You`ve decided to start bodybuilding but all of these new terms seem to be in a different language. Most of us experienced bodybuilders have felt the same way at one time, so don`t give up just yet. You train hard, but you don`t know anything about proper nutrition. Getting enough protein is the most important when trying to get a good body. I am going to explain the different types of protein, what protein does for your body, and problems associated with not getting enough.

When consumed, protein turns into amino acids which become the cornerstone of muscle gain. Protein also helps you achieve muscle gain while keeping fat to a minimum. You need to space out your meals five to seven times a day to keep your metabolism at its best. Eating more meals also keeps your body in an anabolic state (meaning your body is building muscle). To keep from getting board with your diet, your meals should never be from the same protein source at back-to-back meals.

Lean proteins that are low in fat should be eaten throught the day. Good protein sources to eat throughout day include egg whites, chicken breasts, tuna, and lean steak. There are many other good sources of lean protein but those examples will give you an idea of what to eat. Post workout is the best time to consume whey protein because your body absorbs it at a much faster rate than any other type of protein. Post workout is the only time of the day you should consume whey because your body absorbs it to fast to keep you adequately energized throughout the day

The obesity epidemic would be lower if people simply started eating more protein. It doesn`t matter if you weight train or not, not getting enough will cause many health problems. A loss of muscle tissue is the main problem but don`t expect to lose any fat either. Instead, fat gain will occur because of increased cortisol levels that are associated with lack of protein. Your immune system will start deteriorating, all of your body`s cells will become weak and you will be more susceptible to illness.

Protein is important and should be at the top of everyones grocery list. If you are serious about achieving your bodybuilding or fitness goals then you will do whatever it takes to achieve them. Eating five to seven meals daily is tough at first but once you get into the habit of it, everything will becone second nature. Until next time, stay hungry.

21 years old. Check out my site for all of my articles. http://www.geocities.com/bashore69/bodybuildingarticles.html

More articles at articles on database

Most of you know of how to get proper nutrition throughout the day but what do you eat before bed? Common sense suggests that a balance of complex carbs and protein is adequate at this time but I am going to tell you more than that. I am going to tell you precisely what you should be eating and what macronutrients they should be coming from.

The meal you eat before bed is just as important as any of the other meals you consume. Opinions vary from eating anywhere from two hours to fifteen minutes before you go to bed, but what you decide will depend on personal preference. It is also very important that you don`t undereat at this time because doing so will cause you to wake up in the middle of the night feeling hungry, while unconsciencely eating things that you shouldn`t be.

Okay, well I know why the last meal of the day is important, but what should I eat at this last meal? You want to consume slow digesting foods such as fibrous carbs, casein protein, and even healthy fats. Cottage Cheese, natural peanut butter, and any type of vegetable is also perfect at this time. You can even consume complex carbs, just be careful not to eat to much of them.

Of course, you should avoid fattening and sugary foods, if you`re a bodybuilder you shouldn`t be eating these foods anyways. You also need to avoid caffeinated foods and beverage since caffeine keeps you from getting a good night`s rest. There have been no scientfic studies showing that eating before bed will cause weight gain, but be smart and don`t over do it.

The hardest part is keeping your food intake low at night. It gets boring late at night and sometimes you feel that eating is the only thing to do. Don`t! Keep yourself occupied and make sure you are in control of what is going on. Read a book , hop on the forums, there are endless options, just don`t eat things you shouldn`t be. Until next time, later.

MY SITE: http://www.mightybody.com

More articles at article database

There is a lesson to be learned from our history of technological advances. Think about it. When personal computers went mainstream, we quickly abandoned our typewriters. The introduction of DVDs saw the eventual demise of VHS and virtually all forms of videotape. And perhaps most impressive, a towering wave of cell phones and mobile communication has crashed hard on a generation of payphones. So, in the spirit of nutritional advances, it should come as no surprise that todays vitamin C offerings are light years ahead of what we had a few years ago.

Of course, this isnt to imply that the Vitamin C weve been taking for all these years was in some way ineffective. Traditional Vitamin C supplements have served the industry well for over 70 years and will always have their place in human wellness. But, as with any genre of science-based health products, it would be difficult (and unfair) to ignore the potential of similar products that show such strong promise in improving the quality of our lives. Weve laid witness to this before; first in 1957 with the introduction of CoQ10, and then again in the 1970s with fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids. Fast forwarding to the dawn of this 2nd millennium, we once again find ourselves at the cusp of a revelation that will most certainly pave a path of good health for decades to come.

