Muscle growth goals can only be achieved if your diet provides sufficient energy and protein, and eggs contain the highest-quality protein - setting the standard by which other proteins are judged.

Sports nutritionist Jane Griffin said: "Eggs are one of the most nutrient-dense foods available on supermarket shelves, giving your body a wealth of vitamins and minerals without a high calorific content. Their satiating quality and in-built portion control make them the obvious choice for anyone wanting to shed a few pounds before baring their body, and with research finally confirming that eggs have a negligible effect on blood cholesterol, you can eat them every day without worry."

Eggs may be high in protein, but fortunately they are not high in calories, with only around 80 kcals per medium egg. So if you want to look svelte when you strip off this summer, you can't "beat" eggs!