Can you really build muscle without meat?

This has always been a popular question and today I’m going to show you some tips you can use to build muscle – vegetarian style!

Here are two main examples of men who managed to build bulging biceps without meat:

Bill Pearl is probably the most famous vegetarian bodybuilder. He was a Mr. Universe in 1953 and in 1971. (Interesting side note, Bill Pearl beat Sean Connery. Yes, Sean Connery in 1953. Mr. Pearl didn’t become a vegetarian until he was 39 and is a lacto-ovo vegetarian. so it consumes eggs and dairy products.

Another interesting example is Kevin Eubanks, the leader of Jay Leno’s Tonight Show band. Eubanks also consume protein powders, eggs, and fish. If you’re trying to build muscle without meat, here are some tips to help speed up your progress:

What can you eat

First of all, you need to find out what type of vegetarian describes you best.

Can you eat dairy? Eggs? Fish?

Fish is a phenomenal muscle-building food. Not only is it rich in lean protein, but fish also contains healthy fats that provide energy, burn fat, and build muscle. So if you can include fish in your diet, by all means go for it.

Next, eggs.

Nature’s Perfect Muscle Building Foods?

Old school bodybuilding coach Vince Gironda believed that eggs were the perfect food for building muscle.

Vince stated that eggs have a higher biological value than any other protein food. He believed that consuming eggs would stimulate muscle-building hormones within the body and help keep his system in a positive nitrogen balance.

Side note: Vince also believed that you should consume raw eggs for maximum benefits.

Add dairy to increase the mass

Vegetarians often struggle to build muscle due to low fat intake. Ultra-low fat intake hampers testosterone, which is one of the main hormones for muscle building. By adding dairy to your diet, you can increase your fat intake. (Eggs are also high in fat.)

For strict vegetarians

If you can’t have eggs, dairy, or fish and you still want to build muscle, I would make the following suggestions.

# 1) Invest in a good protein powder

The truth of the matter is, you need to maintain a high protein intake to build muscle. It’s almost impossible to get 200 or 300 grams of protein per day from fruits, vegetables, and gains, so a good protein powder will go a long way.

# 2) add healthy fats to increase calories

It is impossible to gain weight if you don’t eat more calories than you burn. And it’s hard to get a lot of calories from a strict vegetarian diet. Try adding extra virgin olive oil or fish oil to your daily diet. Just one tablespoon contains 120 calories. And the extra fat intake could help boost testosterone levels and save protein.

Am I recommending a vegetarian diet?

No! I am not a vegetarian and I am NOT advising anyone to become a vegetarian. Personally, I think the healthiest way to eat is to eat like a caveman. Cavemen ate fruits and vegetables, but also meat when the opportunity presented itself. However, I am not trying to tell you what to do. Some people prefer to eat vegetarian because it makes them feel better. Others do it because they are concerned about animal rights. Others do it for religious reasons.

No matter what your reasons are, the tips above can help you build more muscle while still allowing you to stick to your principles.

And by the way, to build muscle you have to follow a proven progression plan. A plan that involves getting stronger every time you step foot in the gym. It is scientifically proven that you must increase your muscle strength if you want to increase the size of your muscles.