The best mass gainers: ranking of the best gainers 2022

Naturally thin men and women have some problems gaining weight. While they alone dream of losing a couple of kilograms, they cannot gain weight. It is especially difficult for those who want to acquire good muscles. Especially for this category of people, a special sports nutrition was developed - gainer.

This supplement accelerates muscle growth. It allows you to relieve the digestive tract by reducing the amount of food consumed, but at the same time increases the calorie content of the diet due to its high energy value. Sports nutrition begins to work only with a properly designed training program and a balanced diet.

What is a gainer?

Gainer is a powder mixture consisting of carbohydrates, proteins, and microelements. Sports nutrition gets its name from the English word gain, meaning increase, growth. A characteristic feature of the additive is its rather mild and pleasant taste. Manufacturers can add creatine, various vitamins, and nutritional supplements to gainers to improve the absorption of nutrients by the body. The composition determines the proportions and rules of administration.

Gainers are taken not only for the purpose of gaining weight. Sports nutrition allows you to increase muscle strength and promote faster recovery after physical activity (training). Taking the supplement, regardless of the purpose of use, can significantly increase the number of calories consumed. There should be less received than spent. It is impossible to achieve an increase in muscle mass without following this rule.

It is recommended to take sports nutrition when playing basketball, football, and athletics. Gainers make it much easier to endure serious aerobic exercise. Taking the supplement before a workout helps provide your body with extra energy. This does not mean that sports nutrition should be drunk immediately before physical activity. Experts, on the contrary, warn athletes against such a step.

Drinking a shake before exercise can spike your blood sugar. This will lead to a surge in insulin, which lowers the levels of testosterone and growth hormone, which has an extremely negative effect on muscle gain. The optimal time to take the mixture is considered to be 30-60 minutes before the start of training.

TOP 5 GAINERS! We're gaining mass!

Extreme Gainer Blend

Can't build muscle despite grueling workouts? Extreme Gainer Blend may be the solution to your problem. The shake contains 35g of protein blend and a whopping 61g of carbohydrates - you can be sure you'll hit your macros and calorie goals.

This gainer also contains creatine and L-glutamine, so you can get the most out of your workouts and build muscle mass later. The combination of vitamins in the composition will help reduce fatigue, which means that even during a busy day you will be able to recharge your batteries and cope with your workouts.

We offer this shake in four main flavors: chocolate, mint chocolate, strawberry cream and vanilla. This gainer will surely become your favorite drink during mass gain.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates come from modified corn starch, which quickly passes through the stomach and into the intestines. From there, it can be absorbed by the muscles and replace glycogen stores. In addition, unlike other carbohydrates, it does not increase insulin levels in the blood. Another benefit of this carbohydrate is that it can be used as a scavenging agent for other important nutrients such as creatine and L-glutamine.

Substances that help you gain weight

To gain weight faster, you need to include high-calorie foods in your menu, as well as various nutrients. Below are recommendations for the consumption of nutrients that are important for creating a competent diet that allows you to increase muscle size.

Protein

Protein-rich foods are foods that stimulate muscle growth and support muscle gains. The absorption of protein foods leads to the production of amino acids, thanks to which tissues grow.

Amino acids are divided into replaceable and essential. Some are produced in the body, while others come exclusively with food. If a person wants to gain weight, it is necessary to ensure their sufficient presence in the gainer.

Carbohydrates

To increase the calorie content of your daily diet, you need to consume carbohydrates. They are the main source of energy, including food. Fast carbohydrates and sugar allow you to gain weight quickly. They are found in large quantities in alcohol, baked goods, and sweets. The disadvantage of fast carbohydrates is that they contribute to the growth of body fat rather than mass.

Sweets, alcohol, and baked goods should be present in the diet in minimal quantities. Enriching the menu with complex carbohydrates allows you to increase your caloric intake. They are also high in calories, but give a long-lasting feeling of satiety and do not provoke fat gain. Fruits, vegetables, and cereals are rich in complex (slow) carbohydrates. The advantage of these products is their high fiber content, as well as supplying the body with energy during training and gaining muscle without fat.

Fat

A balanced diet is the main key to success in training. Products containing small amounts of fat have twice the calorie content of carbohydrates and proteins. Eggs, butter, lard, and red meat are rich in fats.

