| Who's sexier - Jennifer Lopez or Olive Oyl from | | | | soy, safflower and sunflower oils are high in |
| the old Popeye cartoons? Most people would | | | | polyunsaturated fats. Dip your whole-grain bread |
| emphatically reply, "J-Lo!" Some of us are naturally | | | | from a local baker in gourmet olive oil! Make a big, |
| endomorphs, and have difficulty losing weight. At | | | | creamy batch of guacamole from hearty |
| the other end of the spectrum are ectomorphs, | | | | avocados--throw in some chunks of tomato and |
| who are thin and actually have trouble gaining | | | | onion. These are delicious, healthy, high-calorie |
| weight. Being skinny can be emotionally difficult. | | | | foods for weight gain! Avoid bad fats, as they |
| That may be hard to believe, especially for | | | | instigate heart disease and certain types of |
| women, given our current "thin-is-in" culture of | | | | cancer. The bad guys are saturated fats and |
| beauty. Others who may want to gain weight | | | | trans fats. Saturated fats raise LDL and total |
| include body builders and those who are | | | | cholesterol; they're found primarily in animal |
| overcoming eating disorders. | | | | products, including meat, dairy and eggs. Trans |
| The idea behind gaining weight is not to become | | | | fats come from hydrogenated oils. Scientists whip |
| obese of course - so fast food is definitely out of | | | | hydrogen into any type of oil, even originally |
| the question. That's because obesity is | | | | healthy oils, to give processed foods a longer |
| accompanied by serious health risks such as heart | | | | shelf life and a creamier "mouth feel." French fries |
| disease and diabetes. Rather, people who want to | | | | and buns, stick margarine, vegetable shortening |
| gain weight need healthy high-calorie foods for | | | | and countless packaged foods contain partially |
| weight gain. The healthy way to gain weight | | | | hydrogenated oils. Read the labels, and avoid |
| naturally is with high-protein foods - which will also | | | | them. |
| build attractive, lean muscle. | | | | If you're going to eat animal products occasionally, |
| The three primary nutrients for the human body | | | | protect your health by doing it the right way. If |
| are protein, which supplies amino acids; fats, which | | | | you want to enjoy some red meat and dairy |
| supply fatty acids; and carbohydrates, which | | | | products as part of your healthy plan to gain |
| supply glucose. These three primary nutrients are | | | | weight, here are some tricks to keep bad fats in |
| also the foods to gain weight with! Here's a | | | | check. Opt for meat and dairy products that |
| snapshot of how to optimize your diet with | | | | come from grass-fed animals, preferably from |
| healthy high-calorie foods for weight gain. | | | | local small family farmers in your area. Now, |
| Protein should be the building block of every meal | | | | organic and grass-fed meat is available at most |
| and snack. Protein builds lean muscle. This does | | | | supermarkets. Not only are these products vastly |
| not mean fast-food burgers! Be sure that your | | | | superior in flavor, but also contain more good |
| protein sources are lean: chicken, fish, or | | | | fats, especially omega 3 fatty acids, than bad |
| vegetarian alternatives such as beans and tofu. | | | | fats. They also have conjugated lineolic acid, and |
| Red meat and dairy products are not generally | | | | are high in beta-carotene. These nutrients |
| recommended because they're high in saturated | | | | plummet in ordinary mass-produced meat and |
| fat. However, there are healthy ways to eat red | | | | dairy products, because the animals are fed corn, |
| meat and dairy products, which we'll discuss | | | | which is less expensive and makes animals larger. |
| shortly. Your serving of protein should be the | | | | You might also be shocked to learn that the |
| largest portion on your plate. Lean protein snacks | | | | animals are often fed truckloads of stale or ruined |
| include hummus, nuts, low-fat cheese and yogurt. | | | | junk food such as snack cakes from bakery |
| Enjoy hearty whole-grain carbohydrates. This | | | | outlets because it's so cheap. |
| does not mean white, highly processed carbs such | | | | Another method you can use to supplement |
| as potato chips, white bread and bagels! Think | | | | healthy foods to gain weight is by focusing on |
| brown. Whole-grain carbs include items such as | | | | anaerobic exercise rather than aerobic exercise. |
| multi-grain crackers, whole wheat bread and | | | | Aerobic exercise is moderate activity performed |
| basmati rice. People who are watching their weight | | | | over an extended period of time, such as running |
| avoid highly processed carbs and reduce their | | | | and bicycling. Aerobic exercise burns fat. |
| intake of whole-grain carbs to one or two | | | | However, if you're trying to gain weight, retain a |
| servings per day. Since your goal is to gain | | | | little fat to sculpt into lean, attractive muscle, and |
| weight, feel free to eat whole-grain carbohydrates | | | | turn to anaerobic exercise. Anaerobic exercise is |
| with every meal. Seven-grain crackers dipped in | | | | high-intensity with short bursts of action, such as |
| hummus makes a hearty snack! | | | | weight lifting, sprinting and jumping. Weight lifting is |
| Eat at least five servings of fresh fruits and | | | | the perfect anaerobic exercise for someone |
| vegetables every day. You can boost your | | | | who's trying to gain weight. Body builders use this |
| serving intake by also drinking 100 percent natural | | | | type of anaerobic exercise to build muscle mass, |
| fruit juices. Also, be sure to add a fruit or | | | | and non-endurance sports athletes use it to build |
| vegetable to every meal. We could change that | | | | power. Weightlifting creates a hard body for men |
| old saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor | | | | that women love, and it sculpts those curves on |
| away" to "Five servings a day keeps sickness at | | | | women that men appreciate! Once you attain |
| bay!" | | | | your desired weight, you can supplement |
| Enjoy healthy fats. Fats encourage nutrient | | | | anaerobic exercise with aerobic exercise for |
| absorption, facilitate nerve transmission, and | | | | overall cardiovascular health. |
| maintain cell integrity. This does not mean eating | | | | In addition to these diet tips, you can supplement |
| greasy french fries! Not all fats are created equal. | | | | your healthy diet with protein supplements. It is |
| There are good fats and bad fats. The good guys | | | | often difficult to eat enough protein each day, so |
| are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. | | | | supplementing with a soy or whey protein shake |
| Monounsaturated fats lower LDL, or bad, | | | | can help increase overall intake. Everyone who is |
| cholesterol and they also increase HDL, or good | | | | too skinny wants to gain weight, look great, and |
| cholesterol. Tasty examples are nut, canola and | | | | build strength. Take the next step today, and |
| olive oils. Polyunsaturated fats lower LDL and total | | | | enjoy the benefits of a fit, healthy body. |
| cholesterol, too. Those healthy omega 3 fatty | | | | Want to learn more about the role of Bodybuilding |
| acids that you're always hearing about are | | | | Supplements as part of a healthy weight gain |
| polyunsaturated fats. Salmon, fish oil, and corn, | | | | program? Visit us at NaturalFitSupplements. |