If you're looking to lose weight, you've probably already started Googling what to eat. Good job, it's a start! You've come to the right place. It is agreed upon by most experts that nutrition is at least 70% of the results you will see. If you eat well, you will see good results. If you eat poorly, you will see little to none no matter how hard you work out. When it comes to a healthy diet, protein is one of the most important factors of your diet. You want to keep your proteins nice and lean which can be somewhat hard to accomplish with meats alone. Egg whites are a super lean and pure source of protein that's so important for muscle growth.
First of all, let's get to know our friend protein. Protein is the building block of muscle, a pound of which burns more than 10 times more calories than a pound of fat at rest! For every pound of muscle you gain, you'll be burning around 38 more calories a day, according to fitness and health expert Sarah Dray at Livestrong.com. Healthy muscles need protein.
If you want to lose weight, you definitely want to speed up your metabolism. Protein itself is made up of amino acids, which are also the main component of your DNA. Protein is not just the building blocks of muscle; it contributes to the health of hair, skin, and nails, the creation of enzymes, hormones, and other important body chemicals. Protein is not stored in the body, and it cannot be generated by normal means if not supplied by the diet. The body needs a constant supply. That is the reason why some dietitians recommend eating 6 small meals a day with a serving of protein at every meal. This is not to say you should eat only protein all day long; carbohydrates and fats serve their part and should not be neglected.
Sources of protein are mainly meat, but you can also get it from beans, peanut butter, milk products, and drum roll, our star player for the day, eggs! Eggs get a bad rep because of the cholesterol-spiking elements of the fatty yolk. However, egg whites by themselves are a spectacular source of easy to digest protein with little to no fat and no carbohydrates. Also, new studies suggest that one egg yolk a day is easily tolerated, so a breakfast of one whole egg and a couple of egg whites is a filling and protein-packed option.
Egg whites serve their purpose flawlessly, something few other sources of protein can boast. An egg white by itself contains only about 16 calories. If you eat about four egg whites for breakfast you are getting 16g of quality, lean protein. Eggs are fairly cheap by the dozen, take very little time to cook, and go well with all your favorite breakfast foods.
What's not to love about egg whites? If you have yet to incorporate them into your diet, do so immediately! Start your day off right, or throw some in for later meals to keep yourself lean and nourished all year round. The catchy name "incredible, edible egg" is no exaggeration. Egg whites just may be the perfect protein!