Unsaturated fats are especially useful, prolonging the health of blood vessels and tissues. They stabilize the synthesis of hormones, restore muscles, prolong the youth and beauty of the skin and hair, and help strengthen nails and bone tissue. The most unsaturated fats are in nuts, seafood, fish oil, and vegetable oil.

BJU in gainers

In sports supplements, these substances are present in the correct ratio and quantity. Their combination allows you to give the gainer excess caloric content, which allows you to increase muscle volume and strength indicators. High-quality supplements containing fast and complex carbohydrates will help you quickly gain the desired weight.

Recipes for making gainers at home

You can prepare weight gainer at home using natural products. It is important to maintain the correct balance between proteins, carbohydrates and fats. A homemade drink does not contain artificial colors or flavors, and therefore is healthier. In addition, a homemade gainer will always be cheaper than a store-bought one.

The time it takes to prepare a homemade mass gainer and its limited shelf life are the only difficulties you may encounter.

Homemade gainer composition: proteins and carbohydrates

To prepare a cocktail at home, you cannot do without the following ingredients:

• Protein: isolate cannot be obtained at home. Instead, low-fat milk powder or other protein-containing products are usually used.
• Sucrose: granulated sugar or refined sugar.
• Fructose: bee honey.
• Cocoa powder (for chocolate lovers).
• Maltodextrin: A complex carbohydrate that can be found in any grocery store.

To prepare the base of the cocktail, first mix protein (protein) and sucrose (carbohydrate) in the desired ratio: standard - 70% to 30%. Add the remaining ingredients to taste, taking into account the percentage of proteins and carbohydrates in their composition.

Choose cottage cheese, skim milk, 10% fat sour cream or egg white as a source of pure protein for your cocktail. The most carbohydrates are found in oatmeal, bananas, honey, sugar and sweet syrup.

Mix everything in a blender. Consume before or after training.

Why do you need a gainer?

The substances obtained from the nutritional cocktail continue to work for several more hours. They help quickly replenish the energy expended by muscle cells. A gainer allows the body to receive the most important nutrients for muscles, and a properly formulated diet, coupled with training, helps build a beautiful and sculpted body.

It's not always possible to eat right. To achieve this goal, the number of meals is increased to 4-6 times a day. It is impossible to create a menu in such a way that it contains only vitamins, minerals, and unsaturated fats. It is not uncommon to have to skip a home-cooked meal. It is these gaps that are filled with the help of a gainer. The main thing when taking a prepared cocktail is to take into account your own physique.

How to choose a gainer for weight gain?

Gainer intake according to body type

Endomorphs are naturally prone to weight gain. People with this body type accumulate fat quickly, so they should be careful when taking gainers. Endomorphs can gain weight under absolutely any conditions. A genetic predisposition to obesity while taking a gainer can lead not only to muscle gain, but also fat mass.

Experts advise endomorphs to give up gainers. Athletes of this body type are better off switching to pure protein, and also abandoning fast carbohydrates in favor of complex ones. Of course, if you want to have a beautiful relief and decent weight, you should take the supplement. The main thing is to consider the loads, which should be sufficient to prevent the deposition of fat.

Important! Without a proper diet and regular exercise, taking a gainer only leads to the formation of a fat layer.

Ectomorphs have a naturally thin build. They experience certain difficulties with gaining weight. The food consumed is absorbed almost immediately and is not stored in subcutaneous fat. Wanting to pump up, ectomorphs literally cannot gain muscle mass, so a gainer becomes a real salvation for them. By consuming cocktails from this sports nutrition, they quickly gain hard and dense muscles.

Advantages and disadvantages of gainers

Taking sports nutrition allows you to move faster and more efficiently, achieving much better results than usual. The gainer energizes and motivates you to workout. This property manifests itself especially well after exhausting loads. The gainer helps you recover faster and not feel very tired, and the composition of the supplement itself is absolutely natural.

The main advantages of sports nutrition are:

• high content of protein and carbohydrates, without which new muscle cells are not built after training;
• the presence of a complex of amino acids (BCAA), which provides greater endurance of the body;
• rapid recovery of muscles after injury;
• preventing the destruction of muscle tissue during and after intense training;
• getting a boost of energy for long-term physical activity.

