You may associate the word insulin with a cure for diabetes. Perhaps the word elicits images of needles and painful injections? As it turns out, insulin is a hormone that plays a powerful role in the body's ability to metabolize carbohydrates, lipids and proteins like those found in eggs. While loading up on protein may be tempting for athletes and body builders, you should keep in mind that a well-balanced diet is essential for good health. In addition to your morning omelet, eat a piece of whole-grain bread and some fruit to ensure a proper insulin response and stable blood sugar.
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone and protein produced by the islet cells of the pancreas. Insulin is secreted by the pancreas following a high-carbohydrate meal in response to a spike in your blood sugar. The hormone binds to receptors on somatic cells which allows them to take up sugar -- glucose -- from your bloodstream and turn it into energy. If your body produces an inadequate amount of insulin or if your receptors fail to respond efficiently to the hormone, sugar builds up in the bloodstream while the body's cells starve. This condition is called diabetes.
Egg Protein
Albumins are a class of proteins that are water soluble and coagulate or turn into a semi-solid or solid mass when exposed to heat. Albumins are the proteins that make up egg white. They are also found in human blood, milk and other plant and animal matter. Egg white protein is a popular diet food thanks to its nutritional value. One white has a mere 17 calories, but contains approximately 3.5 grams of protein.
Insulin and Protein
While insulin is primarily involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids, it also plays a role in preventing the breakdown of existing proteins and encouraging the synthesis of new proteins. However, the ability of insulin to enhance protein synthesis appears to be dependent on dietary intake of amino acids -- the building blocks of proteins.
Considerations
While egg white is an excellent low-calorie source of protein, it's not the best choice for preventing a sugar crash during or after exercise. The insulin response is more contingent on your intake of complex carbohydrates such as whole-grain bread, brown rice and cereals. However, ingesting healthy proteins such as albumin can help to protect your muscles from damage and encourage your body to synthesize new proteins.
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