The 8 Foods That Build Muscle and Maximize Your Body-Building Efforts

By Michael JJ   

Once you have committed to a health and fitness regimen you need to know the best foods to include in your diet. For those who just want to lose a few pounds the answer is simple enough, you can reach your goal by eating healthy foods, eliminating most sugars and fats and reducing your daily calorie count.

If you want to build bulk and develop stronger muscles for your body then you will have to target eight foods that offer your body some other factors besides just some reduced calories. It is going to be easy to add lean muscle to your frame once you understand why these 8 select foods are so important.

Essential 8 Foods for Maximizing Muscular Development

• Eggs
• Legumes
• Nuts
• Kale
• Spinach
• Fish Oil
• Seafood
• Bran Brown Rice Quinoa

Power Up with Protein for Maximum Muscles

Protein is one of the most important "building blocks" necessary for the development of powerful body muscles. You should choose foods that contain large amounts of protein to help you acquire larger muscle mass.

These include foods such as eggs and legumes.

The protein in an egg is divided between the yolk and the egg white. Most serious body builders will eat all of an egg, while those who need to lose a few pounds will concentrate on eating just the egg white.

Nuts are another important source of protein, vitamins and minerals. If you want to build body muscle naturally then add peanut butter, almonds, walnuts, peanuts, pecans and pistachio nuts to your diet.

*You can also include healthy lean meat choices such as turkey, beef, chicken and pork. These are the kinds of foods that will all give your body the protein that it needs to create stronger muscles. One interesting point to remember is that your body eliminates excess protein instead of storing it for future use.

Leafy Greens

Eat large amounts of leafy green veggies such as kale and spinach. These vegetables will contribute iron, essential vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. For healthy, strong muscle tissue you should include several servings of these leafy greens in your daily diet.

Fish Oil - Fresh Seafood

Fish oil, seafood and some choice fresh water fish can help you boost your protein intake. You will also give you body a supply of important Omega3-fatty acids that promote a stronger cardiovascular system. Look for wild salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel, shrimp and "oily fish" when you are developing a muscle-building dietary plan.

Whole Grains Offer a Healthy Explosion of Work-out Energy

You should also be adding whole grain food products to your diet. Bran, brown rice and quinoa can provide you with sources of long-lasting energy without overloading your system with sugars, starches and unnecessary carbohydrates.

Balance your Meals with other Healthy Food Choices

Your body will still need a regular supply of carbohydrates, healthy fats, fruits and veggies. While these do not contribute directly to the building of muscle tissue these food groups will still contribute essential elements that your body requires. All of these components are necessary to meet the nutritional demands of a rigorous muscle-building regimen.

When you want to eat foods to build muscle tissue do not overlook the nutritional value of tomatoes, potatoes, corn and beans. These are all foods that contain little fat, few calories and still deliver a potent punch of healthy vitamins and minerals that will help you develop larger, stronger muscles.

Olive oil, butter, cheese and yogurt should also be considered for inclusion in your muscle-building diet. These are food items that promote better health and vitality. You can also use these food choices to provide your body with some much needed energy before and after those weight-lifting routines.

Summary

Once you have determined which are your favorite foods that build muscle you can structure healthy meals each day of the week. Then you will be able to get the most out of those amazing work-outs and impress others with your rapid muscle development.