Although the answer to the question “which foods are good?” might be plain to some it can often leave others confused. A lot of it has to do with what the media portrays as “good food.” With so many low fat foods out now and other “healthy choices” many can often be deceived into believing certain foods are good. It can also depend on what we were told when we were growing up.

I will now run you through a quick checklist you can use before you decide to put something into your mouth.

Natural Is Best

It is best to eat foods in their most natural state. Try and stay away from processed foods which often contain excess amounts of sugar and sodium. Over a period of time these foods can cripple your efforts to feel and look healthy. It is not only how much you eat but what you eat that will be best for your long term health. So whether your food choices consist of protein, carbohydrates or fats try and pick the best ones.

A quick hint is that the more something is packaged or processed the worse off you probably are eating it. Especially foods that look like they just came off a production line in a factory.

Best Sources Of Protein

The best sources to acquire protein in your diet include fish, chicken, turkey, soy and lean beef. You may also consume eggs but not in excess due to cholesterol. Protein supplements are also great in the form of protein shakes. Whey protein is the best protein you can get when choosing a protein supplement. It is wise not to consume too much animal products in your diet because of disease, hormones, antibiotics, saturated fats, and cholesterol.

That is why I didn’t include things like pork or lobster. Sometimes the negative things outweigh the positive things.

Best Sources Of Carbohydrates

Great carbohydrate sources are hot and cold cereals, rice, whole wheat bread, pasta, potatoes, muffins and vegetables. Contrary to popular belief bread and potatoes are not fattening, it is what people put on them that is fattening.

Things such as sour cream and butter add a tremendous amount of fat and calories to your diet. A clean, steady supply of carbohydrates throughout the day will ensure that your blood sugar remains stable giving you extra energy and clarity of thought.

What About Fat?

Most people don’t have to worry about fat because we get enough fat already in our daily diet. It is best just to avoid the bad fats and eat mostly good fats. Good fat sources include peanut butter and peanuts, almonds, walnuts, safflower oil, flaxseed oil, and olive oil. And although nuts are good, try not to eat too many as they are very high in calories. The calories can skyrocket before you know it if you are always eating nuts.

Beware Of Chemicals

It is also important to stay away from processed foods that contain harmful chemicals such as sodium nitrate. Sodium nitrate helps to keep the colour in meat and also acts as a preservative. It is found in meats such as hot dogs, bologna, ham, bacon, salami and pepperoni.

Meats that are fresh or canned such as tuna do not often contain this harmful chemical. Sodium nitrate has often been linked to cancer and it is best to stay away from it. It can always be spotted on the food label if you are unsure.

If you start making better food choices using the foods listed above it will help to contribute to a faster metabolism. Combined with a sound exercise program you can expect to double your results. Just take your time and think before you act!

od that helps build muscle will ensure that you are not wasting all that hard work you are doing in the gym.

Working your muscles utilizes considerable energy. And the only way to replace that energy is with food! So what happens if you fail to eat the right type of food to build muscle mass? It will take longer to build muscle, and it may even prevent effect muscle building altogether once you reach a certain point.

A diet that is low in fat goes without saying with any serious bodybuilder. Even if you do not carry extra flab or fat, it is important to keep it that way. And if you do have some fat you want to get rid of, eating foods that build muscle in the form of low fat food is important. But what about protein? Is it important or not? You bet it is. Protein provides the building blocks to build that muscle. What types of protein are best? Chicken, eggs, steak (with the fat cut off), fish, cheese (especially cottage cheese), and nuts are all great sources of protein.

Finding out how much protein to eat when you are interested in building muscle fast is actually not difficult. First, you will need to find out your lean body mass weight in kilos, and then you simply multiply that figure by 2.75 to determine your daily protein requirement. Calculating your lean body mass uses some complex formulae, so ask a professional at the gym if you do not already have this figure.

Carbohydrates, in moderation, are also essential when finding foods that build muscle. Do not eat too much, though, unless you choose high fiber carbohydrates (which are the healthiest ones anyway), and then you can indulge in much larger amounts. Good high fiber carbs include rice, potatoes (yes, potatoes ? just do not add butter!), oatmeal and bananas.

Reducing fat in your diet is of course necessary to build bigger muscle on a body that appears lean and has a low body fat ratio. If you are focussing on what foods build muscle mass, you also need to bear in mind that it pays to reduce fat as well. Although proteins are essential (as we talked about earlier), it is really important to select proteins that are low in fat, or that you can cut the fat off. So eat your chicken without the skin, and go for lean steaks rather than more fatty cuts of meat. Opting for cottage cheese or other reduced fat cheeses, and low fat milk also helps reduce your fat intake.

You may argue that drinking has no effect on what to eat to build muscle. But you would be wrong. Hydration is critical to general health and wellbeing. Even more so when you are working to build muscle mass.

Two litres of water a day is what most experts recommend to maintain optimal health. To drink that amount, you need to drink up to 12 glasses of water a day, which is quite a lot. So start early in the day, and space your water consumption out throughout the day.

Foods that build muscle are great, and an essential component of your bodybuilding program. But do not be lulled into a false sense of security and think you can slow down on your workouts. Both bodybuilding exercises and bodybuilding diets are required to get a body to die for as quickly as you possibly can. Even if you are working on improving your physique slowly, you should combine a bodybuilding diet with bodybuilding workouts for best results.

our muscles utilizes considerable energy. And the only way to replace that energy is with food! So what happens if you fail to eat the right type of food to build muscle mass? It will take longer to build muscle, and it may even prevent effect muscle building altogether once you reach a certain point.

A diet that is low in fat goes without saying with any serious bodybuilder. Even if you do not carry extra flab or fat, it is important to keep it that way. And if you do have some fat you want to get rid of, eating foods that build muscle in the form of low fat food is important. But what about protein? Is it important or not? You bet it is. Protein provides the building blocks to build that muscle. What types of protein are best? Chicken, eggs, steak (with the fat cut off), fish, cheese (especially cottage cheese), and nuts are all great sources of protein.

Figuring out how much protein you should be eating can be tricky. Too much protein is bad for your health, and puts a strain on your system. But you need to eat a lot of protein and not much else for that to happen. Ask at your gym as to your daily protein requirement. It depends on your weight, and on your lean mass weight (basically the weight of all your bones and organs, minus all body fat).

Foods that build muscle include carbohydrates. Many uninformed people believe that all carbs should be eliminated in order to obtain a fit, lean body. Nothing could be further from the truth. So long as the carbohydrates you ingest include plenty of fibre, carbs will contribute to building muscle mass ? not body fat. Great carbohydrate based foods include rice, oatmeal, bananas and other types of fruit such as apples and pears.

Reducing fat in your diet is also important when considering what foods build muscle mass. I said earlier that protein is essential for the best muscle building nutrition. The problem is that many protein sources are also high in fat. The key, therefore, is to eating plenty of proteins that are low in fat. That way you get the benefit of the protein, and you reduce your fat intake at the same time. So cut all the fat off your meat, and the skin off your chicken, and drink low fat milk instead of the full fat variety.

Drinking sufficient water with your meals, between meals, and while you are working out is also very important. Without sufficient water you will dehydrate, and you will be tired and lacking in energy, which gives no assistance at all to building your muscle with the right type of food.

Two litres of water a day is what most experts recommend to maintain optimal health. To drink that amount, you need to drink up to 12 glasses of water a day, which is quite a lot. So start early in the day, and space your water consumption out throughout the day.

Regular bodybuilding workouts are also essential to maximise the effects of good bodybuilding diets. It is all very well knowing what to eat to build muscle, but if you do not combine this great new diet by building muscle mass with weight lifting exercises or other bodybuilding routines, you will not be able to build muscle fast. So do both ? eat foods that build muscle, and undertake bodybuilding workouts, and you will end up with a body you will be proud of.