The main disadvantages of the gainer are:

• possible development of flatulence, diarrhea;
• without proper and regular training, excess fat is formed;
• is not a complete replacement for food;
• may contain impurities of gluten, soy, and other components.

Gainer should not be taken if you have diabetes, lactose intolerance, or digestive system dysfunction.

When should I take it?

There are no strict rules regarding the time of consumption of a gainer, but you can still get more benefits from this cocktail at certain times.

To energize yourself in the morning, you can start your day with a gainer - it can become a complete and satisfying breakfast option for you.

And if you drink a shake after a workout, it will help you recover faster - it will replace spent energy reserves and provide you with the protein you need to build muscle mass.

How to take mass gainer

Sports nutrition is sold in powder form, which is diluted with juice, milk or water to create a nutritional shake. The liquid can be either cold or warm. Gainer should not be diluted with boiling water, as this will lead to protein coagulation, reducing its usefulness.

Gainer can be consumed together with broths, cereals and other foods. The serving size depends on the daily dose. To gain weight, it is best to divide the daily intake into several doses, consumed several times a day. The table below shows consumption rates for different weights.

It is recommended to consume sports nutrition, if you do not take into account the manufacturer and type of gainer, twice a day. One serving makes a scoop. Its volume varies between 100-130 g.

The first portion should be taken an hour before the start of the training. This allows you to get the necessary boost of energy and strength during physical activity. The second time you should drink the gainer within 35-40 minutes after completing your workout. This technique will quickly restore expended calories and supply the body with useful substances.

Two servings of gainer allow an athlete to get from 2000 to 2600 kcal per day. Professionals often increase the number of techniques up to four times. It is highly not recommended for beginners and amateurs to take such a step. Without enormous physical activity, fat deposits begin to accumulate instead of muscles.

How to take gainer. Mass gainer.

Conclusion

When asking which gainer is best to buy, you should consider the following:

1. More protein, less sugar.
2. The average cost per 1 kg is approximately 1,000 rubles.
3. Choose based on the daily calorie intake calculated for yourself, as well as the intensity of your training and diet.
4. Recalculate the composition as a percentage, without bothering your head with portion sizes.
5. Choose products from well-known brands, but do not overpay, since some manufacturers often inflate the cost just because of the brand.
6. For ectomorphs - high-calorie gainers, and for mesomorphs and endomorphs - high-protein or balanced ones are better.

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Gainer selection criteria

The best weight gainers are those that contain little sugar and a lot of protein. The cost of sports nutrition completely depends on what components are included in the composition, net weight, size and calorie content, weight, manufacturer.

Most gainers contain a multi-component protein consisting of whey and egg protein with casein. Some manufacturers replace it with soybean.

You should carefully monitor the sugar content. It may not be on the ingredient list but present in the supplement. The more sugar, the higher the likelihood of gas formation.

In a good gainer, the amount of protein should be at the level of 30-35%. The optimal level is 20%. If the protein content is lower, the gainer is of poor quality.

What does a sports gainer consist of?

First of all, it is a dry mixture consisting of a protein component, most often whey isolate, and complex carbohydrates. The percentages of these two macronutrients may vary. The most popular proportions are 50/40 and 75/15.

Due to this composition, the product may have a different glycemic index, as indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging. This index displays glycogen content, which ensures rapid muscle recovery after intense training.

In addition to the protein complex and carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids BCAAs and creatine, as well as other dietary supplements are added to the composition. All these components work effectively together, as their properties complement each other.

TOP 10 mass gainers

If you don't know which sports supplement to choose, use our list of the ten best gainers.

Olimp MAX Mass 3XL

The high-calorie protein-carbohydrate complex was developed specifically for ectomorph athletes who have difficulty gaining weight. It has an optimally balanced composition: 2270 mg of creatine, 85 g of carbohydrates, 12 g of protein, 2500 mg of taurine. The composition contains complex and simple carbohydrates, as well as amino acids.

Its intake allows you to fully provide nutrition to muscle structures. It helps to effectively restore tissue cells. Suitable for both men and women. Pairs perfectly with a high-intensity training program. The calorie content of one serving is 397 kcal. Can be taken before physical activity and between meals.

