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Friday, October 9, 2009

Tips To Build Muscle...Even If You Are A Vegetarian

By Ricardo d Argence

Many people who are considering being vegetarian are worried that they won't be able to build muscle if they do so. Before we talk about whether or not you can build muscle as a vegetarian, though, let's talk about what the different types of vegetarianism are.

Vegans eschew animal products of any kind, including dairy products. Pesco vegetarians eat fish and dairy products, while lacto-ovo vegetarians eat eggs and milk but don't eat meat or fish. There are more sub categories of vegetarianism, but that will suffice for the purposes of this article.

Because vegetarians don't consume several different types of foods, such as red meat, they also have a lower risk of things like hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease and some cancers.

It can be very health inducing indeed to change to vegetarianism, and not just because of advantages to your health. There are other reasons, too, such as that the vegetarian lifestyle is less cruel to animals and better for the environment.

However, a lot of people who want to become vegetarian are worried that they aren't going to get enough protein to become very muscular. In reality, though, soy is a perfect food to do just that, given that it has more protein than beef and has all eight essential amino acids in abundance.

Soy can easily be gotten from sources like: textured soy protein, soy milk, and of course tofu. These can all be included in a variety of tasty recipes and dishes. Beans, rice, seeds, legumes, nuts and even vegetables are another great supply of amino acids which together should ensure you never get short on protein.

However, those who are vegan especially may find themselves in short supply of certain vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D, zinc, iron, calcium, and B12. However, supplements can take care of this shortfall.

If you're vegetarian but you eat dairy products, you're not going to have any shortages of B12. If you want to make sure you are meeting all of your nutritional requirements, you can try a nutritional replacement powder as part of your daily calorie consumption, too. And don't forget about great sources of vitamins and minerals like leafy green vegetables, and fruits. All of these things are going to help you build muscle as a vegetarian.

In short, there are lots of reasons as to why it's beneficial for you to become a vegetarian, and you won't have to give up your bodybuilding goals to do so. Of course, as a bodybuilder, you are going to need to plan what you eat, too, but that's true of people who eat meat as well. With these few pointers in mind, go ahead and engage in bodybuilding as a vegetarian, successfully. - 17273

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