There is very little else that can make or break your success with bodybuilding like your bodybuilding diet can. Not only can you hamper your results with a poor bodybuilding diet, but you can also cause yourself harm if you are using your body too hard without giving it the nutrients it needs to keep up. Imagine doing your best to look and feel good, only to sustain a serious injury because your body simply didn’t have the resources to maintain your level of exertion. Don’t let this happen to you.

The truth of the matter is, there will always be different diets out there that claim to be the definitive expert. Of course, there are very few that actually do what they tell you they will. Most of the time, it’s all about lining the program creators’ pockets with some easy cash. As a bodybuilder, it’s your job to be on the lookout for people who will try to convince you to do their diet regimen. If you use your common sense and truly understand what will help your body, you can weed out the scams and find the gems.

Now, there are some valuable things you can learn about a proper bodybuilding diet right here. First of all, it should always be about feeding your body what it needs to maintain its functions, and then to grow. Whether you are a bodybuilder or not, you need to realize that your body relies on nutrients to survive, and if you aren’t giving it what it needs, eventually you will get sick or injured. You probably know of people that spent years sitting on the couch with a bag of chips and a six-pack of beer in their free time, and now they have diabetes or heart disease. Your habits will determine how healthy you’ll be, and how successful your bodybuilding endeavor will be as well.

First of all, a bodybuilding diet should include carbohydrates, lean protein, and essential fats. You will want an approximate ratio of 40:40:20. The reason for this is, carbohydrates give you the energy you require to actually do the exercise, while protein is the building blocks used for building up your muscles. The fats are useful in promoting good overall health. On top of this, you should strive to get all of your essential nutrients, especially antioxidants, since you will be creating more free radicals with your exercise, and if these go unchecked, then can lead to a higher risk of chronic diseases.

Finally, don’t forget the value of water. While almost everyone probably needs more water than they are currently drinking, this goes doubly for anyone who is doing a lot of hard exercise. Dehydration is dangerous, and you are at risk for it if you are working out hard without fluids. Some might suggest an exercise or energy drink, but these often have more sugar than you should consume, especially if you’re drinking them frequently.

If you master the bodybuilding diet, your results will noticeably improve and you’ll feel healthier overall.