That's when a mass gainer can be your best friend. Like the best protein shakes, mass gainers (also known as weight gainers or gainer shakes) are full of muscle-building amino acids and protein, but they also add carbs and other nutrients to maximize your calorie and macro intake. We haven’t tried this version of Muscle Milk, though the GGR team has had their hands on just about every other Muscle Milk product under the sun. GGR Head of Content and product tester Kate Meier calls Muscle Milk her “treat” protein shake, and GGR Performance Editor and product tester Anthony O’Reilly keeps a case of their premade protein shakes in his fridge at all times. We’re sure this powder tastes just as good.

This makes it more versatile and suits more people, especially if you’re not looking to add 1000+ calories to your balanced diet. Value: The lowest priced gainer isn't always the best value! All of our best weight gainers factor in the price per serving.As Laila Ouldibbat, a registered dietitian explained, you want enough non-protein calories to allow for the protein sources to be used for preserving and building lean muscle mass, and not energy. So, unlike the best protein shakes, you’ll actually want something with lots of carbs. Recommended: If you’re looking to compare, here is the list of Best Mass Gainers ranked for 2022. Why Did I Try Mutant Mass? This isn’t a super high calorie mass gainer supplement so it may not be appropriate if you’re trying to add 1000+ calories to your diet with a gainer shake.

MuscleMeds Carnivore Mass diet supplement is one of the most unique and best protein powders for weight gain shakes. Unlike most protein supplements that use whey protein as a base, Carnivore Mass uses hydrolyzed beef as its protein source. As far as mass gainers go this is a big player and with less than 5g of fat per serving it should provide a good bulk without amassing too much fat. Anyone looking to create a carb and protein heavy calorie surplus will easily be able to do so with this weight gaining supplement. The only downside that we found was that the sugar content per serving was a little higher than we would like with 21g per serving – but this is difficult to avoid when taking on so many carbs and when convenience is taken in to consideration it is a small price to pay. In terms of cost, there are two size options (2.72kg and 5.45kg) and both compare well on price to the other brands we have reviewed here. The calorie content is huge and can be taken in full or half servings. It’s super-rich in carbs for a massive serving that tastes great and helps you add anywhere from 650 to 1300 calories per half-serving or serving. Who Is Naked Gainer NOT For? Based on Sweet Vanilla flavor. Nutritional content varies by flavor Best Mass Gainer for Bodybuilding: Rival Nutrition Clean Gainer St-Onge MP, Ross R, Parsons WD, Jones PJ. Medium-chain triglycerides increase energy expenditure and decrease adiposity in overweight men. Obes Res. 2003 Mar;11(3):395-402. doi: 10.1038/oby.2003.53. PMID: 12634436.Mass gainers are also sometimes used by people who need to gain weight for health reasons. Who Shouldn’t Take a Mass Gainer We’ve compared them with each other and come up with the best choices on the market. These are based on a simple judging criteria that you should also adopt: 1. Ingredients Vitamin Shoppe, a well-known store for natural supplements, is the company behind True Athlete Natural Gainer. True Athlete’s Natural Gainer is a popular mass gainer supplement and is the first supplement to earn the Certified for Sport certification by the National Science Foundation. True Athlete Natural Gainer to Increase Muscle Gaining The serving size is also just great for adding more control over your balanced diet without the absurd calorie content of something like Extreme2000. Who Is MuscleFeast Ultimate Weight Gainer For?

Optimum Nutrition’s Pro Gainer is a high-protein weight gainer with a huge 60g of protein per 650-calorie serving. This puts it around a 1:1.4 ratio of protein to carbs – among the best on the market for high protein mass gainer supplements, and a ridiculous per-calorie ratio. Naked Mass is a minimalist mass gainer supplement that combines an effective protein (essential amino acids) and carb content with one of the best flavors on the market. You get eight different high-quality protein sources (including casein and whey protein), all of which, Ouldibbat says, are not only easily digestible but also take longer to digest. This helps keep you fuller for longer, thereby making it easier to avoid extra calorie intake throughout the day. The calorie content is typically better when it’s higher – to a point. Anything that has more than 400 calories per 100 grams will have to increase fat content and lower the content of carbs and protein. The balance between these two pressures is what makes great a mass gainer.Anyone who needs a huge boost of calories per serving should not be taking mass gainer supplements like these. This product has around half the calorie content per serving of many on today’s list. We have opted for well known and reputable brands when it comes to compiling this top 11 list of the best mass gainers.

Registered dietitian Laila Ouldibbat points out that the powder also contains lactase 4 and protease 5 enzymes, which can aid in the breakdown and digestion of lactose and protein, respectively. This may lead to better absorption of nutrients, specifically protein. If you’re not getting the proper amount of vitamins and minerals from your other meals and they’re not present in your mass gainer, you may need to take additional supplements to avoid any issues. Training Intensity This is great for those who are looking to put weight on fast, as it can help you easily achieve a caloric surplus. The addition of five grams of creatine may also help those looking to increase muscle size and strength 1. *Formula: It's important to choose a formula that has the numbers you need to support your goal, not just a bunch of fillers and poor-quality ingredients. Yes, a gainer is far more decadent than a traditional protein shake, but the label shouldn't make it feel like a candy bar in a glass. The greatest benefit of Universal Nutrition’s Real Gains Weight Gainer is its serving size. Adults can expect 50+ grams of protein in a 150-gram or three-scoop serving size. People often comment that because of this ratio, they notice that Real Gains supplements last longer than other gainer powders. Glutamine: This supplement includes glutamine, an essential amino acid that aids in muscle tissue repair and supports immune function. It’s still one of the best tasting products on the market and offers a great choice to gain mass for vegans. (making it a great vegan mass gainer) Who Is Naked Nutrition Vegan Naked Mass Gainer For? Low-calorie powders are not going to support your weight gain, and can leave you without enough extra calories and protein to gain muscle mass.