A mass gainer protein supplement is useful when it becomes difficult to retain desired weight. The reason for lack of weight retention could derive from several reasons, but the common purpose of this product is to get lots of calories in the most convenient way possible.
Many supplement brands carry a mass gainer supplement. Since there are so many options available, understanding what these brands use to create their high-calorie products is the best way to make a good choice.
Read on to learn more about mass gainer protein supplements, key ingredients, and our choices for the best mass gainer protein. Let’s start by taking a look at our top picks.
Best Mass Gainer Supplements
Our team has reviewed over 1,000 supplements. These are our favorite mass gainers.
Keep in mind that the calories and macros will vary for each supplement, however, this mostly comes down to the serving size. You can increase or decrease the serving size for each to meet your personal nutrition goals.
CrazyNutrition Mass Gainer
CrazyNutrition offers a great mass gainer for people who want to increase their caloric intake with high-quality ingredients and favorable macros.
CrazyNutrition’s Mass Gainer contains 488 calories per serving (4 scoops).
This breaks down to 40 grams of protein, 55 grams of clean carbohydrates, and 10 grams of healthy fat (from MCT oil).
While this is one of the lower-calorie mass gainers on our list, we like that the formula is focused on providing quality ingredients designed for maximum absorption. Additionally, this formula contains the best ratio of protein to fat and carbohydrates.
The product also contains digestive enzymes to support digestion and avoid bloating.
Like all CrazyNutrition products, this Mass Gainer is backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Naked Mass
Naked Nutrition is known for providing simple, clean, and effective supplements.
Naked Mass is the company’s mass gainer, which is gluten-free, soy-free, GMO-free, and tested for quality by a third party. The product comes in 6 flavors (including an unflavored version and a vegan version)
Each serving of Naked Mass contains 1,250 calories (4 scoops).
This breaks down to 50 grams of protein, 252 grams of carbohydrates, 2.5 grams of total fat, but just one gram of dietary fiber.
With 50 grams of protein for every 252 grams of carbohydrates, Naked Mass is ideal for people who want to increase protein intake and carbohydrate intake simultaneously.
Transparent Labs Mass Gainer
Transparent Labs Mass Gainer is a weight-gaining supplement designed to help you back on lean muscle mass.
The product comes in two flavors, both of which avoid exclude any artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives.
Each serving contains 790 calories (from 2 scoops).
This breaks down to 53 grams of protein, 114 grams of carbohydrates, and 14 grams of fat.
From a macronutrient perspective, this is the most balanced formula on our list. It also contains the most protein per-serving.
Mass Gainer Protein Supplement Benefits
The benefits of a mass gainer mainly revolve around simply being high-calorie consumption. Knowing who would use this type of supplement will give you a good idea of what it is.
You would want to use this product if:
- You have trouble adding on mass (high metabolism or ectomorph body type)
- You need a meal replacement following a workout
- You are an athlete and need more calories for your training days
Don’t buy this product if:
- You are overweight and inactive
- You are already consuming enough whole foods throughout the day
- You are on a calorie deficit with carbohydrates
You can see that the main purpose of these products is calorie based. They are around 650-1,400 calories per full serving, which is really close to the calories some need for the day.
The main calories come from carbohydrates and then protein, so if you are doing a low carb or keto diet, then you most likely will want to stay clear of this.
A mass gainer supplement can be used as a meal replacement but is not intended to replace all whole foods completely. One meal and possibly a snack would be okay. Never use supplements as a means to replace all whole foods unless medically advised to.
Mass Gainer Protein Key Ingredients
Inside, these products are more than just protein and carbs. Many mass gainers have reinforced vitamins, minerals, and various amino acids on top of what you gain from the provided protein(s).
Creatine, glutamine, and extra BCAAs/EAAs are commonly added. Basically, these are all ingredients that help stimulate muscle growth through a proper diet and training program. A mass gainer is useless if you are not actively training 3-4 days of the week. The mass you gain without training is fat instead of muscle.
Be cautious with making your decision based on protein content. The protein content is registered in lab analysis through how many amino acids are present.
Creatine, glutamine, BCAA, EAA, taurine, and several others spike protein counts high. An example of this is shown with one of the best mass gainer protein supplements listed below.
Any extra ingredients depend on the supplement brand and what they want to add to their product. The overall substance you get from these products is calories to build up your mass and support training taking place.
Final Thoughts: Best Mass Gainer Proteins
Since the desire is for more calories, you can get even more out of the mass gainer protein products by mixing them with whole milk instead of water. Normally, more ounces are needed to make sure the mixture is not too thick. This not only increases the calories, but makes the protein products taste better as well. Many supplement brands will actually also tell you the additional calories gained if you choose to add in whole milk.
You’ve read our guide on the best mass gainer proteins. If you’re looking to add more mass to your body, use one of our top choices to help you meet your weight goals.
