Infant formula for weight gain: helping low birth weight babies

An obstacle to a beautiful and sculpted body is a man’s too little weight. A high metabolic rate and a naturally thin physique (ectomorphic) do not allow you to build muscle. To form voluminous biceps, triceps, and pump up your abs, you need to gain weight. Various foods help you quickly gain the desired kilograms, but it is considered the best choice of porridge for weight gain .

Is it possible for an adult man to gain weight with cereals?

Porridge for weight gain

It is not necessary to resort to pharmacology or sports supplements. Easy-to-prepare porridges for weight gain help solve the weight problem for most young and adult professional bodybuilders who train for men without drugs or sports nutrition. It is not enough to simply choose a high-calorie product; you need to pay attention to its usefulness. Otherwise, all the kilograms you gain will be fat deposits.

The cereal has the following valuable qualities:

These are slow carbohydrates, which differ from fast ones in that they give a long-lasting feeling of fullness and do not cause a surge in insulin. Energy is released gradually, which allows you to train intensely and highly productively.
Rich composition of digestive enzymes, amino acids, proteins, macro- and microelements. The gastrointestinal tract is not overloaded, there are no negative reactions of the gastrointestinal tract.
A variety of cereals and recipes for preparing a wide variety of cereals, additionally enriched with vitamins. This allows you to expand and balance the menu.

Proper nutrition for gaining mass, not fat, involves consuming at least 35 kcal for every kilogram of your own weight. If a guy weighs 50 kg, he needs 1700 calories per day. This is approximately 500 to 600 grams of various cereals.

Important! Weight should not be confused with mass and just kilograms, which include subcutaneous fat. A man’s task is to gain weight through food rich in vitamins, minerals, micro- and macroelements, which provides energy for sports, and protein, which is converted into muscle fiber.

Why is sustainable weight gain important?

Indicators of the child’s length and body weight at birth and in the future are one of the main parameters by which the baby’s health status is assessed. WHO has established certain norms (average values) for monthly weight gain based on many factors and studies. Stable weight gain indicates normal growth and development of the baby, proper formation of the digestive system, timely production of enzymes in the intestines, good metabolism and absorption of food. A child is usually said to be underweight when his weight deviates by more than 10% compared to the age norm*. The disorder may be accompanied by decreased immunity, serious metabolic disorders, and delayed speech and psychomotor development.

Advantages

For athletes, it is extremely important to monitor nutrition, creating the most varied and tasty menu possible. Everyone knows about the need for protein for muscle growth, so they try to eat enough meat, fish, and eggs.

However, for mass gain, cereals are also required, which should make up 1/3 of the athlete’s daily diet.

The need is due to the positive properties that cereals have:

These are slow carbohydrates that satisfy hunger for a long time. They provide a gradual release of energy necessary for physical activity and high-intensity and effective training.
Rich composition, which includes digestive enzymes, amino acids, protein, micro- and macroelements. They do not overload the digestive system and do not cause a negative reaction from the gastrointestinal tract.
The opportunity to prepare a variety of dishes that will be not only healthy, but also tasty.
A large range of products and affordable prices, which allows you to diversify the menu and make it balanced.

Causes of underweight

Genetic failures and pathologies.
This category includes chromosomal abnormalities, constitutional abnormalities (for example, diathesis), fermentopathy (malabsorption syndrome, lactase deficiency, etc.), immunodeficiency, etc. All of these factors are endogenous and almost all are congenital. Also, children born with heart defects, deformations of the lips or jaw (cleft lip, cleft palate) may be underweight, as a result of which the child cannot fully suck and, accordingly, eat food.
Malnutrition.
Its cause may be constant underfeeding of the baby due to flat or inverted nipples on the mother's breast, which makes sucking difficult, as well as a small amount of milk, frequent regurgitation.
Wrong mode. Long breaks between feedings can cause insufficient weight gain. Normally, it is recommended to feed a newborn baby every 2-3 hours if he is breastfed, and every 3 hours if he is fed formula.
Digestive problems. Intestinal infections, dysbacteriosis, ARVI, and a number of other diseases can lead to disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. If food is not completely digested and is poorly absorbed, then the child’s body ceases to receive the vitamins and microelements necessary for normal life.

When is the best time to eat?

Before training

It is advisable to eat food at least two hours before training. Regarding food, let’s say that before training it is recommended to eat more foods rich in complex carbohydrates.

So, they will provide enough energy for a normal training process. For example, before training you can eat pasta, porridge, fruits, and vegetables. It is worth noting that half an hour before the start of your workout, you can drink a gainer - a protein-carbohydrate mixture - without much harm.

After training

At the end of your workout, you can allow yourself to eat a couple of bananas or drink a gainer. After 40 minutes, you can safely start your main meal, which should mostly contain proteins and slow carbohydrates.

