The Best Healthy Weight Gain Supplements to Achieve Muscle Growth and Energy Boost
Many people, clinically underweight or not, want to add some pounds for different reasons. Some because they want to look more muscular while others want to gain weight to improve their daily functioning. Fortunately, there are some nutrients available for those who want to look fuller and healthier.
Foods, vitamins, and supplements display various effects depending on one’s genetic metabolism and body. However, some specific vitamins and weight gain supplements can help one achieve their weight goals quickly. If you’re looking for ways to gain weight, consider using the following supplements.
1. Protein
Protein is an effective macronutrient in weight loss. But, it also assists in weight gain. Whey protein is an excellent protein powder that’s quickly absorbed in the body. In fact, it has the highest score in the Biological Value (BV) scale that measures the quality of protein source. Protein with a higher score means that your body will retain more nitrogen when you take it, hence helping you stay anabolic.
But, although many people are aware of this BV scale, they don’t take the importance of high-quality whey protein supplements seriously. However, for those looking to bulk up, they should have at least 2 protein shakes along with their meals. But, don’t substitute real food with protein shakes.
You also can implement between your main meals tasty high-protein snacks like Built Bar, that will supply even more of high-quality protein for your needs.
2. Digestive Enzymes
These are enzymes that help in breaking down food efficiently and effectively. They’re naturally produced in the liver and pancreas. However, there is no harm taking them in a supplement form.
Well, the nutrients we absorb from the food we eat determine how well our bodies will utilize them. In most cases, slim people who want to bulk up don’t absorb as much nutrients from the food as they should or it could be that their bodies require more digestive enzymes for them to cope with the calories needed to bulk up. Digestive enzymes will help ensure that your body absorbs as much calories as possible for weight gain.
3. Creatine
Creatine is among the most researched supplements. Studies claim that using it enhances the quality of workouts that one does. This supplement is metabolized into ATP, the energy unit for our cells. Note that all muscle movements require energy (ATP). This means that having ATP supplies can provide the energy needed for workouts, especially the high intense ones.
By providing energy to be used by the muscles, creatine helps improve your workout intensity and time frame, which makes a huge difference in bulking up.
4. Glutamine
Also called L-Glutamine is an abundant amino acid in our bodies. For clarity purposes, amino acids are building blocks that makeup protein. Now, taking Glutamine supplements has many benefits. It helps in protein synthesis and prevents catabolism. Therefore, taking it aids in building muscle and preventing muscle loss.
Again, L-Glutamine contains enterocytes which helps improve one’s gut permeability. When your gut health is okay, your digestion will be improved, you’ll have less inflammation and you’ll be motivated to hit the gym since the gut and mental health are massively connected.
Furthermore, Glutamine minimizes delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and by so doing you can work out for longer periods.
5. Vitamin D
Typically, vitamins are not created by our bodies. Therefore, we should get them via diet. But, our bodies can synthesise vitamin D when the UVB radiation from the sun hits our skin.
Now, to understand how this vitamin helps you build bulk, you have to think of it as an immune system regulating hormone. Vitamin D supplements work by optimising our health. And when our health is optimised it makes our bodies function better. Therefore, one can effectively do gym workouts that lead to muscle gain.
Again, vitamin D impacts the synthesis of protein as well as neuromuscular functioning. Research says that individuals whose vitamin D levels are below 330nmol/1 mostly experience weakness and muscle wasting.
Well, most people take 5000IU of this vitamin daily. However, if you are exposed to sunlight often, you should take a low dosage. Also note that this vitamin is fat-soluble. Therefore, you should take it with fat to help in digestion.
Other Weight Gain Supplements
Testosterone Boosters
Testosterone hormone plays an essential role in one’s anabolic body processes which help in muscle growth. As such, different testosterone boosters exist and claim to be increasing this hormone. Common ingredients in these boosters include DHA, Ginger, D-aspartic acid, etc.
Research findings of these boosters are mixed. While some studies showed an increase in muscle mass and strength, others reported no increase in testosterone. Overall, this is not a beneficial weight gain method, for now.
Also, note that some vitamins like vitamin C and B12 are effective in gaining weight. You can, therefore, try them in different amounts depending on gender and whether you’re breastfeeding or pregnant. Typically, men take more vitamins than women. While pregnant or lactating mothers should take these vitamins in high amounts.
Conclusion
Although supplements can help you gain weight, you should remember that lifestyle factors like exercise and proper nutrition allow one to add weight and muscles sufficiently. Therefore, along with these supplements, eat more calories than your body uses and more proteins than what your body breaks down.