Nutrition and Dieting Tips To Build Bigger Muscles

November 7 2013

Nutrition and Dieting Tips To Build Bigger Muscles

In a previous post, we talked about the three elements necessary for building muscle mass: strength training, recovery and nutrition. While the first two elements are pretty self-explanatory, nutrition is something that many people have trouble tackling. And if it’s not done right, the food you eat could hinder your muscle growth and development. For some important nutrition and dieting tips to encourage bigger muscles, keep reading.

Eat Meats That Swim or Fly

A good rule of thumb to remember when you’re planning a diet is to stick with meats that either swim or fly. This may sound a little silly, but following this rule will ensure you are eating lean, nutritious meats with a low concentration of saturated fat. Meat is the single greatest source of protein, so you’ll want to consume lots of it.

Here’s a short list of some of the top ‘swimming’ and ‘flying’ meats:

• Tuna
• Salmon
• Halibut
• Tilapia
• Grouper
• Flounder
• Chicken
• Eggs (whites and yolk are fine)
• Turkey
• Duck
• Etc.

So, does this mean you have to avoid all types of land-based meat? Absolutely not, but you should keep it to a minimum. An occasional filet mignon or pork chips is perfectly fine; however, the majority of your dietary meat should come from the list previously mentioned.

H20

I can’t stress enough the importance of staying hydrated when you’re trying to build muscle mass. The human body is comprised of nearly 70% water; it plays a role in nearly every metabolic process, from transporting nutrients to maintaining healthy cellular activity. If you aren’t doing so already, try to get into the habit of carrying around a water bottle everywhere you go.

Some people follow the eight, 8-ounce glasses of water per day rule, but this really isn’t necessary. Listen to your body and drink when you’re thirsty

Healthy Snacks

Of course, you’ll want to snack often to keep your energy levels up; thus, allowing you to work out harder at the gym. Rather than grabbing a back of high-fat, high-sodium potato chips, though, you should prepare some healthier, more nutritious snacks ahead of time. A cup of low-fat yogurt topped with granola or fresh fruit is an excellent snack idea that’s loaded with beneficial nutrients. Peanut butter and celery or apple slices is another idea.