35 years ago, when I read my first muscle magazine, 95% of them were articles on how to get bigger and get results in contests. It was maybe 5% advertising. But it looked like it to me. Pick one now; it’s pretty much the opposite, nothing more than ads for things that will make you bigger than Godzilla.
And there must be 2 dozen or more ads for protein powder this and protein powder that. Well, before you spend all your hard-earned money on that Myo tub, whatever, consider what nature has to offer.
1. Chicken – A 3.5 oz serving has about 30 grams of protein. A protein drink with 20 to 30 grams of whey and soy can set you back $3 to $5. A big piece of flavorful chicken breast weighing less than 4 oz will run you about a dollar fifty or less at your local grocery store.
2. Whole eggs: Yes, there is the issue of cholesterol in the yolk, but for protein value; you just can’t beat a whole egg. That little beauty will give 6 to 7 grams of high-octane protein for about 28 cents (we get organic brown eggs blah blah too expensive, what the wife wants), but you can get it cheaper.
3. Whole Milk: Where do you think whey comes from? You can’t beat this bounty of nature for adding muscle mass and building strength. A chilled 8 oz glass makes about 8 grams, or a 16 oz glass will give you 16 grams of muscle-building fuel for about 50 cents, maybe less in your area.
4. Almonds and Peanuts: A quarter cup of each will yield between 8 and 9 grams. If you eat a mixed cup of both throughout the day, you’ll get 32 to 36 grams of protein, plus the natural energy boost from those nuts. This is another cheap source of protein that you can use to reach your fitness goals.
5. Honorable Mentions: A can of tuna gives you a great bang for your buck at 40 grams per can. Mix it with a little mayonnaise, a hard-boiled egg, a quarter cup of chopped bell peppers, carrots, onions; and you can have a tasty protein sandwich. Every once in a while, fire up the grill and eat some red meat, because a 6-oz steak has almost 40 grams of protein.
There you have it, my top 4 muscle building foods plus a couple of honorable mentions. So the next time you reach for that can of protein powder; grab one hand and punch with the other before heading to your local grocery store for the best muscle-building foods nature has to offer.