Eggology Egg Whites and Other Eggcellent Sources of Protein

When you are building muscle, it's important to ensure that you eat plenty of protein. Without protein your muscles just can't grow-it's that plain and simple! Typically you should consume 1 to 1.5 times your body weight in grams of protein. The rule of thumb is that you need between 1 and 1.5 times your body weight (if you are overweight, then substitute your target body weight) in grams of protein. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should be eating between 150 and 225 grams of protein per day if you want to consistently gain muscle. Full time bodybuilders can eat sometimes two to three times their body weight in grams of protein, and sometimes more, but for most of us that would be overkill.

Of course we love using Eggology Egg Whites as our primary source of protein. But even we have to admit that it is necessary to vary your sources of protein so that you maintain a well balanced diet. So, what do we recommend, outside of the normal chicken and tuna realm?

1. Raw Nuts - These provide a great source of protein PLUS they are a great source of healthy fats, minerals and antioxidants. I make huge batches of trail mix-just be sure that you use two-thirds cup of nuts to every one-third cup of dried fruit! Use them in stir-fries or eat them plain...any way you crack it-they are wonderful!
2. Beans - Most beans contain 20% protein and high in carbohydrates which provides long lasting energy. Pair beans with rice to make a great, protein packed meal! (On a side note, check out this awesome blog post on nutritiondata.com to find out why you may not be getting a complete protein by combining these two products!)
3. Milk - It does a body good! There has been talk that soy milk is a better source of protein, but check out this study to see what researchers at McMaster University are saying-their studies "clearly show that milk proteins are a superior source of protein in producing muscle mass gains in response to weightlifting."
4. Quinoa - It is called a "supergrain" because of the wonderful nutrition it offers. It contains more iron than other grains, has high levels of potassium, riboflavin, magnesium, zinc, copper, and folacin. It is a great source of protein. Unlike other grains it contains plenty of the amino acid lysine, as well as the other essential amino acids, so it provides complete protein.
5. Oats - Whole grains provide muscle-friendly protein, along with fiber and other nutrients. For an amazing and healthy and protein packed breakfast, check out this Banana Oat Protein Breakfast Pancakes recipe!

Happy Eating and send us your suggestions for variety in protein sources and recipes that you find help build muscle!

Great Pre-Workout Snacks - Eggology Egg Whites!

As I was heading into the gym this morning, I started chatting with a friend about what is best to eat before a workout. My friend, who is new to the gym scene asked me why body builders add extra protein to their diet and marathon runners add more carbs. This was a great question! I thought I would share my answer here, so we can all benefit from the question!

When you are training for a marathon, it is normal to load up on carbs, because you want the fuel to help get you through the race or a difficult long, training day. MarathonPal.com gives a great breakdown of WHY you need carbs and you can check it out in full, but the short version is this: "The goal of carbohydrate loading is to super load muscles with glycogen to delay fatigue and enable your to maintain high intensity exercise for longer. When competing for over 90 minutes normal glycogen stores will not be enough to maintain exercise. Carbohydrate loading is a method of increasing stored glycogen by 200-300%, thereby allowing the athlete to delay fatigue and maintain high intensity exercise for longer. Carbohydrate loading is of no benefit for sports of short duration, and is undesirable in sports with strict weight criteria."

The last line answers my friends question! Most bodybuilders are not doing high intensity exercise. Ideally, the amino acids from a pre-workout meal that's high in protein will be hitting the muscle cells at the conclusion of your workout, thus providing ample resources for muscle growth and repair. You'll also feel stronger in the gym, since protein and fat remain in your stomach longer. That being said, you can't totally skip the carbs either! Protein and unsaturated fat may be "king" when it comes to building muscle, but complex carbs have an important supporting role. By eating my breakfast of Eggology On-the-Go (which provides 4 scrambled egg whites in 95 seconds) and combining that with one slice of whole wheat toast, 45 to 90 minutes before hitting the gym, I'm ready for a great workout. And if you don't believe that this works, check out Ronnie Coleman - who uses Eggology Egg Whites as part of his daily diet routine! I think a picture is worth a thousand words!

Purchase Eggology Egg Whites online or at a store near you!

Eat Eggology Egg Whites to Build Muscle

I am always on the look out for great ways to integrate egg whites into healthy recipes as I continue to strive towards always being fit and eating healthy. At the end of a long day, I often find myself online looking for new ways to eat right and in turn, increase muscle mass. Tonight I stumbled across an oldie, but goodie post on bodybuilding.com that was discussing "Eggs-actly What You Need to Build Muscle" by Scott Diedrichs.

Scott does an eggcellent job eggsplaining all the benefits of making egg whites a daily part of your work out repertoire. He points out the importance of protein-without it you simply can't build muscle! Egg whites are easily digested and absorbed and are extremely useful in ensuring a balanced diet for bodybuilders.

Not only does Mr. Diedrichs break down the benefits of adding eggs into your diet, but he also discusses all the different ways to cook eggs. For those of you that are looking at moving into culinary adventures with your egg cookery, he lists six ways-can you name them all?

Take a minute to check out Scott's great post, learn more about the benefits of eggs in your diet and in your muscle gain and while you are at it, why don't you let Eggology hear your success stories! We never get eggsausted hearing those!

Still trying to figure out the six ways to cook an egg white? I won't keep you guessing any longer! You've got microwaved egg whites, scrambled egg whites, boiled eggs, broiled egg whites, fried egg whites, baked egg whites and last but not least (drumroll please) steamed egg whites!

ENJOY Eggology Egg Whites six different ways!
Purchase them online or at a store near you!

Egg Whites Can Get Your Body Bikini-Ready For Summer!

Researchers have been able to connect eating egg whites to weight loss. According to an article from health.com, a study from Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, found that overweight women who eat egg breakfasts lose twice as much weight as women who start their days with bagels".

This phenomenon can be attributed to the high protein factor in egg whites that allows for you to feel fuller for longer. Longer sustainability of satisfaction will prevent you from craving for more to eat throughout the day, which will lower your daily calorie-intake.

Most importantly, it is always a good idea to eat the most fresh and organic egg whites you can find. There are many health risks with consuming raw egg whites, so it is especially crucial to know what's inside your egg whites--aka, no chemicals and artificial preservatives.

Eating healthy and looking good? I'm on my way to my summer bikini bod!