Skipping a meal after training is unacceptable. In most cases, it is after the training process that the human body is able to absorb more nutrients.

It is important!

The weight of a healthy full-term baby usually ranges from 2.6 to 4 kilograms, but deviations from these values are allowed.
Monthly weight gain is also labile and depends on many factors. Pediatricians and parents are guided by average values of body weight gain. Dr. Komarovsky recommends calculating the increase using the following formulas:

if the child is under one year old, then his weight is m + 800n, where m is birth weight, and n is age in months;
if the child is already one year old and up to the age of ten, use another formula, in which the normal body weight is 10 + 2n, where n is age in years;
if the child is over 10 years old, then for the calculation they use a formula in which the normal weight is 30 + 4 * (n - 10), where n is age in years**.

Main slow carbohydrate

Carbohydrates can be divided into 2 types:

Fast. Absorbed very quickly, after which the body stops receiving energy
Iu from them;
Slow. They are absorbed gradually, allowing you to receive energy over a long period of time.

For example:

In the first case, you got 100 grams of carbohydrates from orange juice. The juice was absorbed within an hour and gave a quick release of energy. If you are in the gym or jogging (competition, marathon), this property of fast carbohydrate will help you.

But if you rely on getting energy throughout the day, this is where problems arise. And both in the training process and in life. Lack of slow carbohydrates is one of the main reasons for lethargy and drowsiness in the average person during the day.

Buckwheat is so significant in bodybuilding due to its ability to provide small bursts of energy throughout the day. This is an ideal slow carbohydrate that provides energy for training, life and muscle building.

How to determine underweight

It is important to note that a small increase in body weight that does not correspond to average norms or its absence is not a reason to immediately talk about pathological changes in the baby’s body. For the most part, children grow in leaps and bounds and can gain a decent amount of weight in one month, and in the next two they gain almost nothing but height. Also, a small increase may be due to the baby’s increased activity. If he learns to crawl or walk, moves a lot and expends energy, then the lack of mass becomes understandable. Thus, if a child is active, inquisitive, mobile, develops in accordance with his age and has excellent tests, there is no need to worry**. But lethargy, apathy, pallor against the background of underweight are reasons for immediate contact with a specialist. Only he can make an accurate diagnosis.

Nutritional Indicators for a Bodybuilder

Buckwheat porridge is an essential component of any athlete’s diet. This is due to the unique chemical composition of this product. Its use affects muscle mass indicators. They are increasing. At the same time, the body is saturated with protein, vitamins, amino acids, and minerals. Buckwheat can also be used by those who decide to lose weight. The spread of this product throughout the world began in the Himalayas. They are considered the birthplace of buckwheat.

In relation to athletes, it is considered the right carbohydrate. Modern capabilities have made it possible to study its chemical composition in detail and, on the basis of this, determine the nutritional value for various professional groups. Athletes are happy to use it in their diet because it helps achieve effective results.

If you regularly consume buckwheat, you can get the following effects:

Regular consumption leads to a decrease in cholesterol levels in the blood plasma.
The body receives complete plant protein in sufficient quantities.
The product helps increase muscle strength and endurance.
Buckwheat has a good feeling of satiety. For this reason, a person does not feel hungry for a long time.
Consumption of the product helps prevent the formation of stones in the gallbladder.
Helps normalize peripheral blood pressure.
Metabolic processes accelerate and appetite increases.
Buckwheat is a dietary product and is therefore included in various programs.
With the consumption of this cereal, the body is saturated with dietary fiber.
Cereals help remove excess water from the body.
Excess fat reserves are burned and the likelihood of their reoccurrence is reduced.
The body is saturated with vitamins and microelements.
All metabolic processes occurring in the body improve.
Various amino acids are supplied in sufficient quantities, which contain such a valuable species as lysine.

Buckwheat can exist in various varieties. For example, after porridge cooked from kernels is completely ready, its volume increases several times. When cooked, the cereal swells.

For athletes, it is better to use the highest grade of cereal. It is better if the cereal has a light color. This indicates that it was not subjected to heat treatment, which means that all valuable substances were preserved unchanged.

What to do if you are underweight

Many parents today have special scales at home for weighing babies. Thanks to them, they can control the child's weight. If the baby’s body weight does not change over a long period of time, you should contact a competent specialist, but under no circumstances make diagnoses yourself. The doctor will conduct a professional examination, give directions for the necessary examinations (if necessary) and give recommendations. If weight loss is minimal, you usually need to adjust your diet and eating habits. In cases where a small increase is caused by some disease (rotavirus infection, etc.), the doctor prescribes appropriate treatment to eliminate the cause of the lack of body weight.

Lentils

There are several types of lentils: red, green, brown, black.

