| The popularity increase of the health industry in recent | | | | production, and consuming a small portion of total food |
| years has promoted research in natural nutrients that | | | | intake from saturated fat is acceptable for those who |
| can serve to enhance long term health, with one of the | | | | do not suffer from any genetic predisposition towards |
| most widely advertised being Essential Fatty Acids | | | | or history of heart disease or cardiovascular |
| (EFA), which are healthy fat sources that have been | | | | dysfunction, but the likely negative health side effects |
| shown to reduce cholesterol, improve immune system | | | | originating from large levels of saturated fat outweighs |
| function, and assist in normal body function (such as | | | | any bodybuilding hormone related benefits, therefore of |
| smooth skin). Therefore, these Essential Fatty Acids | | | | all nutrients, saturated fat should total the smallest |
| have become common in the diets of many, and have | | | | overall percentage. A bodybuilder avoiding all forms of |
| even caught the attention of the bodybuilding | | | | saturated fat can achieve amazing bodybuilding results, |
| community as a method of providing energy while | | | | as I gained over 60 pounds of muscle mass while |
| improving long term health. | | | | eating a diet extremely low in saturated fat, and I do |
| But will fat actually assist in muscle building? This is a | | | | not feel that dietary fat in general, including the |
| question many bodybuilders are asking, especially | | | | saturated variety, will have a dramatically positive |
| considering how some have claimed that certain fat | | | | impact on muscle gain, but will harm progress if |
| based foods can assist in hormone increase, and will | | | | significant carbohydrates are sacrificed in favor of |
| therefore boost muscle gain when implemented | | | | extra fat consumption. |
| properly within a bodybuilding diet regimen. This idea | | | | A prudent and properly constructed diet regimen will |
| has especially grabbed the attention of many | | | | center around a variety of nutrients for maximum |
| bodybuilders who have developed a negative view of | | | | health benefits and muscle building results, including |
| carbohydrates due to having gained a large amount of | | | | carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats, with saturated |
| body fat on standard carbohydrate based muscle | | | | fat consumed only in moderation (for individuals who |
| building diet plans. | | | | are not predisposed to cardiovascular related medical |
| I do not doubt the health benefits offered by EFA | | | | issues), and when doing so, the downside of |
| sources, and recommend using these as part of any | | | | carbohydrates that disrupt the definition level of many |
| diet routine, even for those who do not pursue | | | | bodybuilders will be averted, and muscles will receive a |
| bodybuilding, and therefore all should aim to add | | | | broad range of nutrients for peak function, both in |
| Essential Fatty Acids for health benefits. Yet, in relation | | | | terms of immune system optimization, and total muscle |
| to pure muscle building, carbohydrates are far more | | | | gained. |
| helpful in growth as compared with dietary fat, and | | | | For those weight lifters who currently integrate fat into |
| therefore many who switch to a diet plan which | | | | their diet regimen, please abandon unhealthy forms of |
| centers around fat as the chosen energy source will | | | | fat, such as trans fat, fried food, etc, as these types of |
| find that muscle mass declines, sometimes | | | | fats are destined to rest themselves within blood |
| dramatically. The negative stigma attached to | | | | vessels, leading to serious cardiovascular difficulties. |
| carbohydrates which have made higher fat diet plans | | | | The majority of health issues experienced in our |
| popular are not related to an inherent evil in | | | | modern culture are linked to poor lifestyle choices, |
| carbohydrate sources (as fruit and raw honey, two | | | | including food selection, with harmful fat consumption |
| examples of carbohydrate sources, are extremely | | | | reaching epidemic proportions due to the growing |
| healthy), but instead due to improperly constructed diet | | | | infatuation with fast food and boxed unperishable food |
| routines which favor carbohydrates as an excessive | | | | items that utilize terrible additives. Yet, with so many |
| percentage of overall caloric intake, which causes | | | | delicious food choices available that are also extremely |
| body fat to increase far more quickly than expected. | | | | beneficial to muscle building and health, there is no |
| Instead of reducing carbohydrates to a more | | | | legitimate reason to consume damaging foods, even |
| reasonable macronutrient ratio in relation to protein and | | | | when eating at a restaurant. Bodybuilding is not only a |
| fat, many bodybuilders instead nearly abandon | | | | hobby based on maximum muscle building, but also |
| carbohydrates completely, and find that their results | | | | involves enhancing overall health and well being, |
| significantly suffer. | | | | therefore choosing the proper types of foods is no |
| Saturated fat is said to play a role in hormone | | | | less important than the weight training workout itself. |