Bodybuilding Nutrition Advice - Lee Labrada Talks About Bodybuilding Nutrition

CS: So you wouldn’t recommend getting all of your protein from just one source? For example, if you were to use a supplement you would use a protein blend as opposed to a stand-alone whey protein powder?

LL: Yes. On any given day I will consume egg white protein in the morning because I like having my egg white omelet in the morning. I will consume dairy protein in the form of a protein blend like a Lean Body at some point during the day, and that will include some soy protein because it’s typically in the protein blend that I use. Then I’ll consume chicken or fish. So, there you go. There are at least five different types of protein that I will consume in one day.

I think it’s important because each protein has a different amino acid profile, and I’m a believer that just like you vary your complex carbohydrates and your fruits and your vegetables, you could vary your protein intake and get better results.

CS: So the take-home points are: eat clean, get enough protein from a variety of sources, eat frequently, don’t eat too much at one-time, avoid junk foods and alcohol. Anything else?

LL: Yes. A rather inexpensive supplement that is tremendously beneficial but often overlooked because it is not a “sexy” supplement that these marketing companies can make a lot of money on, is digestive enzymes.

The use of digestive enzymes is a wonderful tool to help break down the food that you’re taking in, especially when you’re trying to gain muscular weight and your caloric intake is higher. If you have trouble digesting all of the food, take some digestive enzymes.

CS: It’s interesting that you mention enzyme supplementation because there is a lot of new science which shows that enzymes not only aiding digestion but also exert tremendous anti-inflammatory effects that can combat inflammation, prevent delayed onset muscle soreness and speed exercise recovery…

LL: Exactly. Our Sorenzyme product is an enzyme product that is tremendously beneficial. But the enzymes in Sorenzyme do differ from regular digestive enzymes because they are enzymes that work on a systemic level and address the issue of DOMS.

DOMS affects so many people, and I would say that more than half of bodybuilders are in a constantly over-trained state. And, that’s the reason that they can’t make any more progress – they are training too hard and too often.

Obviously, one of the things you can do is to back off on the volume of training to allow your natural recovery processes to take its course. Or, you can do things to speed up the recovery process. One of the things that we have been finding from our research is that judicious use of enzymes can actually reduce the inflammation associated with DOMS, which increases recovery and therefore increase muscle growth – it can almost double it. It’s tremendous.

Enzymes accelerate your results. If you remove the inflammation associated with delayed onset muscle soreness and the muscle tissue can repair itself faster, you can get into the gym and work out more and work out more often, and you can see faster results. What we have found is that bodybuilders who use Sorenzyme have 63% less DOMS than those who don’t, along with 400% less loss of force between workouts. Sorenzyme is the best kept supplement secret in existence.

You know, enzymes to a work by the same pathway as anabolic steroids, but they are similar to anabolic steroids in that they do speed up the recovery process.

CS: Awesome stuff Lee! Since we have run out of time today, how about we make a second interview to finish covering our topics?

LL: Sounds great Clayton! I look forward to that.

Note: Don't miss out on Part 2 of Lee Labrada's Bodybuilding Nutrition Secrets Interview.

About The Authors

Clayton South is an ISSA Sports Performance Nutritionist and recognized expert in the bodybuilding / fitness industry with over 150 bodybuilding, fitness and nutrition publications to his credit. Mr. South has worked as the Chief Research Officer (CRO) of a major nutrition company, and he currently serves as a marketing and advertising advisor to many of the major companies in the dietary supplement industry.

As a consumer advocate, Clayton South tests and reviews dietary supplements every day. In this role he is the author of "The Supplement Files" - an unbiased, truthful "no-nonsense" inside look at dietary supplement products.

In addition to writing other articles, Mr. South authors Clayton South Health Facts, Q and A with Clayton South, and Applied Bodybuilding Research.

He is a regular contributor to Double XL Magazine, Bodybuilding.com and Lee Labrada’s Lean Body Coaching Club. He has millions of readers every month from around the world.

Lee Labrada, is a former IFBB Mr. Universe and IFFB Pro World Cup winner. He is one of few men in history to place in the top four in the Mr. Olympia seven consecutive times, and was recently inducted into the IFBB Pro Bodybuilding Hall of Fame. Lee is President/CEO of Houston-based Labrada Nutrition.