Weightlifting and a nutritious diet can effectively slow down muscle loss and promote the development of new muscle mass. A nutritious diet containing protein, complex carbs, healthy fats, and essential vitamins and minerals can supply the body with the necessary fuel and nutrition for muscle repair and growth.
Avoid These Foods for Maximum Muscle Mass
An inadequate diet may result in a decrease in muscle mass. Hence, it is essential to be cautious if you want to increase your muscle mass. It is not sufficient to consume the right foods alone to achieve this goal. You must also avoid the following meals if you want to gain muscle mass.
Preserved meat
Consuming excessive amounts of preserved meat, like bacon, sausage, hot dogs, and canned meat, is strongly associated with a higher risk of developing several chronic conditions, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Most preservation methods used on processed meat, such as smoking, curing, or salting, can result in chemicals with potential health risks.
Furthermore, according to the American dietary guidelines, it is important to restrict your daily saturated fat consumption to a maximum of 10% of your total daily caloric intake.
Alternatively, you should choose lean protein sources such as skinless poultry, lean red meat, or steamed fish.
Trans Fat
The consumption of trans fats has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and other health complications.
Caloric and protein intake are important for building muscle. Consuming trans fats can hinder muscle growth due to excess calories.
Read more: The Types Of Push-ups And Muscle Parts They Train
Additional sugar
Excessive sugar consumption is dangerous to muscle growth, leading to increased body fat. Sugar does not provide the essential nutrients required for muscle growth. Avoid foods high in added sugar to prevent muscle mass loss.
Also read: Bone Pain Vs Muscle Pain, This Is The Difference
Alcoholic beverages
Alcohol can have a negative impact on muscle building due to the following factors:
- Alcohol may decrease the metabolism of nutrients.
- Alcohol increases the risk of dehydration.
- Alcohol decreases energy levels.
- Alcohol contributes to the intake of calories without providing significant nutritional value.
Excessive consumption of alcohol causes the body to prioritize metabolizing alcohol above other nutrients. This can prevent the body from absorbing nutrients to repair and develop muscle.
Sauce, seasoning and dressing
Sauces, seasoning, and dressings can add extra calories that you might not even notice. Many sauces and dressings have a lot of extra sugar and calories. Adding sauces or dressings will add more calories without providing extra nutrients.
Furthermore, certain seasonings and sauces contain saturated and trans fats. Consuming excessive amounts elevates the risk of cardiovascular disease and other health concerns.
It's important to build muscle not just for appearance, but also for physical health. Consider consulting with a doctor or nutritionist to create a healthy diet plan for muscle growth. If you are concerned about muscle mass or muscle disorders, you can consult with our doctors through the Ai Care application. The app is available for download on the App Store or Play Store.
Want to know more information about nutrition, food and other diet tips? Click here!
- dr. Monica Salim
Gavin Van De Walle, MS, RD (2024). What to Eat and Avoid If You're Trying to Build Muscle. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/bodybuilding-meal-plan
David Rossiaky (2024). 6 Foods to Avoid If You Want to Build Muscle. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/6-foods-to-avoid-if-you-want-to-build-muscle
Better Health Channel. Weight and muscle gain. Available from: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/weight-and-muscle-gain
Matthew Solan (2022). Building better muscle. Available from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/building-better-muscle
Harvard TH Chan. Are all processed meats equally bad for health?. Available from: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/are-all-processed-meats-equally-bad-for-health/
Kristen Arnold, MS, RDN, CSSD (2020). Trying to Build Muscle? Here Are 6 Types of Proteins to Eat — and 3 to Avoid. Available from: https://www.livestrong.com/article/13728890-bad-protein-best-proteins-for-muscle-mass/
Medline Plus (2022). Facts about trans fats. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000786.htm
Jill Corleone, RDN, LD (2019). Is Sugar Bad for Muscle Growth?. Available from: https://www.livestrong.com/article/519831-is-sugar-bad-for-muscle-growth/