• Navigation icon for News

    News

    • US Food
    • UK Food
    • Drinks
    • Celebrity
    • Restaurants and bars
    • TV and Film
    • Social Media
  • Navigation icon for Cooking

    Cooking

    • Recipes
    • Air fryer
  • Navigation icon for Health

    Health

    • Diet
    • Vegan
  • Navigation icon for Fast Food

    Fast Food

    • McDonalds
    • Starbucks
    • Burger King
    • Subway
    • Dominos
  • Facebook
    Instagram
    YouTube
    TikTok
    X
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
TikTok
X
Submit Your Content
Protein mistake that could be quietly sabotaging you

Home> Health

Published 11:49 5 Dec 2025 GMT

Protein mistake that could be quietly sabotaging you

It turns out that some protein 'hacks' are actually anything but

Kit Roberts

Kit Roberts

When it comes to getting enough protein, some people like to go the extra mile - particularly if they're trying to make gains at the gym.

Of course, there are any number of tips and tricks out there, not to mention a number of supplements as well.

But while one trick might purport to help you get more protein into your diet - seemingly without much extra effort - in reality, this could actually be stopping you from getting the optimum amount.

It's all to do with how you actually consume your food.

Advert

You'll get more from your eggs if you cook them (SimpleImages/Getty)
You'll get more from your eggs if you cook them (SimpleImages/Getty)

This might seem a secondary concern, but if you consume a certain protein source properly then your body will absorb more protein from that than it otherwise might.

In this case, we are talking about one specific trick that many people might use, which became popular due to a famous movie.

This is the habit of breaking a raw egg into your protein shake to add in just a little extra protein seemingly with no extra effort, the style of Rocky Balboa.

Advert

But the reality is that your body does not absorb protein as efficiently from raw eggs as it does when the eggs are cooked properly - so by doing it this way you are cheating yourself out of protein that you might otherwise get from that same egg.

Scott Carswell, Founder of The Ice Maker Hub said: “People think they're being efficient by adding raw eggs to their shakes, but they're actually wasting nearly half their protein intake."

He added: "It's like doing half a workout, you're putting in the effort and spending the money, but you're only getting 50% of the results.”

Chicken breasts are another good source of protein (Kinga Krzeminska/Getty)
Chicken breasts are another good source of protein (Kinga Krzeminska/Getty)

Advert

Eggs are not the only foodstuff that this applies to either, as how you cook your meat also impacts on your body's ability to extract protein from it.

For example, if you have a serving of 200g of beef mince and you cook it properly then you can get around 48g of protein from it.

But if you overcook the same beef then you will only end up with 27g of protein, and with the price of food only going up you, don't want to be throwing away money like that.

“This brings clarity to why many people who train hard don’t see the gains they deserve despite eating enough protein," said Carswell.

Advert

"They're either following outdated Rocky-style advice or overcooking their meal prep chicken until it's dry and grey. As is life, nothing is ever simple, and both ends of the spectrum are as bad as each other.”

For optimal results, they recommend cooking eggs to 71C internal temperature, beef to 71C, and chicken to 74C, which is the minimum safe temperature to cook chicken.

Featured Image Credit: glegorly/Getty Images

Topics: Diet, Health, UK Food, News, US Food

Kit Roberts
Kit Roberts

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
5 hours ago
22 hours ago
  • Dia Dipasupil/WireImage/Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Jennifer Aniston has teamed up with Adam Sandler's wife to get actor on health kick

    The pair are hoping to get the actor and comedian onto a healthier diet

    Health
  • Chirayu/Getty Images
    5 hours ago

    Warning over leaving your water bottle in your car

    Leaving your water bottle in the car may create an unexpected health risk

    Health
  • nensuria/Getty Images
    22 hours ago

    Common indulgence that could be quietly wreaking havoc on your hormones

    Indulging in one particular thing may have more health impacts than previously thought

    Health
  • Garrett Aitken/Getty Images
    22 hours ago

    Ritz crackers urgently recalled in multiple states over life-threatening risk

    One batch of the crackers was identified as posing a major health risk

    Health
  • Little-known oil could be quietly driving obesity as experts share 'clearest evidence yet'
  • Diet that's even better for you than Mediterranean lifestyle according to new research
  • Doctor reveals why the 3-second rule could be a big mistake
  • Harvard scientists share 4 things you must do on high protein diet