VPLab Mass Builder

The gainer, produced in the UK, contains not only carbohydrates and dietary fiber, but also prebiotics, which allow the sports supplement to be better absorbed by the body. There are 71 g of carbohydrates per serving. It is best to take the supplement after completing your workout. Suitable for beginners and professionals.

The downside is that it contains soy isolate. Protein obtained from soy is considered less effective and poorly absorbed in the body. Another nuance is the small amount of protein. There are only twenty grams per serving.

Geneticlab Nutrition Mass Gainer

One serving of this gainer contains an optimally selected ratio of beneficial elements and vitamins. Carbohydrates provide the body with enough energy to perform strength training. The sports supplement prevents the destruction of muscle fibers, promotes weight gain, and increases strength and endurance during training.

Among the disadvantages, users note that the taste is not the most pleasant, as well as foaming when preparing a cocktail. This sports supplement is not suitable for everyone, as it can cause digestive discomfort and flatulence.

R-Line Light Mass

A Russian-made gainer designed specifically for people who have problems gaining weight, but want to build muscle mass. The supplement is high in calories and does not put a strain on the digestive system.

Sports nutrition covers the body's need for vitamins and other nutrients. It increases the body's protective functions and allows the body to quickly adapt to serious stress. The downside is that it contains soy protein and protein. Before taking, consultation with a doctor is required, since the supplement has contraindications for use.

RONMAN Turbo Mass Gainer

Another Russian-made protein shake. Available in cans and soft packaging. Designed for use before and after workouts. The composition includes a lot of glycogen, which allows you to perform aerobic and strength exercises. Contains milk protein, so it can replace one of your meals. The disadvantages of the supplement include the presence of soy protein in the composition, as well as maltodextrin, which increases sugar levels. Many users don't really like the overly sweet taste.

Mutant Mass

A carbohydrate-protein, high-calorie gainer that has become widely known among athletes who want to gain significant weight. Contains colostrum, which has a positive effect on the body's protective functions, protecting it from bacteria and viruses. This substance activates tissue regeneration, promoting rapid recovery after a strenuous workout and normalizes fat metabolism. The disadvantage is the high calorie content (1 serving accounts for 1000 Kcal). It is only suitable for those who are engaged in strength training or preparing for competitions.

Maxler Special Mass Gainer

This is a gainer consisting of whey protein. egg and milk protein, as well as other components that promote weight gain in the shortest possible time. The composition also contains coconut and flaxseed oils, sweeteners and flavorings. It can be taken separately or combined with other products.

The right carbohydrates included in its composition contribute to the growth of elastic and hard muscles. The disadvantage is the possible manifestation of digestive problems. Some athletes do not like the overly sweet taste, which is why the supplement must be diluted with plenty of liquid.

Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass

A high-calorie and highly concentrated cocktail that allows you to quickly build muscle mass, increase muscle endurance, and exercise as efficiently as possible in high-intensity training. The additive is produced in soft sealed packaging and cans. Among the disadvantages, it should be noted that maltodextrin, which increases blood sugar, is too expensive. Users note the taste is too cloying.

BSN True-Mass

Sports nutrition with complex carbohydrates, promoting the rapid gain of high-quality dry mass. The main advantage of the gainer is that it contains components that have different rates of absorption. This provides long-term nutrition to muscle fibers and prevents fiber breakdown on non-training days and between physical activities.

All components are easily absorbed by the body. It is recommended to take the cocktail immediately after completing your workout. Additional calories must be obtained from the rest of the diet. The downside is the rather high cost. Some athletes note severe thirst after taking it, as well as increased gas formation in the intestines.

Weight Gainer Blend

Want to increase your calorie intake without emptying your wallet? Then Weight Gainer is what you need. Each serving of this gainer contains more than 30 g of fast and slow digesting protein and 50 g of a mixture of carbohydrates, which will allow you to load up on calories during the period of mass gain.

You can choose any of three classic flavors - chocolate, vanilla or strawberry - and thus diversify your snack. You can also buy a natural gainer, without flavoring additives, and give it the desired taste yourself, say, with the help of your favorite fruits, or add Flavdrops.

The very protein that makes muscles grow comes from a mixture of whey protein concentrate and milk protein concentrate, while carbohydrates are a combination of the two. One mixture provides an initial burst of energy, and it is oatmeal and maltodextrin, the other is a source of prolonged energy, which prevents loss of strength after working out in the gym.