Ali Sami Farooq :12 Nutrition Tips for Vegetarian Bodybuilders

Vegetarianism and bodybuilding don't mix, right? This may have been the consensus in the past, but today, an increasing number of people are choosing to become vegetarian, including bodybuilders, and athletes.Here are 12 tips by Ali Sami Farooq that will help vegetarian bodybuilders in the gym and kitchen.

"How do you get enough protein and calories in your diet to maintain your muscle mass?"

It's no secret that eating a large amount of protein (more than 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight per day) is vital to a bodybuilder's success. We also know that to eat such a high amount of protein, bodybuilders need to eat a diet rich in meat.

So, how do vegetarian bodybuilders do it? How do they maintain their physique? How do they keep their energy levels up?

1) Make sure you eat enough calories: Keep track of how many calories you consume. Since fruits and vegetables are usually lower in calories than meat, you need to increase how much you eat.

2) Eat high quality calories: Limit your consumption of refined and processed foods.

3) Eat more chickpeas and legumes: This is one of the most important protein sources for vegetarians.

4) Consume lots of protein: Proteins are a great source of protein. They are diverse, can be cooked on their own, used in shakes, baking, and many other ways to boost your protein consumption.

5) Eat quinoa instead of rice: Quinoa is similar to rice with the added benefit of having more protein.

6) Eat more nuts: This is a perfect snack to boost your energy and consume healthy fats.

7) Watch your activity level: Since it's harder for you to reach your protein consumption goals, limit your workouts to make sure you're not burning muscle.

8) Invest in BCAAs: This will help you maintain lean muscle mass and prevent loss.

9) Increase consumption of essential fatty acids: Increase supplementation with Omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseed oil and other EFAs to maintain your energy levels.

10) Iron Supplement: Meat is an important source of iron, and many vegetarians lack iron in their diet. Consider adding an iron supplement to your diet.

11) Research high-protein foods: Meat isn't the only source of protein. There are many other good sources of protein you can add to your diet, including tofu, soy, oatmeal, seeds, edamame, spinach, broccoli, peanut butter, and more.

12) Supplement, Supplement and Supplement: Find a good protein supplement and use it regularly to make sure you are meeting your protein needs.

~ Ali Sami Farooq