The only way to build great muscles is hard training, great nutrition and dedication. A properly planned nutritional intake or balanced diet composition and pattern is an integral part of every bodybuilding program. The most important criterion that a diet plan must fulfill so as to consider it as balanced is that it should maintain a positive calorie balance inside the body. This is because a positive calorie balance is important for muscle growth. In this regard, a balanced diet that maintains a positive calorie balance is one that has a higher concentration of proteins and carbohydrates and lower concentration of fats.

The significance of a high calorie protein rich diet for bodybuilder cannot be undermined. Irrespective of whether you workout on a particular day or not, you must aim at consuming a well-balanced diet for maintaining a sustained supply of essential nutrients to your muscles for recovery and growth. If you are not able to provide a steady supply of proteins to your body through your diet, then many vital functions of your body can get halted or hampered.

Protein aids in the maintenance and healthy growth of our bodies. Even the enzymes and hormones in your body are mainly protein based molecules. Therefore, proteins are useful for maintaining the optimum levels of antibodies, enzymes and hormones in your body.

Consistent eating pattern is always better so as to ensure a proper growth. This factor is even more critical for individuals concentrating on muscle building through extensive workouts. Human body is made up of multiple organs and each organ is divided into tissues. Every tissue is made up of individual cells. Technically, a tissue growth can be described as an increase in the number of cells inside the tissue. Cell division occurs properly only when the body is provided with appropriate amount of minerals, nutrients, vitamins and fluids. This is because; cells inside the tissues get acclimatized for a particular feeding pattern and respond in accordance to that pattern.

This is the reason why all bodybuilders must maintain a sustained protein supply to their muscle tissues even on non-working days.

An adequate supply of water in the body coupled with ample rest aid in flushing out the toxins and waste products produced in the muscular tissues of your body as a result of protein digestion. Proteins are extremely useful for this purpose and therefore, a high protein supply must be maintained even on non-workout days. Muscles undergo extensive wear and tear and can get slightly damaged at the time of an intensive workout. A protein rich diet on a non-workout day helps in repairing the damaged muscles.

A protein rich diet is very essential even on non-working days to assist in building muscles in your body. Proteins and amino acids aid in the repair and replenishment of the tired worn out muscles in your body. Usually, bodybuilders increase their dietary intake of proteins to 0.8 - 1.3gms of proteins per pound of body weight. This will not seem difficult if you can distribute your protein intake over 5 to 6 meals at an interval of 2 to 3 hours each.

A few protein-rich sources include meat products like breasts of chicken, turkey breasts, dairy products like low fat milk, low fat yogurt, low fat cottage cheese, low fat cheddar cheese and whey, fish items like tuna, salmon, mackerel and cod, nuts like almonds, peanuts, pistachios, and sunflower seeds.