodybuilding

Protein is arguably one of the most vital nutrients one for muscle gain. Egg protein being of high quality is therefore a valuable protein for bodybuilding. One study showed that muscle protein synthesis increased with increasing intakes of egg protein up to 20 g, after which it plateaued (Moore et al, 2009). Furthermore, experts go on to say that eggs are a good source of leucine, which is one of the critical nutrients that are needed for muscle building and energy synthesis (Layman et al, 2009).