Nutrition and Health

Egg Protein and Sport Athletes

Nowadays, sport athletes are becoming more health-conscious and perhaps even fairer in their goal to become as physically fit as possible. Rather than relying on all sorts of steroids and drugs to increase their strength and endurance, most sport athletes – as well as their trainers and managers of course – are simply focusing their energies on finding the proper and balanced diet.

Why Eggs are Beneficial for Athletes

EGGS ARE NUTRIENT RICH –  One egg has 13 essential nutrients in varying amounts, including
high-quality protein, choline, folate, iron and zinc, for only 75 calories.

What Makes Egg Protein Different

The protein found in eggs is so rich that it’s often used as a basis for comparison for other foods containing egg protein. Egg protein can be found in both parts of eggs: egg white, which is also called albumen, and egg yolk. Egg yolk however is rich in cholesterol so it’s best to concentrate on eating egg white…even if it tastes bland compared to egg yolk.

The protein found in eggs has been proven to be most helpful to human growth, a factor that athletes definitely need. Studies have shown that as much as 93.7% of egg protein provides actual benefits to the person drinking or eating them. On the other hand, milk can only help people as much as 84.5%. As for beef and fish, expect help in the quantitative value of 74.3% and 76% respectively from them. When you compare them vis a vis, egg protein comes up the absolute winner.

Where or How to Obtain Egg Protein

In the old days, athletes simply tried to benefit from egg protein by drinking them raw or having someone cook several eggs for them then eating them all.

These days however, medicinal companies have created egg protein health products that give you all the benefits with nary of the disadvantages.

Egg Allergy: Why Some Athletes Can’t Take Egg Protein

Unfortunately for some athletes, an allergy to eggs will expectedly prevent them from benefiting from egg protein. Worse, there will be a lot of foods that will be in the forbidden list because of their allergy. Contrary to popular opinion, skipping breakfast is not the way out to egg allergies. There are more to eggs than mere omelets and Eggs Benedict. Eggs can be found in dozens of other dishes, cakes and other pastries just to name a few.

When someone with egg allergy persists in digesting food containing eggs just to benefit from its protein contents, the body’s immune system will automatically raise its defense shield and view anything with egg in it as an enemy. When this happens, the body may start malfunctioning to the point that the individual may feel dizzy, nauseous, and itchy in certain areas of his body. The person may also feel pain in the head or stomach as a result.

How to Know If You Have Egg Allergy or Not

An athlete should undergo an egg allergy test before taking any egg protein to improve his performance. A skin test is the most common technique to determine if one’s allergic to a particular object or food. A liquid sample of egg protein is placed on a certain part of your body – usually your arm – to see if any allergic reaction would incur when your skin comes into contact with egg protein. You may also have to answer questions regarding the frequency in which you develop or display certain reactions when a particular dish – in this case, eggs – is eaten. Your family’s medical history may also play an integral role.

It’s a sad fact that there has been a lot of bad hype going around about eggs for a long time. Obviously, there’s a good side to eggs, and it’s called protein. Eggs play a role in weight management, muscle strength, healthy pregnancy, brain function, eye health and more.