If your fitness goals include adding a little more bulk to your booty, experts at Vinmec International Hospital explain that eggs’ leucine content may be able to help. As a type of amino acid, leucine is said to support muscle synthesis and protect against muscle protein breakdown. Getting optimal results, however, may depend on whether you’re eating the whole egg or just parts of the egg.
In a small 2017 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers analyzed men who consumed 18 grams of protein following a resistance workout either in the form of egg whites or whole eggs. The findings showed that men who ate whole eggs exhibited a 40% greater muscle-building response compared to participants who got their protein from egg whites. The researchers concluded that despite the common belief that egg yolks prevent us from getting the most out of our protein intake, consuming eggs in their entirety may enhance our body’s use of protein in building muscle.