Niacin, Blood Cholesterol, & Eating To Gain Muscle

As you may have come to find out, gaining muscle mass naturally is not only a matter of intense weight lifting and properly scheduled rest, but probably above all eating enough calories.

Regardless of how well constructed your workout program is and consistent you are sticking to eating week in and week out, or how meticulous you may be with record keeping, if you aren’t eating enough good old fashion food you are not going to give your muscles the nutrients it needs to recover, recuperate, and grow. As a result, you’ll be one of the millions more who desperately seek to gain weight and muscle, yet never seem to see any real improvements in the mirror.

Now, with anything, there can be secondary factors that pop up when on a specific, well-constructed days you eat a high calorie diet to help reach your muscle gaining goals. One factor that can come up is that the higher caloric intake can possibly have an effect on your blood cholesterol levels.

Keep in mind that is mainly an issue that already have a predisposition to higher cholesterol levels within the bodies because of genetic factors. Regardless, you’ll want to be aware of this.

In order to keep healthy blood cholesterol levels, here’s some important information:

*LDL – aka low-density lipoproteins…….these are considered the “bad” cholesterol since they increase the risk of heart disease and stroke

*HDL – aka high-density lipoproteins……..these are considered the “good” cholesterol since they promote a strong and healthy heart

*Treatment plans usually involve diet, exercise, and statin medications

*Not only must you lower LDLs, but you must also raise HDLs

*High dosages of niacin, at approximately 2000 mgs per day, can increase HDLs by up to 30%…….but because it could have side effects, should only be taken under the recommendation and supervision of your physician

*Factors such as endurance exercise, moderate alcohol drinking, and a healthy diet can also help you out in maintaining a healthy physique, all the while gaining muscle and building mass on a consistent basis