Nutritional planning involves balancing macronutrients, understanding calorie formulas, and identifying the functional properties of whole foods to manage weight and chronic conditions effectively.
Guidelines on protein intake are often given based on a person's total body weight. A more accurate way to gauge the amount of protein you need, however, might be to base it on your lean mass weight. Lean body mass is everything in your body except fat, including muscle, skin, bones, blood and organs.
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Energy drinks are usually used for one of two purposes: as a pick-me-up when you're feeling a little tired or lethargic and as a sports performance boost before a workout or competition. You might think you're being good by drinking energy drinks, but they could actually be the cause of your weight gain.
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Hang around bodybuilders long enough and you'll hear all sorts of different advice on what dieting methods are optimal. One aspect that seems to split the training community down the middle is eating before bed.
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When talking about building muscle, many people place all their focus on protein. This results in a diet full of chicken, beef, fish and eggs. While protein does play a vital role in muscle recovery and growth, carbs are crucial too.
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If you want to improve your running performance, you need to train to improve your fitness and stamina and gradually increase your mileage. However, the factor which many people overlook when training for running is nutrition.
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Two of the major sources of calories in the American diet are starch and sugar. Starches in the form of bread, pizza and pasta rank second, fifth and seventh on the list of the top 10 ways that Americans consume calories, according to registered dietitian Suzanne Boos.
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Meat gets a bad rap: Eating too much is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. But according to the Harvard School of Public Health, this depends largely on the types of meat you choose, and some are far healthier than others. Meat serves as a good source of protein.
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The calorie content of your diet is the most important factor as to whether you lose, gain or maintain weight. An excess of calories results in weight gain; a deficit leads to a loss, while balancing your calories causes you to maintain weight.
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Sweet potatoes feature in many a bodybuilder's daily diet. Alongside rice, potatoes, oats and pasta, sweet potatoes are a top source of carbohydrate, meaning they're a good source of energy for anyone hitting it hard in the gym.
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When picking a protein supplement, you have plenty on the market from which to choose. The supplement you pick depends on your goals, budget, food allergies or whether you have an intolerance, as well as your dietary preferences.
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Eating breakfast helps you perform better mentally and could aid weight loss. Many people, however, aren't hungry first thing in the morning or find it difficult to make time to sit down and eat a meal. But you can get all the benefits of breakfast with a drink instead of feeling like you're forcing down solid food.
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A ketogenic diet is one which is high in fat, contains a moderate amount of protein and is very low in carbohydrates. When on a ketogenic diet, your body goes into ketosis and switches to burning fat for fuel, rather than carbohydrate.
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Including sources of lean protein in your diet is important when you're trying to lose weight, since protein helps to preserve muscle mass and keeps you feeling full.
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Metabolism is a general term that relates to the chemical reactions that take place within your body, and it is your diet that generally governs how your metabolism functions. Because everyone's genetics are different, peoples' metabolisms also vary.
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When following a low-carb diet, finding meals that are quick to prepare and require no cooking may initially seem like a struggle. A no- or very low-carb diet doesn't have to mean only eating foods with zero carbohydrates, though.
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When picking a protein powder, you may have looked at whey, casein or even vegetarian protein supplements, like soy or hemp. One that is often overlooked, however, is egg-white protein powder.
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The saying "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" may not be entirely true, but breakfast is certainly important when it comes to building muscle.
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Whether it's to help you get going first thing in the morning, a pick-me-up during midafternoon or an energy booster before your gym session, a cup of steaming java easily becomes part of your daily routine.
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Casein is a type of protein found in dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, chocolate, ice cream and some processed foods. You can get casein protein in supplement form too, as it's often marketed as an alternative to another dairy-based protein -- whey protein.
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While the average woman might base her eating plan on trying to lose weight, if you compete in bodybuilding or figure competition, your diet focus will often be on gaining weight. You don't want to gain fat, though -- rather, you want to increase lean muscle mass while still retaining a feminine shape.
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