Friday, June 26, 2009

Are liquid meals good enough to build muscle?

By Jon Cardozo

One question I often hear asked about a weight gain diet is whether or not you should depend on protein supplements. I'm talking about protein powders, which are sometimes called liquid meals by bodybuilders.

You may assume that you can simply drink protein shakes and build muscle, but there are at least a couple of reasons that you should get most of your calories from whole foods.

Always keep in mind that these kinds of products were made for convenience, and they should not be used to replace the rest of your diet. You may be missing out on some much needed nutrients, including vitamins and fiber, if you concentrate your efforts solely on protein powders.

If you're serious about your workout program and want to achieve the best results possible, you'll want to give your body the best fuel available. Unfortunately, protein shakes do not represent the best of the best when it comes to choosing proper nutrition.

Another reason why you don't want to depend completely on these liquid meals is because you're going to get tired of eating the same thing over and over again. The taste is usually a bigger motivation than health for most people, and these protein shakes are going to get boring after a while!

Do yourself a favor and get most of your calories (at least 60%) from whole foods.

The truth is that most people expect these weightlifting products to make up for an inadequate diet or a lousy training regimen. It may not be as exciting as glamorous, but focusing on the basics is more important than looking for a quick fix such as muscle building supplements.

Even protein powders, which are relatively helpful supplements, are not absolutely necessary. While they're helpful when it's difficult to consume adequate calories or protein, a bunch of powder with artificial ingredients thrown in is not a substitute for a solid, healthy meal plan.

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