Muscle mass isn’t just a concern for bodybuilders. In fact, maintaining a healthy muscle mass is one of many ways we can stay healthy and improve our overall well-being, especially as we age. And, along with a balanced regimen of exercise and strength training, our diet is a critical factor for building and maintaining strong muscles.
Protein, in particular, plays a key role in supporting muscle growth. This collection of amino acids makes up a large portion of our muscle and organ tissues. It’s an essential part of your diet, but that doesn’t mean you have to down daily protein shakes to get enough. Although that’s certainly one way to boost your protein intake, you can actually find it in many delicious whole food sources.
With a little effort, it’s easy to add plenty of foods with high protein and other muscle-building nutrients to your diet. In this article, we’ll look at how various foods help you build muscle mass — and the best things to eat if you’re trying to boost your strength.
Although protein is essential for muscle building, it’s not the only important food component in the process. According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine, a good muscle-building diet must also include plenty of carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. A balanced diet that features all these will provide the necessary ingredients to help your muscles repair and rebuild after a workout.
