11 Best Foods To Avoid When Building Muscle And The Best Alternatives
Updated on: January 19, 2024
Reviewed By Anita K., MSc., GCP, CSTF
Why put barriers in your way eating the wrong diets when knowing the foods to avoid when building muscle can help you reap all the benefits of your strength training
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Nutrition plays a vital role and any muscle-building plan. Thus it is necessary to identify what foods to avoid when building muscle to help you to achieve your goals.
Establishing the foods to avoid when building muscle at the start of your muscle-building journey and ensuring you nourish your body with the correct nutrition can help you to succeed.
Eating the wrong foods could mean marking time for a long time.
This article will explain the foods to avoid when building muscles and the alternatives.
Foods to avoid when building muscle
It is necessary to fuel your body with the proper nutrients, including protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats when building muscle, and it is best to avoid some foods to help optimize muscle growth.
Here are the foods to avoid when building muscles. Exclude these from your diet or reduce their intake to help maximize the benefits of your muscle-building efforts.
Processed Foods
Processed meals are mostly high in calories, unhealthy fats, sugars, and additives, making them some of the foods to avoid when trying to build
Most processed foods contain low levels of essential nutrients such as protein, vitamins, and minerals crucial for muscle growth and repair.
They also have the tendency to have a negative impact on overall health and wellness, which can indirectly hinder muscle building.
Consuming high amounts of processed foods has been linked to inflammation, insulin resistance, and other health problems, some of which can affect muscle growth. (1)
To help you successfully build muscle, we will recommend replacing processed foods with some of the following;
- whole
- minimally processed foods like lean meats,
- fish,
- eggs,
- dairy,
- legumes,
- whole grains,
- fruits, and
- vegetables.
Energy Drinks
Energy drinks can negatively impact your performance and are one of the foods to avoid when building muscle.
Many energy drinks are high in sugar. That can cause blood sugar spikes and crashes, interfering with energy levels and physical performance.
Energy drinks often contain high amounts of caffeine, which can hamper your sleep, hydration, and physical performance.
Consuming high volumes of energy drinks can interfere with the body’s absorption of essential nutrients, like calcium, that help with overall health and wellness.
Energy drinks are often low in nutrients. Thus they provide empty calories and little nutritional value.
Energy drinks can lead to dehydration, negatively impacting physical performance and recovery.
One of the best ways to optimize muscle-building efforts is to prioritize hydration, nutrient-dense foods, and adequate sleep.
Consuming water, electrolyte-rich beverages, and whole foods can help support energy levels, physical performance, and recovery.
Thus limiting the consumption of high-sugar, caffeinated beverages like energy drinks can help promote overall health and wellness.
Opt for natural sources of caffeine, coffee, tea, or fruits instead.
Fried Foods
Eating lots of fried meals can put many impediments in your muscle-building endeavors. Thus they are foods to avoid when building muscle.
Fried foods are often high in calories due to their high fat content. Consuming excess calories can lead to weight gain and make it much harder to build and maintain muscle mass.
Most fried foods contain unhealthy trans and saturated fats. They often lack essential nutrients, like protein, vitamins, and minerals, required for muscle growth and repair.
Consuming high amounts of these fats can increase the risk of heart disease, chronic inflammation, and other health problems.
Limiting the consumption of fried foods and other unhealthy fats can help reduce excess calorie intake and push you toward your muscle-building goals.
You should, instead, consider nutrient-dense foods like lean protein, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Such foods can supply your body with the necessary nutrients for muscle growth and repair.
Alcohol
Alcohol and alcoholic beverages are foods to avoid when building muscle because they can disrupt protein synthesis, the process through which the body builds and repairs muscle tissue.
That can lead to a decrease in muscle growth and recovery.
Alcohol is high in calories but low in nutrients. Excess calorie intake can lead to unwanted body fat and weight gain, making it harder to build and maintain muscle mass.
Alcohol can cause dehydration which can affect your performance during exercise. In addition, consuming high levels of alcohol can increase cortisol levels, a stress hormone. That can lead to muscle breakdown and inhibit muscle growth.
It can also decrease testosterone levels in men, making it harder to build and maintain muscle mass.
Thus you should limit alcohol consumption and stay hydrated with water, herbal tea, or natural fruit juices without added sugars.
High-Sodium Foods
High-sodium foods contain high levels of sodium, a mineral essential for human health but can be harmful in excess, making them foods to avoid when building muscle.
Consuming too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and other health problems. It can also lead to dehydration, affecting your physical performance and recovery.
Consuming high amounts of sodium can lead to water retention, which can cause bloating and make it harder to achieve desired aesthetic results.
Consuming foods with high sodium content can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients needed for overall health and wellness.
Processed and packaged foods, such as canned soups, broths, and vegetables, can be high in sodium. Others include frozen dinners, deli meats, and snacks like chips, pretzels, and crackers. These are all foods to avoid when building muscle.
Such high-sodium foods are low in satiety. That means they may not provide the feeling of fullness that can help regulate calorie intake and support weight management.
Instead, replace them with fresh, unprocessed foods. You can season them with herbs, spices, and other flavorings instead of excessive salt.
High-fat foods
High-fat foods are not necessarily bad for muscle building. But it is the type of fats that you consume that matters.
Healthy fats are a vital element of a balanced diet. They supply energy for workouts and support muscle growth.
