Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Muscle Building Nutrition - Fat


Muscle Building Nutrition - Fat
Athletes should aim to limit fat to 15-30% of total calories although, in practice, most strength trainers achieve an intake of around 20% in an effort to maintain low body-fat levels. Be careful not to drop your fat intake too low or you will almost certainly miss out on certain vitamins - such as vitamin E - and a vital sub­group of fats called the 'essential fatty acids'. Eating them in the right quantities could even boost your performance in the gym.
What are essential fats?
The two essential fatty acids - linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid - are vital to your health and cannot be made in the body. When you eat linoleic acid, your body converts it into a number of other fatty acids, including gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and docosa­pentanoic acid (DPA). Linoleic acid and its derivative fatty acids are called omega-6 fatty acids (there is a rigid link, or 'double bond', on the sixth carbon atom in the fatty acid chain). When you eat alpha-linolenic acid, your body converts it into eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaoic acid (DHA), and these are called omega-3 fatty acids (the rigid link occurs on the third carbon atom).
Both omega-6 (from most vegetable oils and margarines) and omega-3 (from oily fish and certain nuts and seeds) fatty acids are essential for good health. They are involved in cell membrane structure, especially in the retina of the eye, the brain and the heart, and the body also uses them to produce a group of hormone-like substances called 'eicosanoids'. These regulate many processes in the body such as the inflammatory and immune responses. Many experts believe that it is the wrong ratio of omega-3s to omega-6s that contributes to many health problems, such as heart disease, inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis and pain, even slow post-workout recovery. In other words, a high omega-6 intake and low omega-3 intake causes your body to make too many eicosanoids promoting inflammation and pain.
For optimal health and performance therefore need to consume them in the right proportions - roughly five times more omega­6s than omega-3s. That means you should consume 1 g of omega-3s for every 1-5 g of omega-6s each day. Most people consume far more omega-6s than omega-3s.
How can omega-3s help strength trainers?There is mounting evidence to suggest that a high intake of omega-3s reduces inflammation, pain and joint stiffness. Eating more omega­3s and less omega-6s could help you recover faster after a heavy workout in the gym and reduce any pain and swelling in your joints.
Omega-3s can also benefit your cardio workouts. Eating more omega-3s enhances aerobic metabolism, which means increased endurance and fat burning. Oxygen delivery to your cells is improved because omega-3s reduce blood viscosity and make red cell membranes more flexible. So, your cardio workouts will be more effective.
How can I get the right amount of omega-3s?Oily fish - such as mackerel, pilchards, trout, salmon, herring and sardines - are the richest sources of eicosapentanoic acid and docosahexaoic acid, the very long chain omega-3s. However, alpha­linolenic acid (the precursor to eicosapentanoic acid and docosahexaoic acid) is also found in other foods -like sweet potatoes, walnuts, almonds, rapeseed oil, walnut oil, soya oil, flaxseed oil, flaxseeds, chicken and beef. Alternatively, supplements and foods fortified with omega-3s (e.g. omega-3 enriched eggs, margarine and bread) can also help increase your intake. The best sources of both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are given in Table below.There is no recommended daily amount for omega-3s, although the government advises eating at least 1 portion of oily fish per week, which will provide around 2-3 g eicosapentanoic acid and docosahexaoic acid. A separate recommendation of 0.65 g eicosapentanoic acid and docosahexaoic acid/day has also been made.
The Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acid Content of Various Foods
Food
Portion
Omega-3s
Omega-6s
Omega-6 : Omega-3 ratio
Good sources of omega-3s
Rapeseed oil
1 tbsp
1.5
3.1
1 : 0.49
Cod liver oil
1 tbsp
2.7
0.9
1 : 3
Flaxseed oil
1 tbsp
7.5
1.8
1 : 4.2
Walnut oil
1 tbsp
1.4
7.5
5.3 : 1
Salmon
100 g
1.5
0.6
1 : 2.5
Herring
100 g
1.8
0.6
1 : 3
Trout
100 g
2
1.4
1 : 1.4
Omega-3 fortified egg
1
0.7
0.7
1 : 1
Typical fatty acid supplement

