|
3 Reasons Why Bodybuilders Need More Fiber
Most people understand that fiber plays an important
role in the overall health and wellness of the body, but this form of
carbohydrate is actually quite beneficial to bodybuilders as well.
Fiber is found in the cell walls of plants and can
be obtained from food sources such as fruits, vegetables, oat bran,
beans, grains and psyllium. Because of its chemical structure, fiber is
indigestible to humans and remains completely intact as it travels
through the body. It is actually a carbohydrate, but acts differently
since it cannot be broken down into its basic glucose building blocks.
If fiber can't even be digested, what could possibly
make it so important to bodybuilders? Well, even though fiber is
considered a "nonessential" nutrient, it still plays an important role
in building muscle, gaining strength and maintaining your overall
health.
Fiber is most well known for its ability to induce regular bowel movements.
Why is this so important to bodybuilders?
Well, since you are trying to build as much muscle
as possible, you will probably be consuming at least one gram of
protein per pound of bodyweight each day. One of the main sources of
this protein will come from animal meat such as chicken and beef. The
problem with this is that if meat stays in the digestive tract for too
long it can produce toxins that pose long-term negative health
consequences. An adequate amount of fiber each day will ensure that
foods are moving along smoothly through your digestive system.
Fiber is also beneficial in its effect on slowing
down the rate of gastric emptying. Gastric emptying is the process
where foods are moved from the stomach to the small intestine. When you
consume foods containing fiber, they become "gelled" in your stomach
and slow down this process. The small intestine is where most nutrients
are absorbed and pumped into the bloodstream. By slowing down the
transfer of food to the small intestine your body will be able to
extract the nutrients much more efficiently. This "timed-release"
effect will also keep your body in an anabolic state for longer and
decrease the chances of muscle catabolism setting in.
Along with its digestive benefits, fiber has also
been known to regulate blood sugar levels. This will result in a more
gradual release of sugars into the bloodstream and will decrease the
chances of unnecessary insulin spikes and unwanted fat storage. This
will also allow your body to increase its natural production of this
powerful anabolic hormone without having to increase the consumption of
simple carbohydrates.
As you can see, fiber is a fairly important
carbohydrate form to incorporate into your diet. I would highly
recommend that you focus on consuming around 25-35 grams of fiber each
day for maximum benefits.
To learn the complete inside scoop on proper
muscle-building nutrition, go ahead and visit my website by clicking
the link below. You'll learn everything you need to know to structure
the most effective nutrition plan possible in order to maximize your
muscle and strength gains. You can also download my "Empowered
Nutrition Mass-Building Meal Plans" to take all of the guesswork out of
your diet...
About The Author
Once an awkward, pencil-necked "social reject", Sean
Nalewanyj is now a renowned bodybuilding expert, fitness author, and
creator of the most celebrated natural bodybuilding program online
today:
"The Muscle Gain Truth No-Fail System".
If you can spare just 24 minutes a day, then you too
can build a powerful new head-turning body that will skyrocket your
confidence, drive gorgeous women crazy, and leave your friends, family
and co-workers staring in disbelief... ALL in just a matter of months:
www.musclegaintruth.com
|