The fitness industry isn’t shy when it comes to advocating the importance of dieting when trying to keep fit. Though workouts are great, it only occupies a couple of hours of your time, versus the rest of the day when food is the prevalent influence. Getting “cut” for the summer body has always been the dream goal for many and that usually requires an intensive diet that may make exercising look like the easiest part of reaching that goal. So, here are the top foods for muscle definition.

What Kind Of Diet Should You Be Looking For?

Logically, being defined means that your muscles have to be completely visible. Veins, sculpt and even muscle fibers all contribute to the definition of getting shredded - this would be impossible if one’s fact content is beyond a certain mark. Therefore, going on a calorie deficit kind of diet makes the most sense as the goal is to reduce body fat while supplying your muscles with a good amount of protein for some bulk.

The exercises to be done will ultimately require weights and bulking will happen, especially to untrained muscle groups, but with high repetitions and a shorter rest time between sets, the definition will be the main result to look forward to.

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Top Foods for your Muscle Building Diet

Kale

Vegetables aren’t exactly the tastiest things on the planet, but they are great for fat loss and contain tons of nutrients. Fiber is naturally prevalent in fruits and vegetables, which does boost the body’s metabolism significantly, but Kale stands out for its iron. This nutrient is key to muscle development and helps the body circulate oxygen into your body, effectively part of the process of muscle synthesis.

Joints also benefit from Kale because of its richness in Vitamin K. If you are susceptible to joint pains, this will safeguard your bones to ensure that they can keep up with your training. Although there are other neat options on this list, kale is almost mandatory due to how much its nutritional value aligns with muscle definition.

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Millet

This ingredient isn’t exactly the talk of the town in the world of fitness, but it certainly is a viable option as you plan your meals before and after training. Essentially, millet is birdseed. It works great for people and rivals the likes of quinoa because of its ability to help the blood flow with magnesium that contributes to definition.

Additionally, millet contains plant-based protein which is perfect for complementing meat ingredients that also contains protein. It may not be the most obvious choice around, but it certainly holds value for your regime. The ingredient works best in breakfast bowls, salads, quinoa and even bread.

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Hemp Seeds

It may come from cannabis, but its properties are 100% legal as it does not give you any sort of high. Not the easiest ingredients to find in the South Asian region, but it is rich in amino acids which are one of the most sought after nutrients, - hence pre workouts.

In essence, amino acids are energy suppliers that are good for muscle definition and stamina. It contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLC) and Omega-6 fatty acids which are key to fat burning. The ingredient also does wonders against inflammation and boosts the health of your skin, nails and hair too. It is an overall great product, but it should not be consumed in excess. It works best with blends that contain hemp powder or salads.

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Quinoa

There is a reason why quinoa sets a benchmark for other superfoods to follow or even surpass. Ever since the fitness industry has influenced many to start living healthier, quinoa has been a hot topic in conversation. It is a complex carbohydrate that has a substantial amount of protein and amino acids.

The former is crucial for all diets involving muscle building, however, its amino acid is a nice addition that boosts the body when it repairs muscles. The benefit from this dish shines the most during the muscle repairing phase - therefore a calorie deficit should not necessarily lead to a protein surplus. Quinoa works the best after your workout and it is difficult to get the most out of it during your resting time. It is usually taken as the prime carbohydrate of choice, or else it can complement a salad.

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Cottage Cheese

The first dairy ingredient on the list, cottage cheese is a neat addition to the meal, especially if you choose to stay off carbohydrates due to how rich it can be. The strength of this cheese is its containment of Casein, which is currently one of the most viable protein sources in the supplement market.

Casein helps your blood’s natural amino acids get a boost and lets that elevation stay a while longer. It slows digestion down, which means your body takes a longer time to digest it. This does wonder for more intensive training or regimes that are longer in duration. Interestingly enough, cottage cheese is versatile enough to be paired with fruits and pancakes.

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Spinach

Spinach is a classic and can be an alternative to Kale if that is your preferred choice. It is the foundation for many versions of the salad dish worldwide and for good reason. It contains a high amount of iron when boiled and magnesium which allows the body to metabolise carbohydrates better.

Studies have shown that spinach has also helped to boost testosterone levels which translate over to muscle strength. It may be a bit of a stretch to declare spinach as an all-encompassing ingredient for muscle definition, but it is one of the few ingredients on the list that can be eaten multiple times during the day. Naturally, spinach is best when in a salad, but can work as a side for meat and quinoa too.

Lentils

Lentils are hassle-free add ons that work wonders for muscle building. They may not get the most love in the fitness community, but they pack a whopping 18 grams of protein minimum per cup. An average serving of protein powder contains between 20-25grams of protein, which makes this natural ingredient a powerhouse when it comes to protein. Other benefits of lentils include their low cost and decently long shelf life. It goes well with rice and salad.

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