Understanding what bioavailability means in relation to food protein is important for anyone that's trying to build muscle.  Since eating high quality protein is a big factor in promoting muscle growth, it's important to understand what and why certain proteins may or may not be more beneficial than others.

You may have heard the term "bioavailability" in relation to protein before, but weren't quite sure what it meant. 

The term bioavailablity refers to the "usefulness" of a protein or protein supplement. 

Before we get any further, let's do a quick refresher course on the three important types of amino acids.

Read more: Bioavailability of Protein in Relation to Building Muscle

Whether you are a beginner or veteran to bodybuilding, you probably already know that adequate protein intake is extremely important if building muscle mass is your primary goal.  Most experts recommend that bodybuilders consume up to twice as much protein as a sedentary person. 

Even if you are weight training regularly, consuming inadequate amounts of protein will result in slower strength and muscle gains, and can even lead to muscle loss! 

So we know that anyone involved in highly intense training needs to consume enough protein-but have you ever wondered exactly why protein intake is so important? 

Here are the main reasons why bodybuilders require more protein then inactive people:

Read more: The Importance of Adequate Protein Intake for Bodybuilders

Below is a sample daily meal plan for someone on a weight gain diet.  This is what a typical day looks like for bodybuilder Trever Reed, who packed on an impressive 40+ pounds over a relatively short period of time.  

Sample Meal Plan (8 Meals / Day)

This article will outline the ten most important strategies to use when trying to gain weight.

1)  Eat 5 - 8 meals every day - It's important to constantly feed your body.  This will help provide it with the calories and nutrients that it needs to build mass.  Dividing meals into smaller portions will also help the body digest and absorb the foods you eat much more easily than if you were to consume the traditional 3 square meals per day.  Make sure you are feeding your body every 2 - 3 hours throughout the day.

Read more: 5 Simple Weight Gain Diet Tips