0.5
0.1
1 : 5
Good sources of omegs-6s
Corn oil
1 tbsp
0.1
7.9
79 : 1
Soya margarine
1 tbsp
0.1
3.5
25 : 1
Mayonnaise
1 tbsp
0.4
7.2
18 : 1
Safflower oil
1 tbsp
0.05
10.1
202 : 1
Soya oil
1 tbsp
1
7.2
7.2 : 1
Goal



5 : 1

Antioxidants


Antioxidants
Antioxidants are substances that quench free radicals (see below) and include enzymes, vitamins, minerals and plant substances called phytochemicals. The most popular antioxidant supplements include beta-carotene and other carotenoids (such as lycopene found in tomatoes), vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, Coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, conjugated linoleic acid, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), proantho­cyanidins (found in pine bark and grape seed extract), curcumin (found in turmeric), the amino acids cysteine and methionine, and catechins (found in green tea).
What are Free Radicals?
A free radical is an atom or molecule containing an unpaired electron. It is highly unstable and reactive, and capable of damaging fat-and protein-containing tissues.
Free radicals are continually produced during normal cell processes and at low levels even have a useful role : they help manufacture prostaglandins, kill bacteria and heal wounds. It's only when free radicals are present in excessive numbers that they cause problems. They can destroy cell membranes, membrane proteins, DNA( the genetic material found in every cell), enzymes, blood cholesterol and mitochondria membranes and, over a period of time, free radicals damage is thought to be development of atherosclerosis several cancers and the ageing process.
Should Athletes take Antioxidant Supplements?
The more you exercise, the more free radicals you generate. This is due partly to the 10-20­fold increase in oxygen consumption, the increase in lactic acid production and the increase in heat generation. Heavy weight training is one of the worst. It results in microtears in the muscle that generate more free radicals, and this is partly responsible for post-exercise soreness and tenderness.
The body tends to adapt - thankfully - by producing higher levels of antioxidant enzymes to deal with the additional amount of free radicals. So could supplements provide any further benefit?
Well, antioxidant supplements will not stop you producing free radicals nor will they enhance your strength and performance. However, they will bolster your body's defences against increased free radical attack, and studies have found that supplementation helps reduce the damage to muscles and other tissues caused by exercise. You also get less post-exercise discomfort, swelling and soreness.
What are the Optimal Doses of Antioxidants?
Professor Anthony Diploc from the University of London at Guys Hospital has proposed optimal intakes, which would give greater protection from disease. For betacarotene, the optimal level would be 15-25 mg, for vitamin E, 50-80 mg and for vitamin C 1O0-150 mg, all of which areconsiderably greater than current average intakes. Mel Williams, Professor at the Dept. of Exercise Science, Physical Education and Recreation at Old Dominian University, USA, advises 500-1000 mg vitamin C, 400-800 mg IU Vitamin E and 50-100 micro gram selenium.
Food or Supplements?
The best advice is to get as many antioxidants as possible from food. It is not possible to replicate what you get from food in a pill. Food contains hundreds of phytochemicals, all of which have slightly different antioxidant actions. Taking a selected few in the form of a supplement will not give you the best protection.
The Department of Health and the World Health Organisation advise a minimum of 400 g or five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Aim to consume at least 2-3 portions of fruit and 3-4 portions of vegetables - the more intensely colored the better. (The Table given below shows the healthiest fruit and vegetables, ranked by researchers at Tuft's University for their ability to soak up free radicals.)