But excess unhealthy fats in your diet can negatively affect your muscle-building efforts, making them one of the foods to avoid when building muscle.
Unhealthy fats, such as trans fats and saturated fats, can increase inflammation and lead to insulin resistance. That can impair the body’s ability to use glucose for energy.
Too much unhealthy fats can reduce the body’s sensitivity to insulin, an essential hormone for muscle growth.
Consuming too many high-fat foods can also lead to weight gain, making it more challenging to build muscle.
Excess body fat can increase estrogen levels, a hormone that interferes with muscle growth and promote fat storage.
Thus, while healthy fats can be good for muscle building, it is necessary to consume them in moderation and consider healthy fat sources such as nuts, seeds, avocados, and fatty fish.
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
Consuming sugary beverages can cause a rapid spike in blood sugar levels. Over time, that can lead to insulin resistance and reduce the body’s ability to use glucose for energy and store fat. That can interfere with muscle growth. Thus they are foods to avoid when building muscle.
Sugary beverages, such as soda and energy drinks, are often high in calories but low in nutrients, which can lead to weight gain.
Some of these drinks contain caffeine which can cause dehydration. Dehydration can impair muscle function and reduce the body’s ability to repair and build new muscle tissue.
In contrast, water is essential for muscle building. It helps transport nutrients to muscles, remove waste products, and maintain optimal hydration levels.
Thus limit sugary beverages and choose water, unsweetened tea, or other low-sugar options to support muscle building and overall health.
Trans Fats
Trans fats, often found in processed and fried meals, are foods to avoid when building muscle.
They can cause inflammation and interfere with muscle growth and repair.
Trans fats can hamper the absorption of essential nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids.
High consumption of trans fats can increase LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels and decrease HDL or “good” cholesterol levels. That can increase the risk of heart disease.
High levels of trans fats can decrease your energy levels, making it harder to perform physical activity. They can also interfere with insulin sensitivity. All these can negatively impact your muscle-building goals.
To support your muscle-building efforts, consume nutrient-dense foods that provide the necessary nutrients for muscle growth and repair, such as lean protein sources, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Choosing healthy fats, such as those found in nuts, seeds, avocados, and fatty fish, can provide essential nutrients and support overall health and wellness.
Excessive Caffeine
Caffeine can be beneficial for muscle building when consumed in moderation. It can improve energy levels and focus and enhance performance during workouts.
Caffeine can support muscle growth and development. And it can help with fat burning, thereby supporting weight management and improving body composition.
But, excessive caffeine intake can negatively affect your muscle-building efforts.
Consuming high amounts of caffeine can interfere with sleep and affect muscle recovery and repair.
It can also lead to dehydration, thereby
affecting your physical performance and recovery.
Consuming high amounts of caffeine can lead to jitters, anxiety, and other side effects that can interfere with workout performance and overall health.
Thus, athletes and muscle builders should consume moderate amounts of caffeine and be aware of personal tolerance levels.
Generally, drinking 1-3 cups of coffee or the equivalent amount of caffeine per day is considered safe.
Foods High in Refined Carbohydrates
Refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and pasta, are often stripped of their nutrients during processing, leaving them with few vitamins, minerals, and fiber, making them foods to avoid when building muscle.
The body quickly breaks down refined carbohydrates into sugar. That can cause blood sugar spikes and crashes, affecting energy levels in athletes. That can affect your physical performance and recovery.
Consuming high amounts of refined carbohydrates can affect the body’s ability to absorb calcium and other essential nutrients.
Refined carbohydrates are usually low in satiety. That means they may not provide the feeling of fullness that can help regulate calorie intake and support weight management.
Instead of refined carbohydrates, aim for complex carbohydrates and other nutrient-dense foods, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. These are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Complex carbohydrates are broken down more slowly in the body, providing a steady flow of energy and helping to regulate blood sugar levels.
Foods with Low Protein Content
Meals with low protein content are foods to avoid when building muscles
Protein is essential for muscle growth and repair.
We create microtears in our muscle fibers when we exercise. We need protein to help repair and rebuild these fibers.
Our muscles may not recover fully without enough protein, leading to muscle weakness, soreness, and injury.
Protein is also necessary for building and maintaining muscle mass. Our muscle mass naturally declines as we age, causing a decline in our strength and mobility. Consuming more protein can help support muscle mass and prevent age-related muscle loss.
The amount of protein required by each athlete can vary, depending on various factors, including age, gender, and activity level. But in general, taking 0.8-1 gram of protein per pound of body weight per day is recommended for anyone in regular strength training.
Ensure your pre-workout foods, what you drink and eat during your training, and your post-workout meals contain high levels of lean protein from such sources as chicken, fish, eggs, beans, and tofu. That can help support muscle growth and recovery.
Final words from LiveLIfe
Building muscle can be challenging and daunting for many.
Identifying what foods to avoid when building muscle at the start of your journey can help speed up your success.
Your success depends on what you do inside and outside your training environment.
Supporting your physical training with nutritious and healthy meals can help you get the most out of your efforts.
Ensure you remove the foods to avoid when building muscles listed here out of your diet.
Instead, give prominence to a diet that includes whole, nutrient-dense foods, complex carbs, protein, and healthy fats to support your muscle growth and promote overall health and wellness.
References
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Processed meat and colorectal cancer: Is there a link?