Step By Step Guide For Students: How to Eat to Build Muscle on Budget
Physical activity is highly beneficial for everybody, especially those who study hard.
Advantages of sports for students
Researchers have proved that exercise can significantly improve learning. In fact, there is a strong connection between exercise and the brain. Scientific evidence demonstrates that sports physically remodels the brain for peak performance on all fronts. It improves motivation, memory, attention, flexibility, concentration and alertness. Learning new information and retaining it becomes much easier if you get involved in physical activity on a regular basis. In schools with fitness classes, teachers noticed that students who have higher PE scores also have higher test scores.
Another important benefit of sports is improved mental health. The research conducted by Dr. Ratey’ shows that exercise can be the best defense against common psychological problems. As you might know, physical activity is a natural way to prevent stress caused by work overload, assessments and peer pressure. People who include exercise to their daily routine are less prone to anxiety and panic disorders. When I was studying at university, I was extremely worried about my homework and always tried to find someone on Writix who could help me complete my assignments. But when I made bodybuilding my hobby, my anxiety issues disappeared. Since then, almost nothing could trigger anxious thoughts in me.
Low cost foods to build muscles
- Eggs
Just for a few dollars you can get a sufficient amount of natural protein from eggs. Each little egg has 5-6 grams of both protein and fat, while being low in calories. There is also a big amount of vitamins and nutrients needed for a healthy body. If you want to grow muscles, you should include eggs in your daily meal plan. Experiment with different recipes to find those that you like most and enjoy your food!
- Ground beef
Not every student can afford nice beef steaks. Luckily, ground beef can be a cheap substitute for them. Your body can get 6-7 grams of protein per raw ounce of ground meat, which is quite a lot. However, you should be careful with fats. Depending on the leanness, its fat content varies significantly. But most importantly, you won’t spend much money since you can buy a pound of discounted ground beef for two dollars.
- Peanut butter
Peanut butter is present in the kitchen of almost every student as it’s not only nutritious but also very tasty. Just two tablespoons of this product contain 6 grams of protein. What’s more, they are a great source of monounsaturated fats that are vital for healthy metabolism. Peanut butter is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to increase your daily caloric intake. You can make a toast with it or add a few spoons of peanut butter to your oatmeal. Some people like to add peanut butter even to their protein shakes!
- Tuna
Of course, tuna is not the cheapest fish you can find in the supermarket. But its price to nutrient ratio is really good. Even for students on a tight budget, it won’t be expensive to buy a can of tuna for less than a dollar. Can you imagine that it will provide you with 25 grams of lean protein? You can also buy tuna packed in oil if you want to get extra fats and calories.
- Oats
As you know, high quality carbohydrates are a must for effective training and muscle growth. Oats are a great source of carbohydrates for little money. One cup of oat grains has nearly 50 grams of good carbs that will give you energy during the workout. Besides, it’s easy to cook and you can have it even on the go since there are many ready-to-eat offers in supermarkets.
- Whole Milk
In general, dairy products are avoided by athletes. However, whole milk can be viewed as an exception. Since it contains 8-9 grams of protein per cup, many bodybuilders consume it every day. It’s especially good to use whole milk rather than water for protein shakes. If you buy whey with a fruit or chocolate taste, your shake will resemble ice cream. Usually, you can get a gallon of milk for just three dollars, so it won’t hit your wallet.
Final thoughts
Some people believe that bodybuilding is an expensive hobby. And it’s true to some extent if you opt for luxurious high-protein products. But there are many alternatives to pricey foods that help you build muscles. Hopefully, this article has proved to you that you can do bodybuilding even on a student budget.
Author’s BIO
Robert Griffith is PE teacher at high school and amateur athlete. He loves different types of physical activity, especially running and body-building. Robert regularly participates in sports contests and takes top prizes. His great achievements inspire students to train harder and set ambitious goals for both studies and sports.
