Bodybuilding Nutrition For Beginners
Everyone knows that bodybuilding requires an intense training routine. What some people don't realize, however, is that training is only half of the equation if you want to be successful. Just as important as the hours spent weight training is bodybuilding nutrition. The following is some information about various types of foods and how they affect your body from a bodybuilding point of view.
Types Of Foods
Almost anything you eat can be put into one of three categories. They are proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, and they all affect your body in different ways. This information is important for anyone who wants to be healthy, but for bodybuilders, it means the difference between success and failure.
When it comes to bodybuilding nutrition, perhaps there is no foods as important as those that are high in protein. Basically, without protein, it is impossible to build muscle mass. This is the nutrient that is responsible for building and maintaining muscle. Muscles will actually deteriorate without the proper amounts of protein. If your body isn't getting enough energy from other sources, it will use protein for that as well. A general guideline for protein intake, as far as bodybuilding is concerned, is two grams per pound of body weight each day. Protein can be found in all forms of meat. Beef, poultry, and fish are all good sources of protein. High concentrations of protein can also be found in various nuts.
Carbohydrates are also an important part of bodybuilding nutrition. This is where the body and the brain get most of their energy from. For bodybuilding, it's recommended that you load up on foods that are high in carbohydrates before you workout. This will give you the energy needed for the intense workouts that bodybuilding requires. Two to three grams of carbohydrates per pound of body fat per day are recommended. Excess amounts of carbohydrates that are not burned up for energy will end up being stored as fat. This is the reason for so many people going on low-carb diets. The tricky part about carbohydrates is that some types will burn off faster than others. This is very important to know when preparing a bodybuilding diet. Slow burning carbs are recommended for training purposes because the levels in your body are easier to control. Foods that contain these types of carbohydrates include oatmeal, whole grain breads, grains, potatoes, vegetables, pasta and rice.
Fats are another important part of bodybuilding nutrition. Fats can be separated into healthy fats and unhealthy fats. Knowing the difference between good fats and bad fats is very important, especially when training for bodybuilding. Healthy fats include foods such as fish oil, nuts, olive oil, flaxseed oil, and essential fatty acids.
Obviously if you're going to get into bodybuilding, you're going to need to much more about bodybuilding nutrition. This should, however, give you a good starting point to continue your research and get you on the road to success.