Lentils contain a large amount of vegetable protein (20-25g/100g), are a source of iron and folic acid, and are rich in the amino acid tryptophan (which in our body turns into serotonin - the hormone of happiness).

Other useful properties:

has a positive effect on metabolism, an excellent product for weight loss
due to the large amount of fiber and dietary fiber, it improves intestinal motility, helping to cleanse it; improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract as a whole
has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, increasing vascular tone
will help improve skin condition
high content of microelements (calcium, phosphorus, iron and other important substances)
normalizes the functioning of the genitourinary system

In 100 grams of lentils:

Dry calories: 350 kcal

Proteins= 25g

Fat = 1.1g

Carbohydrates= 60.08g

Baby formula for weight gain

For low birth weight babies who have problems with weight gain, special infant formula may be recommended. Their composition takes into account the need of such babies for vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. They contain more proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The quality of the protein component is of great importance, and easily digestible whey proteins predominate over the casein fraction. To facilitate the absorption of the fat component, the diet includes medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), which can be absorbed into the intestines without the participation of enzymes. And for the absorption of carbohydrates, part of the lactose can be replaced with maltodextrin. Weight gain formulas have the word or prefix “PRE” in the product name.

Buckwheat porridge for weight loss

Use the following recommendations to understand how to use buckwheat porridge for weight loss:

Don't count on a no-carb diet. It does not work. If you've been consuming above average amounts of carbohydrates your whole life, switching to a different type of diet will be an extremely difficult and unnecessary task. Carbohydrates are sources of energy. Refusal of them entails a lack of energy, apathy, and the inability to perform physical and mental work. Against the background of reduced calorie content, this condition provokes a wild feeling of hunger, after which we get carbohydrate supercompensation and a return of weight to the original values within a day. Combining cereals with vegetables
Emphasis on cereals with a low glycemic index. White rice is not the best food for weight loss due to its high GI. It is advisable to diversify the diet with fresh vegetables and low-GI cereals (like pearl barley). More details in the table below;
The main thing is the ratio between calorie intake and expenditure. You need to burn 300-800 calories more per day than you consume. Otherwise, there will be no result even from the most dietary products, which is buckwheat porridge.

Rice

Currently, there are various types of rice on the shelves - white, brown, red, brown, wild, steamed. I won’t go into depth into each of these types, but I will say one thing - that unprocessed (unpolished, unsteamed) rice has the greatest benefits.

Rice porridge has been familiar to us since childhood. Often they gave it to us to strengthen the intestines.

Beneficial features:

rice contains about 8% protein, essential amino acids, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids
contains up to 80% slow (complex) carbohydrates
high content of minerals - phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iodine and other trace elements
Rice is gluten-free, so it can be safely consumed by people with allergies
the presence of lecithin has a positive effect on the condition of brain cells, improves performance and mental activity
rice removes excess sodium from the body - that is, it helps with swelling
Important is the enveloping property, thanks to which rice is able to reduce acidity in the stomach
dietary fiber helps normalize the gastrointestinal tract

In 100 grams of rice:

Dry calories: 344 kcal

Proteins = 6.7g

Fat = 0.7g

Carbohydrates = 78.9g

Quinoa

Another cereal that is now gaining popularity. Quinoa is an ancient grain native to South America that resembles corn or buckwheat in appearance.

Useful properties and composition:

gluten free
it contains a sufficient amount of the amino acid lysine - promotes better absorption of calcium
almost completely absorbed in the body
contains more fiber, riboflavin, complex carbohydrates and folate than wheat and rice
excellent source of vegetable protein (more than buckwheat porridge)
can lower blood sugar levels
also rich in macro and microelements (phosphorus, calcium, copper and others)
has a beneficial effect on the immune system when consumed regularly
Helps the body remove waste and toxins

In 100 grams of quinoa:

Dry calories: 368 kcal

Proteins = 14.1g

Fat= 6g

Carbohydrates= 57.2g

Bulgur

Not everyone knows what bulgur is. However, it is very common in Mediterranean cuisine, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Asia, the Middle East and India.

Bulgur is a porridge made from wheat, in which the grains are heat-treated with water, then dried (traditionally in the sun) and, as a rule, cleared of bran and remaining impurities, after which the grains are crushed to the desired size.

Beneficial features:

contains folic acid (useful for the female body) and a number of important macro- and microelements
cereal is rich in saturated fatty acids
easily digested and absorbed
speeds up metabolism
has a positive effect on the nervous system and emotional state due to the high content of B vitamins
it is possible to use bulgur as a scrub - improves the condition of the skin, fills it with radiance
The anti-inflammatory properties of bulgur are known

In 100 grams of bulgur:

Dry calories: 342 kcal

Proteins= 12.3g

Fat = 1.3g

Carbohydrates= 57.6g