ORAC Score
Fruit

Prunes
5770
Raisins
2830
Blueberries
2400
Blackberries
2036
Strawberries
1540
Raspberries
1220
Plums
949
Oranges
750
Red grapes
739
Cherries
670
Vegetable

Kale
1770
Spinach
1260
Brugsel sprouts
980
Broccoli
890
Beetroot
840
Red peppers
710
Onion
450
Sweetcorn
400
A number of experts have recommended optimal doses of selected antioxidants, which are considerably higher than the intakes you could hope to get from a normal diet. For example, to get 80 mg vitamin E you would need to consume 162 g (about 15 tb sp) sunflower oil (one of the richest sources of vitamin E) daily. To obtain 25 mg beta carotene you would need to eat 333 g carrots (that's six carrots) daily. Therefore, it makes sense to take a daily antioxidant supplement

Diet and Nutrition

Diet and Nutrition
Diet and Nutrition are one of, if not, the most important part of getting the body you want. You have to eat good to look good. But if you go that extra mile and eat great... you guessed it, you can look great! No matter what your goals are, 1 thing is the same. You need protein, and you don't need fat. Thats the most important rule here. Stay away from fatty foods. Cookies, chips, candy, chocolate, cake, fast food, fried food etc. Not all fat is bad for you though. There is a healthy fat. This fat can be found in fish, nuts and some oils such as flax seed oil.

Eating to lose weight
The first nutritional demand of your body is energy. Without adequate energy, your body will convert muscle protein into energy to feed your brain, nervous system and red blood cells. These particular tissues do not possess the metabolic machinery to burn fat. They only burn carbohydrate. When your intake of carbohydrate falls below these tissues demand, the body begins to convert tissue protein into carbohydrate to meet their need. The net result is a loss of muscle tissue. Yes, the scale may say you have lost "weight", but you have lost the very tissue that burns fat. Muscle tissue burns 70% of the fat in your body; so losing muscle sacrifices your ability to burn body fat. In fact, the "weight" you lose on a diet can represent up to 10 to 20% of those pounds in muscle loss.

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Eating to build muscle
First of all try to Include as much variety in your bodybuilding diet as you possibly can. It's recommended you consume five to six medium size meals during the day rather than two or three big ones. Try to Include a large amount of high quality protein in your bodybuilding diet and cut out as much animal fat as possible. Also, the lighter you cook your foods, the more nutrients will be retained. It's also key to consume lots of natural carbs found in grains, breads, fruits and veggies. Multivitamin-multimineral supplements are also very important as they contain digestive enzymes (this will aid in protein synthesis). Avoid junk food and empty calories (sugar). Try to stay away from soda and beer as they are packed with empty calories. Whatever you do don't miss meals! Missing meals puts your body in a fat-storing mode.

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Muscle Building Nutriton
Strength training and good nutrition go hand in hand. There is little point sweating it out, giving it your all in the gym, unless you support your training programme with sufficient fuel and nutrients. Strength training simply provides the stimulus for muscle growth - your diet provides the raw materials for new muscle.

This topic explains what you should eat to maximise muscle and minimise fat. It covers seven key topics - carbohydrate, protein, fat, fluid, vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and supplements - each of which addresses the issues most relevant to strength trainers to give you the straight facts about eating before, during and after training, what and how much you should drink, and which supplements are most helpful for reaching your goals.

Antioxidants
Carbohydrate
Fat
Fluid
Protein
Supplements
Vitamins and Minerals
Nutritional Guidelines to Build Your Physique!
Looking to build mass and power? Try these nutritional tips to add a kick to your gains.

Nutritional tip # 1- Consume lots of protein.
Consume at least one gram of protein per pound of bodyweight each day. For example, if you weight 150 pounds, you should be eating at least 150 grams of protein each and every day.

Nutritional tip # 2 - Use nutritional supplements to enhance your nutritional program.
Nutritional supplements are meant to enhance an already great nutritional program. If you have the right combination of nutrients and the right nutrition program, a sport supplement schedule may serve to enhance your performance.

In order for nutrition supplements to function properly, they must be taken at the proper times and in the proper amounts. I suggest you do your homework when it comes to using weight loosing supplements and make an informed decision before consuming any powder, pill, or brew.

You will also want to ensure that the nutritional supplement manufacturer is well established in the industry and not a fly by night company.


