We’ve all been there before. Searching through dozens of magazines, web sites and consulting fitness experts to know what the best foods are to lose fat and gain muscle.
With all of the misinformation out there, I can see why so many get confused and don’t know what is best to eat. I remember these days clearly. It wasn’t until I consulted and got advice from one of the top bodybuilders in the world that I was able to debunk the myth of what foods I should eat to build lean muscle and which ones to avoid.
So what I decided to do is write a list of 5 foods that you might not know can help you on your life long quest to build muscle and burn fat. Let’s jump right in!
#1: Oatmeal
I remember when I first learned about oatmeal. It was awesome. I mean it tastes great and adds some good complex carbs to your diet. This was key when I was competing in my show. I needed the carbs early in the morning for energy.
I would eat 1 cup of oatmeal daily with a protein shake for breakfast. I did try some of the instant oatmeal that came pre-made but I felt I got the best results from buying in bulk.
My suggestion is to eat 1 cup (pre-cooked) of oatmeal with a protein shake when you wake up.
#2: Asparagus
I hated veggies growing up. They didn’t taste that great and never seemed to fill me up. However, now that I started eating asparagus, my views have changed. You see, asparagus is considered a negative calorie food which means your body uses a lot of energy to process the food, almost as much as the food itself contains.
So it’s a great way to eat and not gain any body fat.
My suggestion is to eat 7-8 sticks of asparagus for dinner as you don’t want to consume a lot of calories towards the evening because those calories become harder to burn off as you aren’t as active.
#3: Apples
I am sure you’ve heard the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Well, in modern society we have a lot of pesticides being sprayed on our fruits and veggies. For this reason, I suggest you buy organic apples. They provide you with the energy you need throughout the day.
A lot of experts may argue and say that apples are loaded with sugar and aren’t the best choice to lose fat and build muscle. I want you to know that apples help alkalize our bodies.
Alkalizing your body is important because it helps to fight disease by strengthening our immune system. When I was competing I would have an apple mid-morning to give me a spark of energy. I knew I would burn off whatever calories it contained because I still did my workout.
By alkalizing your body, you give it the ability to produce more muscle and have a healthier metabolism to burn fat.
My suggestion is to eat 1 organic apple a day around mid-morning.
#4: Grass Fed Beef
We all know that beef contains protein to help build muscle and lose fat. However, some of the best meat is cows that have been fed by grass. Typically, they are one the healthiest types of meats.
Sure it may cost a few dollars more but the benefits outweigh the costs.
I typically will eat grass fed beef 3-4 times a week when I am in training for a competition or want to lose weight.
My suggestion is to eat 6-8 ounces of grass fed beef for dinner as it will help keep you full throughout the night and help you fight the late night cravings.
#5: Cage Free Chicken
We all know how chicken’s a great source of protein for losing fat and building muscle is. However, when talking about what the best types of chicken are, I felt it was important to mention cage free.
You see, a lot of the chicken we buy at stores have been given antibiotics and were caged on the farms.
Based on all my research and the types of food I enjoy the best, I feel that when a chicken is free to run around and not caged up, it gives you the best health benefits. I could go on and on about the science to back this up but in a nutshell, if you have the opportunity to buy cage free chicken, I highly suggest you do!
My suggestion is to eat 6-8 ounces of cage free chicken that has been grilled. You can eat this at lunch or dinner.
Final Words
Now that you know what these 5 foods are to build muscle and lose body fat, it’s time to take action. Make sure you go to your local grocery store or farmers market to get these added to your diet ASAP.
As the saying goes, abs are built in the kitchen. You are what you eat so it is time to give your body the fuel it needs to take your results to the next level.
Author Bio
Anthony Alayon is a best-selling fitness author who has written for some of the most popular fitness media channels including Natural Muscle Magazine, Bodybuilding.about.com (New York Times Co.), Bliss Magazine, Bodybuilding.com, Labrada.com and many more.