So without further ado, lets take a closer look at Amlathe new king of vitamin C.

The use of Amla fruit (Emblica officinalis, Phyllanthus emblica) has been a fundamental part of Indias practice of Ayurvedic Medicine for centuries, and is one of the planets most concentrated sources of natural vitamin C.1 And despite centuries of use in Ayurvedic medicine, most health-savvy consumers are still unaware of just how concentrated it truly is. So to help put things in better perspective, lets do some simple comparisons.

It has been estimated that, gram for gram, Amla fruit extracts contain as much as 35 times as much vitamin C as limes, 30 times more than oranges, and a mind-boggling 160 times more than apples. That said, 100 grams of Amla will typically yield over 500 mg of vitamin C.2 Whats even more impressive, the vitamin C found naturally occurring in Amla is non-acidic and therefore wont cause the discomfort that many have experienced when taking traditional vitamin C supplements.3

This helps illustrate two very powerful points of interest. First, Amla appears to be an extremely potent antioxidant that utilizes a natural source of vitamin C. The vitamin C in Amla bonds with tannins, thus preventing it from being destroyed by light and heat. This helps ensure better utilization within the body. Next, supplementing Amla makes it possible for people with various stomach and digestive sensitivities to reap the life-enhancing benefits of a compound they might otherwise be unable to take.4

As mentioned earlier, these high concentrations of vitamin C have made Amla a staple among Ayurvedic practitioners. And while much of this can be attributed to the extracts strong antioxidant properties, Amlas potential extends far beyond healthy cells. Research continues to show that, based on its unique profile of active constituents, Amla seems to offer a number of beneficial effects that could not be achieved via synthesized natural-form vitamin C. We now know that Amla contains notable amounts of cytokine-like substances, such as zeatin, z. nucleotide and z. riboside, amid rich concentrations of minerals and amino acids.5

Based on its cooling, antipyretic, antiseptic and rejuvenating properties, Amla has been equally revered for the role it plays in digestion. So much in fact, that it is one of the three main fruits that comprise Triphala, a digestive tonic that contains Amla, Harada and Behada fruits. Long before it piqued the interest of vitamin C researchers, the use of Amla was considered by many Ayurvedic practitioners to be highly effective in rejuvenating the digestive system.6 It has mild laxative properties that encourage normal digestion, assists in the utilization of fats and cholesterol, modulates immune function, facilitates the elimination of toxins, fortifies the liver, supports normal cholesterol balance and prevents lipid peroxidation. And because of its strong antioxidant properties, Amla can help fight free radicals within the GI tract.7,8

Regardless of how you choose to look at it, Amlas complex profile of naturally occurring compounds makes it one of the most versatile extracts available to ever hit the consumer market. Be sure to look for a formula that contains Phyllanthus emblica extracts yielding at least 50% natural ascorbic acid, by weight.

References

1. Kaviratna AC, Sharma P (translators), Caraka-Samhita, Second Revised Edition [volume 3, 1996 Indian Books Centre, Delhi

2. Arora, BB. Development of Unani Drugs from Herbal Sources 1985, P.234 Vitamin C from Amla in equivalent to Vitamin C from Synthetic sources.

3.Ghosal S, Triethi VK, and Chauhan S, Active constituents of Emblica officinalis: Part 1.-The chemistry and antioxidative effects of two new hydrolysable tannins, Emblicanin A and B, Indian Journal of Chemistry 1996; 35B: 941-948.

4. Anonymous, Case Study on Amla-related patent, Technology Information, Forecasting & Assessment Council (TIFAC) Bulletin, 2001; 7(3-4): 6-6.

5. Williamson EM (editor), Major Herbs of Ayurveda, 2002 Churchill-Livingstone, London.

6. Maharashtra Medical Journal June 1980 Volume XXV No. 35

7. International Journal of Indian Medicine July 1985 P.56.

8. Journal Research Ayurveda Sidhha 1985-6(3), P. 137-138.

More articles at database for articles