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Nutritional tip # 3 - Eat 5-6 small meals a day.
Unlike most people's string of painfully low-calorie days, which puts the body in a fat-storing mode since it has no idea when it will be fed next, eating a small meal every three hours keeps our muscles in a fat-burning mode since they're receiving a steady but not excessive supply of nutrients. This practice also helps increase our energy levels and fight the hungry feeling that often leads to cheating with fat-building, between-meal snacks. Eating only 2-3 large meals a day like most people, however, can overwhelm our bodies. Since they can only use a certain amount of food at a time, the remainder will usually be stored as fat.

Here's an example schedule.
Breakfast: eggs, whole-wheat toast, fruit etc.
Mid-morning: protein shake such as Myoplex (I eat this meal in my P.E. class)
Lunch: sandwich (meat, veggies, and whole-wheat bread) fruit or veggies etc.
Mid-afternoon: anything that's good and healthy (I eat this one after school)
Post workout: something with lots of protein- i.e. protein shake, protein bar etc.
Supper: a good meal with protein and some whole grains and veggies.
Nutritional tip # 4 - Consume lots of carbohydrates.
Consume at least 3 to 4 grams of carbohydrates per pound of bodyweight each day. Make sure that most of these carbohydrates come from comples sources such as pasta, rice, oatmeal, potatoes and yams and fibrous veggies such as broccoli and asparagus. The only time you should be feeding your body fast acting carbs is immediately after your workouts.


Nutritional tip # 5 - Keep good fats in your meal plan.
While TV tells us that eating fat makes you fat, the reality of the situation is that since the "fat-free" craze began, studies are showing that Americans continue to get fatter and fatter. While limiting fat intake is a good idea, totally eliminating it is not. Besides being necessary for healthy skin and hair, fat is involved in the production of many hormones, including testosterone. That's why it's almost impossible to build muscle mass when on an extremely low fat diet. Fat also lowers the glycemic index of many high carb foods, so we don't get that huge fat-producing insulin surge commonly associated with eating fat-free goodies by themselves. More importantly, we need a certain amount of fat to process body fat metabolism. In other words, eating too little fat makes it harder for us to burn unwanted fat.

Nutritional tip # 6 - Don't starve yourself.
Simply put, fat gains and losses are mathematical events. You're not going to look like a sleek, defined racehorse if you eat like a pig. It's important to eat enough good foods to maintain lean muscle mass, but not overindulging to the point of increasing fat storage. Since this line is an easy one to cross, I recommend writing down in a small notebook the calorie content and macronutrient breakdown (grams of protein, carbohydrates, and fat) of what you eat. This technique also helps keep me more focused on my goal.

Nutritional tip # 7 - Diet ratio.
Your diet ratio should be 50 to 55% carbohydrates, 25 to 30% protein and 15 to 20% fat.

Nutritional tip # 8 - Drink lot of water.
Drink water...lots of it! I try to drink at least 2 gallons a day during and in between my meals. Muscle is composed of 70 percent water. A high protein diet and intense exercise require more water since these are dehydrating activities. Water is needed to transport vitamins, minerals, and supplements and even foods throughout our bodies. if our water intake is too low, muscle fullness decreases and a toxic buildup of ammonia, urea, and other waste products can result. Contrary to popular belief, restricting water intake can actually lead to more water retention than providing the body with a steady supply.

Nutritional tip # 9 - Consume more calories.
When boosting your caloric intake, gradually increase the amount of calories over a period of 7 to 10 days. This way, you are using the extra calories as fuel as opposed to storing it as fat. If you find yourself stuck, gradually increase the amount of calories per day.

Nutritional tip # 10 - Eat whole grains.
No more white bread and flower. Eat whole-wheat bread and cook with whole-wheat flower. You will get more nutrients from them and they take longer to digest, so they stick with you longer.

Nutritional tip # 11 - No meals within two hours of bedtime.
To prevent unwanted fat storage, I eat my biggest meals early in the day when I'm most active. I particularly limit my carbohydrate foods in later meals. I've found eating too close to bedtime is a good way to lose definition since my body doesn't burn the same level of calories during the sleeping maintenance mode as it does during the waking hours.

Use these 11 nutritional tips to increase your size and strength.

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