Monday, January 14, 2008

Elements Of A Proper Bodybuilding Diet

One of the most effective weapons you can have if you want to achieve maximum potential in bodybuilding is your diet. In planning your bodybuilding diet it is important insure that it provides the nutrients you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle as well as supplying the body with the energy needed to complete your desired exercise program.

Protein is at the head of the list required in a good bodybuilding diet. It is critical not only for building muscle but also for losing fat and for contributing to the overall health of our tissues and organs. Your diet should include 1 gram of protein for each pound of your body weight. Active bodybuilders should increase that amount to a gram and a half per day. Meat, fish, and milk are all good sources of protein.

A good diet will also include large quantities of carbohydrates which are a major source of the fuel that our body uses for activity. Complex carbohydrates should be included in your diet through starches and! fiber. Complex carbs include pasta, whole grain rice, and whole grain breads as well as potatoes.

Don't leave out the fats! They are an important part of a good bodybuilding diet. We need fats to function correctly and efficiently. They are an energy source for the body and regulate most of our bodily processes.

The key here is to include good fats and try your best to minimize the bad fats. By "good fats", we are talking about unsaturated ones found in olive oil or flaxseed oil. A good rule to look for is that unsaturated fats are ones that remain liquid at room temperature. Saturated fats that solidify at room temperature tend to clog your arteries and lead to health problems. They should be avoided as much as possible. Animal lard and butter are examples of saturated fats.

Fiber is another key ingredient in a good diet. Fiber helps your body flush out impurities on a regular basis and helps contribute to weight loss. Good sources of fiber include whole! grains as well as nuts and seeds.

It would be hard to i! nclude t oo many vegetables in your diet. They contain essential vitamins and nutrients that your body needs to operate efficiently. Fruits may be a good source of fibre and certain nutrients but should be consumed in moderation. Some fruits have a tendency to cause water retention and contribute a larger amount of sugars than you would need.

An effective bodybuilding diet is one that is balanced and nutritious with the majority of your protein and carbohydrates consumed in the morning. Rather than eating the traditional three large meals per day, eat five or six small meals daily to spread the benefits throughout your active day. Remember, a proper diet is just as important to effective bodybuilding as is the correct program.

Gerry Marsh is a successful author and publisher of several websites including Muscle-Building-Reviews which includes resources for planning your proper bodybuilding diet

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerry_Marsh


Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Elements-Of-A-Proper-Bodybuilding-Diet&id=927930
Weight Loss Supplements

No comments: