Do you spend hours at your gym, lifting heavy weight, but are unable to see any sufficient muscle gains? Then here are some foods you should include in your diet to build muscles.
1. Eggs: Eggs are one of the richest sources of protein with highest biological value. It is a reference to the measure of how well a food can support the human body's protein needs. 1 large egg of about 50 grams contains approximately 6 grams of protein. This can be considered as the best protein for your muscles. Many people avoid eating yolk because of its fat and cholesterol content. However, if you want to build your muscles you need not avoid the yolk, as it provides vitamin B12, which is necessary for fat breakdown and muscle contraction. Also, fat present in yolk is healthy fat that helps in lowering the levels of bad fat from the body.
2. Oatmeal: Oatmeal is a rich source of complex carbohydrates. These types of carbohydrates slowly release energy in your body. You can have a cup of oatmeal 1-2 hours before your workout. It will give you enough energy to complete the workout. You can add some fruits and nuts to your oatmeal to increase the fiber and protein content.
3. Almonds: Almonds are a good source of alpha-tocopherol, which is a form of Vitamin E that gets readily absorbed by the body. It is important for your muscles as vitamin E protects your muscles from free radical damage. You can have some almonds with a fruit before a workout.
4. Cottage Cheese: It a good source of casein protein which is a slow digesting dairy protein. As compared to other dairy products, cottage cheese elevates the levels of amino acid and keeps them high for a longer time. This helps in building muscles.
5. Olive Oil: Olive oil is a good source of monounsaturated fats which act as anti-catabolic nutrients. Catabolism is a pathway of metabolism which leads to muscle breakdown for releasing energy. Anti-catabolic nutrients provide energy to your body and protect your muscles from breaking down.
6. Yoghurt: Yoghurt is an ideal combination of protein and carbohydrates for exercise recovery and muscle growth. It also contains live culture which helps in digesting other nutrients present in your food. You can add some sliced fruits to your yoghurt to make it high in fiber content.
7. Fish: Fish is a good source of high quality protein and omega-3 fatty acids. It can decrease muscle-protein breakdown after your workout and helps in fast recovery. But avoid having fried fish and opt for grilled or roasted fish with some sautéed vegetables with it.
You can include these foods in your diet to improve muscle growth, but to be healthy and fit you need to balance your diet in terms of protein, carbohydrates, fats and other minor and major nutrients.