7 Principles To A Better Physique: #1

1. Nutrient Dense Food

There are 4 criteria that we must satisfy when eating food for fitness related reasons:

• Fuel
  
• Nutrition
• Health
• Building Muscle

So how do these 4 things differ?

Fuel: we must eat enough to fuel our ability to do things we enjoy

Nutrition: we must consider the specific raw components the body requires in response to activity and where the balance lies (E.g. Endurance exercise vs. bodybuilding)

Health: is "the optimal interplay of the body's organs".  What and how much vitamins and nutrients do I need to avoid deficiencies?  What special considerations do I have (i.e. vegan, Celiac, dairy sensitivity, etc.)?

Building Muscle: you need a minimum amount of protein to avoid muscle wasting - a health related goal.  You need an optimal amount of protein to build lean muscle - a fitness related goal.

These are all slightly different criteria, but none of them can be achieved without nutrient dense food.  There are no magic foods that provide a blueprint to the perfect body, but a perfect body cannot be built out of gummy bears ;)