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10 FOODS TO GAIN MUSCLE MASS

Writer's picture: BUILDAGORILLABUILDAGORILLA

Updated: Jun 8, 2020

What if I told you that you could retain or even gain more muscle mass and strength with less training?


The secret lies in your nutrition.

Many foods can help you gain lean muscle. Most of them are filled with protein and allow your muscles to recover and grow after you have been active.

However, it is also important to combine carbohydrates and fats to provide fuel for exercise and physical activity.

What’s more, many of the foods on this list contain the vitamins and minerals your body needs to operate at its best.


In no particular order, here are 10 items to fill your shopping basket with.



1 - LEAN BEEF

This should be a staple of your diet if you want to gain muscle mass.

Lean beef is loaded with all sorts of things conducive to muscle growth,

including iron, zinc, and B-vitamins.

More importantly, it provides your body with high-quality protein (not all proteins are equal), and a high level of amino acid that works with insulin to promote muscle growth.

An interesting find, for those of you who are trying to lose weight – a 85g serving of lean beef provides roughly the same amount of protein as 1.5 cups of beans but just half the calories.


2 - SKINLESS CHICKEN

Like beef, chicken is an excellent source of high-quality protein, which is important for muscle maintenance and repair, bone health, and weight maintenance.

And of course, there are so many ways you can cook and prepare chicken.


They are easily accessible in stores and offer many serving combinations.


3 - COTTAGE CHEESE

Not many people know this, but cottage cheese is almost entirely pure casein protein.

Casein is a slow-digesting protein, which means it is perfect for muscle maintenance throughout the day.


This is useful especially for people who have no choice but to go long periods without eating, like an active lifestyle. Cottage cheese is also an excellent source of vitamin B12, calcium, and other important nutrients.


4 - EGGS

Eggs contain high-quality protein, nine essential amino acids, choline, the right kind of fat, and vitamin D.

They provide the most value for your money. And eggs are not harmful to your health, as numerous studies have already shown.

Proteins are made up of amino acids, and eggs contain large amounts of the amino acid leucine, which is particularly important for muscle gain.

Also, B vitamins found in them are critically important for a variety of processes in your body, including energy production


5 - WHEY PROTEIN

There is a reason why whey protein supplements are the most popular supplement in the fitness industry: they provide a fast and convenient source of protein at an affordable price.

Bodybuilders would normally use them when they wake up, right after their workout, and mixed with some of their meals.

For the rest of us, a scoop in our shakers right after our workouts can be very effective for muscle mass gains. It’s important that you still get high-quality protein from whole foods, and use whey protein as a boost in calories.


6 - FISH [TUNA OR SALMON]

Fish are high in protein, low in fat, and rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Each (85-gram) serving of salmon contains about 17 grams of protein, almost 2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids and several important B vitamins.

The omega-3s are essential because they aid in fat loss and ensure the proper function of your body processes, such as your metabolism.



7 - OATMEAL

Oatmeal is a great source of carbohydrates due to both its low glycemic index (GI) value and the fact it is minimally processed.

The benefits of a low-GI diet include: suppress short-term appetite & reduce subsequent food intake compared with high-GI meals

  • Better quality carbs and protein and more fiber

  • Increased satiety

  • Decreased hunger

  • Fat loss

In short, low-GI foods can enhance fat loss for those looking to lose weight, and provide a constant source of carbs for muscle preservation.


8 - WHOLE GRAINS

Whole grains digest more efficiently and provide more nutrients than refined grains.

This promotes sustained energy levels and overall health.

In particular, brown rice can help boost your growth hormone levels, which are critical for encouraging lean muscle growth, fat loss, and strength gains.



9 - FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Fruits and vegetables are a rich source of antioxidants, which are essential for the healthy functioning of your immune system.


Your body requires the fiber these fruits and vegetables provide to aid in proper digestion and nutrient uptake.

They also provide tons of other nutrients, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. Finally.



10 - HEALTHY FATS

I know the thought of consuming fat makes some of you shiver, but good fats are essential for muscle growth.

In fact, they play an essential role in hormone production

(Testosterone and growth hormones)


Which helps drive muscle growth and strength gains.

In addition, fats are needed for many important maintenance functions.


Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are good fats. You can find them in salmon, other fishes, nuts, leafy veggies, oils such as flaxseed, avocados, and seeds.

They are also all rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.



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