Eat Eggs for Stronger Muscles

Eggs, long maligned as being high cholesterol devils, should actually be on a list of superfoods. Eggs are a high-quality, compact, low-calorie protein source, as well as many other nutrients. For athletes, or anyone involved in regular resistance training, an egg, and especially whole egg protein, is particularly valuable for increasing muscle protein synthesis.

And studies have revealed that all eggs, regardless of whether they are caged or “cage free,” are naturally non-GMO and antibiotic free. If you want an extra health boost, you can always look for the “Omega-3” eggs, which means the hens are fed an omega-3 supplement along with their regular feed.

A special note about “cage-free” eggs: a “cage free” claim on an egg carton label means that the hens were not confined in cages. It does not mean that the hens had access to the outdoors. However, unlike caged or “battery” hens, cage-free hens are able to walk, spread their wings and lay their eggs in nests, vital natural behaviors denied to hens confined in cages. If you are looking to get your eggs truly “au naturel,” look for a label that reads, “pastured,” which means that the hens really are out frolicking in a pasture, eating bugs and weeds and getting their omega-3’s naturally.  And then there’s the whole new trend of raising backyard chickens, thus getting your eggs from the hens yourself.

Regardless of where you decided to get your eggs, you should be happy to know you can, and should, eat the whole egg, yolks and all.

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