subject: BODY MUSCLES AND DIET [print this page] At present; almost every one spends serious thought about keeping fit and maintaining their body in good shape. Towards this end, they spend considerable time working out in gyms. It must be realized that doing only the traditional exercises will not be sufficient to develop a trim body.
Certain foods are important for building muscles. You must give include such food items in your diet when you try to increase the bulk of your muscles in your body. Food items that contain minerals and have high fiber content are good for building muscles.
Once you have developed a good body that is muscular and trim, you can maintain it that way for a considerable period of time by continuing to do the body building workouts on a regular basis. You must also make sure that you eat food that helps in building the muscles of your body.
It is important that you are knowledgeable about what you eat. Your diet must contain food that is most helpful in keeping your body in an excellent condition.
Food items that contain a high percentage of carbohydrates and protein are excellent for building muscles.
The amount of protein one should take when trying to build one's muscle depends on age and sex. The amount of protein a man should take is obtained by multiplying his body weight by 1.5. This will give him the amount of protein, in grams, he should eat every day.
Proteins are the units that build muscles. Examples of good sources for protein are white meat of poultry, egg albumen, and cottage cheese. You can also use protein shakes that are now readily available. You should have your meat grilled and not fried.
Carbohydrates are nutrients that are energy producers. They do not build muscles but provide them the energy they need. Eating food that is high in carbohydrate content is essential so that muscles can draw energy from them when you carry out exercise routine.
There are three types of carbohydrates, namely, simple, complex and vegetable carbohydrates. Complex carbs release their energy slowly.
Bread, brown rice, all kinds of pasta and cereals are examples of excellent sources for complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates release their energy very quickly, to meet immediate needs.
Some excellent sources of simple carbohydrates are all types of fruit juices and energy drinks. Vegetable carbohydrates are, of course, the sources for that type of carbs.
If you want to increase weight, your diet should contain fatty acids. The reason for this is that fatty acids promote weight gain.
Several functions of the body, including the production of testosterone are governed by the essential fatty acids, particularly, omega-3 fatty acids.
Good sources of fatty acids are oils like cod-liver oil, olive oil and flaxseed oil. When you are trying to build the muscles of your body, your food must contain a lot of proteins and carbohydrates.
You need water to help digest the food you eat. This is because water is necessary for all the metabolic processes that take place in your body.
