Deterioration in food quality - bodybuilding danger

Author: Slauta Alexander - sports nutrition specialist and gym trainer.
2014-05-02

Does food take away strength? Absurd, isn't it? However, this can indeed happen in the current realities of the economy and technical progress. This can impact your progress in bodybuilding and healthy eating. Bodybuilding and fitness face a serious problem: the deterioration of food quality.

Imagine you are eating "excellent," even above average. You are consuming enough calories as needed for success in bodybuilding, yet there is no progress. The global decline in food quality is a top issue in modern sports. Bright packaging is designed to hide the truth that the product contains a minimum of nutrients. Let's consider the main products consumed by athletes and others.

Beef

In the mid-20th century, as family incomes sharply increased, meat consumption rose just as quickly. During this period, cattle began to be fed dry grain, replacing pasture feeding. This method of feeding does not provide animals with all necessary nutritional components, as dry grains are supplemented with feed mixes. The feed mixes include: fish and meat-and-bone meal, yeast, vitamins, and antibiotics. All of this accelerated muscle mass gain. But alas, that is the only benefit.

Grain-fed beef cannot accumulate:

• Vitamins and minerals. Their content in such beef is 30-40% lower.
• Zinc. It is essential for testosterone synthesis. Its concentration in beef is reduced by 45-60%.
• CLA fats (conjugated linoleic acid). CLA fatty acids activate fat metabolism and aid in weight loss, helping prevent cancer and heart disease. As a result, modern steaks do not resemble those that strongmen ate in the last century.

Solution

The benefits of grass-fed beef are pronounced. Vitamin E content in grass-fed beef exceeds that of grain-fed by 400%. Its cost is twice as high. But if you lead a sports lifestyle, your muscular system needs only grass-fed beef. Choosing alternatives leads to savings and deterioration of your own health.

Today, sausage production lacks even meat in developed countries. A significant portion of the volume is made up of starch and cellulose. At best, soy is used.

Milk

Milk for large cities must be produced industrially. That is, in production facilities. Animals are subjected to stress, diseases, and are fed mixed feed. To ensure consumer safety, milk is thermally processed. Thermal processing destroys not only pathogenic microorganisms but also nutrients. After such processing, milk can lose vitamins and trace elements. It has become common practice to enrich milk with vitamins and trace elements instead of the lost nutrients, but these are synthetic forms.

Thus, milk is subjected to:

• Thermal processing.
• Enrichment with vitamins and trace elements, which are much less beneficial.
• Homogenization (the fat component is broken into small fragments).
• Homogenized fat components are linked to oncological diseases.

Nonetheless, milk from the supermarket is not the best ally in strength training.

Solution

Whole milk from a home cow contains enzymes that assist in its digestion. Homemade milk costs no more than that sold in large retail chains.

Vegetables

In 2004, researchers from the USA compared the concentration of vitamins, micronutrients, and trace elements in 50 vegetables and fruits with data from the 1950s-1960s. It was found that, on average, the content of trace elements has decreased by 11%. Vitamin C has decreased by 15%, and the crucial vitamin B2 by 38%.

In countries with poor ecological conditions, vegetables and fruits can contain substances that are harmful to our bodies. This depends on the region of growth and the soil. In most countries, standard varieties have been almost completely replaced with genetically modified crops. The most common is soy. Soy flour is produced from it, which is mixed into sausage products. Soy is also used for producing soy protein isolate (protein).

Solution

1. Do not buy vegetables in supermarkets.

2. Go to the market and buy vegetables that grow in your region.

3. Do not be tempted to buy fruits and vegetables that appear out of season. Such products are transported from southern countries, gathering under-ripe items. They have not had the chance to accumulate vitamins and trace elements. Moreover, these are varieties specifically bred for long transportation.

4. Cook correctly. The method of cooking vegetables is a very important factor. For example, broccoli contains special flavonoids that help prevent malignant tumors. Cooking broccoli by steaming preserves the flavonoids intact. Boiling causes a loss of 66% of beneficial substances, while microwaving results in a loss of 95%.

Supplement Insurance

In today's world, it is necessary to take dietary supplements to protect oneself from a deficiency of micronutrients, micronutrients, and vitamins.

The following supplements should be taken regularly:

1. Multivitamins.

2. Polyunsaturated fats (omega-3). Omega-3 fats are extremely important for fitness enthusiasts. They promote muscle growth and burn subcutaneous fat.

3. CLA (conjugated linoleic acid). Take 2-3g of CLA 3 times a day.

4. ZMA. In conditions of zinc deficiency, take (30mg zinc + 450mg magnesium) half an hour before sleep.

5. Probiotics. Consuming low-quality products worsens gut microbiota. Probiotics, friendly bacteria in various forms (liquid and dry), are used to restore its properties. They enhance the effectiveness of the digestive system.

In modern conditions, it is difficult to eat properly. However, we can still minimize the impact of low-quality products on our bodies. It all comes down to choice. And remember, health is not something to economize on.