Nowadays, the perfect body shape or body weight is a controversial topic. In the same family or friend group you find different opinions about it. Some of them want to lose weight, others want to gain weight while others want to build muscle mass…
Losing weight has been described as the most difficult goal to achieve but it is also good to highlight that gaining weight also can be a long and difficult journey. Increasing calorie intake and physical activity level can be hard to achieve for some, that is why adding supplements to the diet is a great solution.
In this article below, we will take a look at one of the most popular and used supplements: “Mass Gainer“.
Mass-gainer product is a supplement powder that contains protein in addition to other components such as carbohydrates and fats.
This high calorie content powder aims to fuel your body in order to gain weight and build muscle mass. But you should remember that mass gainer is just only a supplement that you take with your meals and not as a meal replacement.
As the mass gainer products are considered a source of energy due to carbohydrates content, source of proteins, fibers, vitamins and minerals. Their use is very helpful in different conditions: they’re designed to help you add weight and build muscle mass, especially if you want to increase your calorie intake and eat a macronutrient dense meal but you don’t have enough time or you feel uncomfortable eating huge quantities of foods.
In addition, it is useful for people with a fast metabolism, who have difficulty gaining body mass even after eating a healthy diet.
While having an intense physical activity program with a specific percentage of carbohydrates, proteins… Using a supplement like a mass gainer product that contains extra protein and carbohydrates is a convenient way to get more calories into the diet.
Fibers content may aid digestion and help relieve bloating. Fiber helps faeces pass more quickly and maintains consistent blood flow in the body.
Proteins powders and mass gainer powders both provide a quick and convenient way to increase protein levels in your body.
Mass gainers can boost calorie intake significantly, while containing a high amount of fats and carbohydrates and proteins that promote weight gain and bulking. People can choose products with fewer calories if their focus is on gaining lean muscle rather than weight.
While protein powders are considered a pure form of protein with barely amounts of fats and carbohydrates to help build muscles while staying lean.
When it comes to choosing the best mass gainer product, you can find yourself confused between many products presented in the market.
Finding the best mass gainer should not be difficult at all. In the following paragraph, you can find different points to follow that will help you understand more about the difference between the products and how to choose the most suitable one.
You should take into consideration the carb to protein ratio when your goal is building muscle mass. Complex carbs and proteins in the mass gainer should be present in the ratio of 3:1.
Proteins should come from slow-medium and fast-release sources, like whey proteins. Most mass gainers are a blend of protein sources that ensure that the amino acids are steadily released into your bloodstream, rather than just digested quickly.
You need complex carbohydrates and not sugars as they take longer to digest, which gives you more energy for the workout. This means there won’t be any added sugars, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Oats are one of the slowest digesting carb sources and will keep your insulin levels steady more than other carb sources.
Fats have different functions within the body, so make sure your weight gainer supplement has a good blend of medium chain triglycerides, and omega-3 instead of saturated fats.
Some of the extra ingredients that add a value to the mass gainer product are:
To begin, choose a product that has passed third-party testing to ensure you are consuming a high-quality product. There are several third-party testing organizations accessible, including:
After finding a product that has passed the necessary tests and is safe to use, it is important to concentrate on the carbohydrates to protein ratio. Mass gainers should have a complex carbohydrate-to-protein ratio of 3:1 to add muscle. Complex carbohydrates should be consumed since they take longer to digest, create a feeling of satiety, and provide sufficient amounts of energy while exercising. Oats, quinoa, and barley are examples of complex carbohydrates.
Protein sources in mass gainers should include both fast-release and slow-release choices. Whey protein, casein, and calcium caseinate are a few examples of these sources. Slow-release sources aid in the preservation of lean muscle mass, the prevention of muscle breakdown between meals and during the night, and the maintenance of a positive nitrogen balance. Fast-release proteins take less time to digest and are more efficient in repairing muscles after workouts.
The calorie content of mass gainers varies from product to product, so always try your best to carefully read the nutrition facts panel on the back of each product. Optimum Serious Mass, for example, has 1,250 calories per 2 scoops, and Musclemeds carnivore lean meal has 340 calories per serving. Always keep your goals in mind, as well as how many more calories you want to add to your daily consumption. Remember that a calorie excess can lead to weight gain.
Digestive enzymes are necessary for mass gainers because they provide fuel for strenuous exercises. If you are prone to bloating, use a mass gainer with digestive enzymes to aid digestion and reduce gastrointestinal disturbances.
Try your best to select mass gainers that contain complex carbohydrates and proteins because simple carbohydrates get absorbed quicker, produce a spike in blood glucose levels, and thus provide consumers with a short-lasting source of energy. Furthermore, select products that are free from added sugars, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. Tip: Select a mass gainer that does not contain more than 6 grams of sugar in a 100 g serving.
Opt for a mass gainer that does not contain more than 1-2 grams of saturated fat within one serving. A good option for a mass gainer should include medium-chain fatty acids, omega-3, and conjugated linoleic acids.
If you are prone to gastrointestinal issues, avoid artificial ingredients and additives such as Sucralose or Acesulfame Potassium in favor of natural sweeteners such as Stevia or natural sugar. Other ingredients such as xanthan gum, guar gum, high fructose corn syrup, and hydrogenated oils can also cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
There is a large array of plant-based mass gainers available on the market for vegans. Vegan Naked Mass and Warrior Lean Muscle Weight Gainer are two examples of vegan mass gainers.
