Bodybuilding is a sweet science that involves much more than just working out and eating a bunch of calories. To develop a truly ripped and impressive physique, bodybuilders must focus equally on exercise and diet. Diet may be even more important than physical activity, as malnutrition combined with rigorous training is a sure recipe for soreness, fatigue, weight loss, or slow gains.
With that said, here are the most critical diet essentials every bodybuilder should consume regularly.
A Powerful Supplement
While a diet based on whole foods is highly recommended, it’s also vital to boost your nutrition with concentrated vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbs, and other crucial components as a bodybuilder. Supplements deliver all the essential elements a bodybuilder needs within an easily digestible, concentrated form. You can use sites like buildthemuscle.org to compare the most popular supplements and determine which one would best fit into your diet and training regimen.
Other ways to optimize your performance is using Nature’s Happiness dietary supplements that help you sleep better, reduce anxiety, and help you stay in the zone.
Beans, Nuts, and Legumes
Beans, nuts, and legumes are excellent sources of clean and efficient plant-based proteins. Plus, they’re cheap, high in calories, low in fat, soft and easy to digest, convenient to snack on throughout the day, and compatible with just about any meal. If eating beans and nuts all day doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, you could toss them in your smoothies for a quick boost in calories and protein.
Germinated Brown Rice
Germinating and slow-cooking brown rice increases gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) present within the food, which has been shown to stimulate the natural production of human growth hormone (HGH) within the body. As such, germinated brown rice (GBR) is often touted as a potent tool for weight gain and growth. Plus, combining any grain (i.e., rice, corn, wheat) with any bean or legume forms a complete protein that contains all of the amino acids needed for muscle production.
Healthy Fats and Oils
Fats are commonly vilified and blamed for a wide variety of health issues. However, consuming the right fats is essential for a bodybuilder to protect and build their joints, ligaments, and cartilage. Sufficient fat intake also helps keep energy levels stable. All fats are fine in moderation, but bodybuilders should consume some regularly while others should be consumed responsibly. It would be best if you weren’t eating greasy bacon every morning due to the high concentration of “bad” saturated fats, but avocados, fish, coconuts, olive oil, and other sources of Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids should be staples in your diet.
Don’t Forget Fruits, Vegetables, and Lean Meats
Finally, no one should have to tell you that fruits and vegetables deserve a place in every healthy diet. Vitamins and antioxidants are highly underrated nutrients used by the body to enhance protein synthesis – not to mention the trace minerals plant-based foods provide. Additionally, bodybuilders can almost always benefit from the moderate consumption of lean meats like chicken, turkey, and fish.
