Sunday, June 8, 2008

Vegetarian Bodybuilding Tips

Vegetarian Bodybuilding Tips
Today more and more people are making the switch and
cutting out meat from their diets. Many people are finding
that eating vegetarian creates a healthier body. But is it
possible to gain muscles without the extra protein that
comes from meat?

Protein is essential for muscle building and without it,
they won't grow. Luckily, there are many other sources that
you can use as a vegetarian.

It's important that the protein you are taking in is of
good quality. Protein contains amino acids of which there
are many different types, some of them can be produced by
the body but still a few are what we call essential and can
only be gained from the foods we eat. When you are eating
vegetarian it's important to make sure you eat with
variation, this ensures that you get all the amino acids
that you need.

If you are a lacto-ovo vegetarian, which means you're
eating egg and dairy products, you can increase your intake
of protein by eating more eggs and adding more milk and
cheese to your diet. Eggs have a lot of high quality
proteins with many of the essential amino acids, a great
source for muscle gain. You can make omelettes and add egg
to your salads and other meals.

If you are eating a strict vegan diet, you're main source
of protein comes from legumes, beans and grains. Beans in
general and especially soybeans have a large concentration
of high quality protein, and there are many different
usages for it. Made into tofu and tempeh you can use it in
a similar way as you are used to making meat.

Black beans are especially good for you as they are a
complete protein. You have to soak them overnight and they
take a few hours to cook so I recommend making a large
amount and then putting the extra in the freezer. Having a
black bean burrito is an excellent way to get your protein.

Broccoli is also excellent to add, it not only has a very
large protein percentage but also a lot of vitamins and
minerals that are essential for a healthy body. Variation
is the key, eat a variety of vegetables and you'll
naturally making sure that you gain all the nutritions that
your body needs for bodybuilding.

Grains are a great source of protein and often have a lot
of vitamins, usually from the B-group which is the most
difficult to find for vegans. Grains like quinoa, bulghur,
hirs and buckwheat all have a good amount of protein and
nutrition. By eating those instead of white rice and pasta,
your protein intake will naturally rise.

Also you want to make sure that you get enough energy for
the body to be able to work out and renew itself. Add extra
fat to your diet to gain extra calories and look for food
that has a lot of energy. It's also a good idea to add nuts
and seeds to your diet since they have a lot of good
quality fat in them.

If you're really aiming to gain muscles fast and
efficiently, it might also be a good idea to get a
soy-based protein powder. This adds the extra proteins you
need. Make sure you get a good quality powder with a high
concentration of the essential amino acids.

By following these guidelines you can easily gain muscles
even if you want to keep a healthy vegetarian diet.


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Jason Storm is a writer for the blog Go Muscles. Learn the
natural way to gain muscle, visit http://gomuscles.net

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