A wide variety of flavors of mass gainers are available in the market to choose from and include Vanilla, peanut butter, chocolate, strawberry, cookies and cream, and banana.
When selecting a product to use, reviews available on various search engines can be helpful in making up your mind and selecting a product.
If you are using mass gainers for the first time several things should be kept in mind and they will be discussed below:
Mass gainers may be ingested in a variety of ways and the choice is based on your preferences. The simplest and most successful method is to mix the mass gainer with water and shake it vigorously until it dissolves. The mass gainer can be blended with milk to offer extra calories and protein. When mass gainer is combined with milk, it creates a creamy smoothie that is packed in macronutrients. Remember that adding mass gainer with milk takes time to digest. Other foods, such as oats, peanut butter, or fruits, can also be added to mass gainers.
There isn’t a specific ideal time to consume mass gainers and the way you decide to consume it depends on your dietary goals or workout schedule. However, there are specific times that may help you build muscle more efficiently.
Mass gainers can be consumed post-workout sessions to repair muscle damage and allow an insulin surge which is required for building muscles.
After several hours of sleep, our bodies enter a catabolic state so consuming a mass gainer early in the morning gives consumers enough calories and proteins to shift our bodies to an anabolic state.
To date, there is no specific research on the side effects of mass gainers however, since they are high in calories some users may develop some gastrointestinal disturbances such as bloating, flatulence, indigestion, diarrhea, or constipation. Also, mass gainers are high in sugars and carbohydrates hence these products may not suit individuals that have diabetes or insulin resistance.
Mass gainers are not necessary for usage because sufficient amounts of nutrients and calories may be gained through ordinary diets; nevertheless, if you want to gain weight or lean muscle mass and require a caloric surplus, you can use mass gainers. Mass gainers supply rapid calories, proteins, and carbs to meet your requirements.
Before determining the number of scoops of mass gainer, figure out how many calories you are consuming during the day and how many additional calories you require to get from the product. For example, one serving of a certain mass gainer may provide you with 1200 calories and you may not require that many calories so you can reduce your intake to half a serving.
Whey proteins include pure forms of protein that assist in sustaining lean mass growth without the extra calories that carbs and fat provide; nevertheless, mass gainers comprise macronutrients such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates to stimulate weight gain.
If you are facing difficulties in gaining weight from your daily diet then the use of mass gainers to add additional macronutrients can be beneficial. Mass gainers provide users with a robust amount of calories, proteins, and carbohydrates to increase muscle mass. Finding the right product may be a bit difficult however several aspects should be taken into consideration such as third-party testing, nutritional quality, and flavors.
Before taking any nutritional supplements, always consult a healthcare professional.
Maltodextrin, Whey Protein Concentrate, Cocoa Powder, Non-Dairy Creamer, Natural and Artificial Flavours, Gum Blend (Cellulose, Guar, Xanthan), Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Creatine Monohydrate, Salt, Soy Lecithin.Manufactured in a facility that processes sesame, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, fish, shellfish and wheat products.
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CORE CHAMPS MASS Gainer is a product under the category of mass gainer or muscle building. It contains 50 grams of high-quality protein, quickly digested carbohydrates, and other minerals. This advanced mass gainer has been designed for any individual who has a tough time adding size, is in their bulking phase, or wants to break through their strength plateaus.
Maltodextrin, protein blend (WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE. WHEY PROTEIN HYDROLYSATE, MICELLAR CASEIN), sunflower creamer (SUNFLOWER OIL, ALTODEXTRIN, SODIUM CASEINATE. MONO & DIGLYCERIDES, NATURAL TOCOPHEROLS AND TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE), cocoa powder. LESS THAN 2% OF: creatine monohydrate, fructose, natural and artificial flavors, vitamin and mineral blend (SODIUM ASCORBATE, D-ALPHA TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, CALCIUM-D-PANTOTHENATE, POTASSIUM IODIDE PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, THIAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE. RIBOFLAVIN, CYANOCOBALAMIN), gum blend (CELLULOSE GUM XANTHAN GUM, CARRAGEENAN), potassium chloride, salt, soy lecithin, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, sunflower lecithin.
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For some people, gaining mass can be challenging more than losing weight. Dymatize Super Mass Gainer 6 lb Rich Chocolate is a high quality mass gain formula that helps people who want to gain mass and build muscle due to his enough content of proteins, BCAAs, calories and other essential nutrients.
Maltodextrin, whey protein concentrate, natural and artificial flavors, sunflower and/or soy lecithin, red 40 lake, acesulfame potassium, sucralose.
Not available.
Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass Weight Gainer is a muscle building and weight gain formula that contains 1,250 calories per serving and 50 grams of protein that lead to muscle recovery support. This powder can be used as a post-workout shake and a shake between meals to achieve nutritional goals.
Change requires effort, but it doesn’t have to be hard if you have the right knowledge and tools. We believe the first step in being your best healthy version is knowledge. We encourage everyone to be informed about their health and understand how nutrients, supplements, and products affect the overall wellness. And we are here to do just that. We are committed to educating the world about what wellness truly means.
