If you've followed any diet, or tried to lose weight and build muscle at the same time, then you are familiar with egg whites and egg white protein powder. But you probably do not know why egg whites are so special and used so often by bodybuilders. Egg White is composed of 40 different types of proteins and is almost pure protein. Hence its popularity as egg white protein powder.
The egg white is known as the albumen, which comes from albus, the Latin word for white. The egg white is low in carbs, calories, and fat and contains almost all of the protein available in the egg. Now you understand how egg white protein powder came to be. The egg white is often called the albumen because that is the main protein in egg white. Since all of the cholesterol of an egg is in the yolk, the egg white is an excellent source of protein, free of cholesterol. The egg white is made of protein only and it has only 15 calories. Each egg white is presumed to be 1 ounce of protein.
When using fresh egg whites, if the egg white is watery instead of gel-like, don't consume the egg. A cloudy egg white is a sign of freshness, not age, because of the high carbon dioxide content when the egg is laid. One egg white is one liquid ounce and may be kept in the refrigerator for several days or may be frozen. Newer eggs are harder to peel because the egg white is higher in acid when first laid, making the white adhere to the shell. A clear egg white is an indication the egg is aging. That thick, white ropy substance in the egg white is not an indication of an embryo or a malformation of the egg. Egg white is also a good source of riboflavin. Dried egg white protein powder is not as messy as what comes out of the egg.