Most of the people are under the impression that a combination of cardio, strength and training are imperative for a well-toned physique. But what people fail to understand is that a nutritious meal would have the same amount of impact on your body as that of a workout.
When working towards better muscle tone, it’s very important to have the right nutrients intake in your diet. According to femalefirst.co.uk, if a person doesn’t give his or her body the right nutrients then no matter how much they workout, their body would not respond to the exercises as it would have when the body is properly nourished.
There are different types of foods that can help you attain the optimal results. These include Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Protein and calcium. Vitamin C which is responsible for the health of the blood vessels that support the muscles in humans, requires oxygen and nutrients. Foods high in Vitamin C include bell peppers, kiwi fruit, dark leafy greens, oranges and strawberries.The more Vitamin C your body has, the more effective your muscles will work and it will also increase your stamina. This shall help them grow stronger and increase muscle tone.
Calcium is vital to strong muscles and bones. Cheese, milk, broccoli and almonds are some of the foods that contain high amount of Calcium. When exercising your muscles need to contract and calcium helps them to grow. However, without calcium, the human body won’t be able to withstand the muscle contraction. This means that they wouldn’t be able to perform the exercise properly and the body would struggle to achieve good muscle tone.
Similarly, Vitamin D is essential for muscle contraction, function, strength and growth. In order to get the most out of a workout a person should include foods rich in Vitamin D, such as oily fish, mackerel, salmon, sardines, and eggs. Lastly Protein is key to building muscle. It’s ideal to eat after a workout to help the muscles recover and can be found in oily fish, lean meat such as turkey or beef, tofu, cheese and eggs.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2014.
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