9 Best Foods for Building Muscle

Putting your diet first is the most vital thing you can do for your body. The secret to your dream body is putting in more work in the kitchen than you do at the gym! Keep this in mind because what you put into your body matters more than what you physically do. Deciding on meals and recipes containing the best foods for building muscle can get overwhelming, but don’t stress! Check out HiDow International’s best foods for building muscle you might want to grab on your next grocery trip.

Best Foods for Building Muscle

1. Salmon

Packed with 20g of protein per 100g serving, salmon is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids for building and repairing muscle tissue. Salmon is also rich in key nutrients like selenium, Vitamin D, B12, and niacin which adds to your overall health. Make sure your salmon is wild-caught and not farm-raised because farm salmon are fed corn and grains and are much high in harmful contaminants.

2. Lentils

Either brown, green, or red, lentils are the powerhouse for building muscle. In just one cup, lentils are loaded with 16 grams of fiber and 18 grams of protein.

3. Almonds

Choosing to snack on almonds or throwing them in your salads is a great way to aid your body in building muscle, toning, and burning fat. Almonds are dense in essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which leads to more energy and strength in everyday life and the gym.

4. Eggs

Eggs have been one of the traditional sources for building muscle because one egg holds 7 grams of rich protein. In addition, the yolk contains nutrients, vitamins, and cholesterol that naturally increases testosterone levels.

5. Quinoa

Known as the South American “king of grains,” quinoa makes a great post-workout meal. Higher in fiber and protein than brown rice and other common oats, quinoa is gluten-free, tastes great, and is quick to cook!

6. Lean beef

Stick to grass-fed beef! Lean beef is crucial to muscle building and athletic performance due to its high substance of protein, vitamin B12, iron, zinc, carnosine, omega-2, and creatine. Creatine boosts the intensity of weight training and anaerobic endurance.

7. Cottage cheese

More effective than whey protein, cottage cheese is a great post-workout and before-bed snack because it’s the slowest digesting dairy protein and carbohydrate, which assists in muscle recovery and healthy bones.

8. Spinach

Remember seeing Popeye gulping a can of spinach in cartoons? It’s because spinach is proven to convert protein quickly into muscle mass and increase strength. This leafy green is a must when pairing it with other protein and carb sources because it’s super-charged with vitamins K, C, and E, manganese, iron, fiber, B Vitamins, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

9. Beets

Let’s just say beet is a natural pre-workout alternative. Their sweet taste is known to improve athletic performance, increase energy to workout harder and longer, and decreases the amount of oxygen the body needs to complete a workout. Beets also contain high amounts of Vitamin C, fiber, and essential minerals.