Lean muscle can make the difference between looking reasonably fit and looking very healthy. Muscle is important to keep you looking and feeling good because it burns fat and allow you to move more efficiently. These five foods that build lean muscle are especially helpful in a bodybuilding diet:

1) Beef organic and grass fed

Beef from grass fed cattle is a great lean muscle builder. It is high in protein, cholesterol, zinc, B vitamins, and iron. Also, beef from grass fed cattle has been known to help shed body fat better than corn fed cattle, due to its significantly higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid, which also has anti-cancer properties.

2) Organic non- GMO apples

Apples aid in increasing muscle strength and preventing muscle fatigue, which makes them a great food item prior to a workout, due to its content of polyphenols. Some studies also so that these polyphenols allow for increased fat burning. Since apples increase your muscle strength for long periods of time as well as aid in the burning of fat, they are a great, tasty food to help you build lean muscle.

3) Fresh organic brown rice

Brown Rice is a whole grain that takes a long time to digest, which makes it great for building lean muscle. It provides you with all day energy, as digestion is so slow, and will provide great energy during a workout as well. Brown Rice also boosts growth hormone levels, which are key to growing lean muscle, getting stronger, and losing fat.

4) North American organic cantaloupe

After a hard workout, it is important to replenish energy. Cantaloupe excels at this. This fruit has a low fructose content, which means the carbohydrates it provides are digested very quickly. This fast energy boost fruit is ideal to eat for breakfast as well as after a workout.

5) Fresh organic cottage cheese

Cottage cheese contains a lot of casein protein, which supplies a lot of amino acids. Casein protein is also the slowest digesting protein there is, which is great for building lean muscle because it prevents your body from using your muscles as an energy source, which can happen during the night while you sleep.

These are only a couple of the foods that aid in lean muscle growth, but they are a starting point. Whether you eat cantaloupe for a quick burst of energy or eat brown rice for all day energy, all of these foods can help you on your quest to look and feel great.

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