Big Questions About Muscle Food

Here are the answers to the questions most commonly asked about muscle building.

Q:  Will vitamin and mineral drinks help me bulk up?

A:  To answer this yourself, take a glance at the calorie content of your vitamin drink. Chances are you never knew how energy rich water could be. Plain water has no calories, which means you’re actually drinking flavoured water. Yes, you’ll get some vitamins, but you’ll also swig more kilos onto your frame. Some vitamin drinks contain as many calories as a soft drink and are sweetened with sugar or aspartame. This makes them nothing but glorified soft drinks and puts you in danger of being duped out of your water habit. In fact, Coca-Cola filed a lawsuit against Vitamin Water over the claims that Vitamin Water is good for you. If you’re looking for vitamins, you’re better off taking a multivitamin and sticking with plain water, especially if you’re trying to lose weight. If you’re trying to bulk up, drink plenty of plain water and have the odd vitamin drink when you’re away from your kitchen.

Q:  Are organic foods really worth the ex- tra coin if I’m trying to build muscle?
A:  That depends who you believe: the hippies or the suits. A study by the suits at Stan-ford University (Smith-Spangler et al., 2012) found that no nutritional difference exists between organic and convention-ally produced food. The levels of protein, fats and carbs were the same between
foods; however, the study didn’t measure the taste of the foods. Price is a big factor because eating healthy is more expensive than eating junk food. A good ploy is to always buy seasonal, locally produced grub because fresh food is the best for you. Both genetically modified (GM) and organic food from abroad have to travel, which depletes their nutrients. If you can’t be bothered to get to a market, visit online market sites and be a suit-wearing hippie who gets his food delivered to his door.

Q:  If I’m trying to bulk and be healthy, should I choose soy over diary?

A:  First up, milk is for babies. You’re not a baby, are you? Soy can be useful in the odd bowl of cereal. For people who are lactose intolerant, calcium-fortified soy milk is an alternative source of protein and calcium. However, the calcium in milk is absorbed better than that in soy milk, and milk has vitamin D, which is necessary for your bones. Low-fat milk has been l
inked to healthy blood pres-sure, colon and prostate health and even fat loss. The proponents of soy say that it can prevent prostate cancer and lower the risk of heart disease. However, it’s often recommended to menopausal women. As a red-blooded male, you should probably avoid anything that helps your mom bal-ance her hormones.

Q:  What should I do if I’m starving and  not near any eateries that serve healthy food?
A:  If you’re in a restaurant, there’s not a chef in the world who won’t make a steak with some blanched veggies. All you have to do is ask. That’s a pretty healthy option for anyone looking to lose weight or gain muscle. But if you’re dead set on gaining muscle even if it means adding a little
fat, eat whatever you like. You’re better off filling the gap with something high in protein such as a kebab or a burger than anything sugary or sweet. There’s nothing worse for your muscle-building ambitions than a grumbling stomach.

Q:  Is fresh or dried pasta better for building muscle?
A:  Nutritionally, no difference exists between the two. The fresh variety has more water to start with, but both types are the same once cooked. Most blokes generally eat too many carbs and not enough protein, so if you want to be ripped start by cutting these out at night.

Q:  Is the hype about omega-3 fatty acids all it’s cracked up to be?
A:  In a word, yes. Omega-3 fatty acids have been proven to—deep breath—boost memory, improve aerobic capacity, reduce chances of a heart attack, beat inflamma-tion, decrease joint pain, help reduce body fat and bolster muscle size. Try saying that fast. Look for a supplement with at least 1,000 milligrams of docosahexaenoic acid, the stuff that gives this fatty acid its potency, and drop two or three doses a day. If you have problems with aftertaste, stash the tablets in the freezer to put an end to fish burps. If better health, a longer life and abs that show are on your agenda, be sure to get fishy every day.

Q:  Is fresh or dried pasta better for building muscle?
A:  Nutritionally, no difference exists between the two. The fresh variety has more water to start with, but both types are the same once cooked. Most blokes generally eat too many carbs and not enough protein, so if you want to be ripped start by cutting these out at night.

Q:  Is the batter on fish really that bad?
A:  Batter is usually made from cheap, GM ingredients such as battery hen eggs and Eating Right
27 white flour. These ingredients can over-rule the goodness in fish once it’s deep fried. But if takeaway is on the menu, fish is the best option because it is still a good source of healthy protein. Ask for it grilled and you should have no problems

Q:  What’s the healthiest kind of concentrated fruit juice: with pulp or with-out?
A:  Juice concentrate is made when water is removed from fresh juice so that the juice can be transported easily. After transpor-tation, water is added to the concentrate and—presto—you can drink it as fruit juice. The flavour of concentrated juice is approximate to that of the fresh kind
but the nutritional content is the same. The pulp is rich in flavonoids, which are antioxidants that work in the same way as vitamin C. Pulp also contains fibre, which aids digestion and weight loss. Washing down your creatine with concentrated juice helps the creatine absorb into your muscles faster.

Now that you know how to build muscle with food, the next step is to learn how to use food to lose fat. The final section in this chapter teaches you how to get leaner in the fastest and healthiest way possible, without even having to sweat.