Healthy Diet Plans >>  Weight Gain Supplements

Weight Gain Supplements 

Weight gain supplements help in increasing the body weight. Eating a healthy diet with the right kind of food and exercise helps in weight gain, the natural way. Weight gain is recommended for underweight individuals. Underweight results in an array of complications, such as osteoporosis, erectile dysfunction, cancer and cardiac. Nutritional supplements and protein powders help in weight gain.


Weight gain in the right areas is of great importance. Weight gain in the abdominal region is not recommended, as it increases the risk of obesity and other related complications. Mineral and multivitamin supplements prove helpful.




A number of protein powders are available, which are mixed with water or milk. They are easily dissolved and form a frothy shake. Amino acids, such as glutamine and creatine are seen as blends in certain protein powders.


They increase the muscle mass and thereby the weight. It is a healthy way of gaining weight. Many of the commercial weight gain supplements comprise of a high supply of protein for muscle mass and body building.


Some of these protein sources are egg, soy, casein and whey. The body's highest or maximum potential is achieved by the consumption of these weight gain supplements.

Depending on the contents, these supplements are consumed, either prior to or after exercise or workout. They accelerate the system's reactions and functioning. Many other commercial power boosters comprise of plant sterols, essential fatty acids, digestive enzymes, anabolic boosters, inositol monophosphate, inosine and muscle optimisers. These powders are variable in a variety of flavors, such as chocolate, vanilla, banana, pina colada and so on. They have reduced saturated fat content and provide minerals, vitamins, fat emulsifiers and electrolytes. Weight gain supplements are recommended in combination with regular exercise and right diet for underweight individuals.

A healthier and cost effective way to gain weight is to opt for natural techniques, some of them which are listed below:

  • Eat a balanced diet. Small sized meals at regular intervals help in increasing calorie intake. Increasing the calories is the best way to increase weight.
  • Healthy beverages such as milk shakes and fruit juices are effective. Banana and mango milkshake are good agents to increase weight
  • Dried fruits and nuts are energy dense and prove beneficial
  • Animal foods such as lean meat, chicken, eggs and fish are consumed
  • High quality protein in the form of egg, meat, poultry and milk is helpful
  • An extra toast for breakfast is easy to incorporate
  • Unhealthy foods such as fried foods, chicken nuggets, burgers and french fries are not opted for

Weight Gainer

It is a well known fact that being overweight is harmful and unhealthy. Hence it is common to see many people working very hard at trying to lose weight, so that they reach their healthy weight range. However, in today’s world, where being too fat is considered unhealthy, people have also realized that there are several health problems associated with being underweight. Studies reveal that being too thin can be as damaging to a person’s health, as being too fat. Some of the common health problems that have could occur as a result of being too skinny are, a weakened immune system because of malnutrition, the tendency to bruise easily, osteoporosis, anemia, weakness, fatigue and breathing difficulties. Some women, who are too thin, may also suffer from infertility problems. It is also possible that being grossly underweight is a symptom of serious underlying conditions, which include eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia), cancer, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, tuberculosis, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), depression or even HIV/ AIDS. Therefore, several people, who are severely underweight, use various techniques, foods and supplements to gain weight fast. 

Following a diet that is high in calories is regarded as the best weight gainer. However, people need to ensure that the weight gain diet chart they follow contain foods that are high in unsaturated fats. This is because even thin people can suffer from diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure, if they eat high amounts of the wrong foods. Therefore, it is best to eat foods that are high in energy density, but are healthy. This means that the caloric content and energy present in foods should be higher than the weight of the food. Some of the healthy foods that should be included in a weight gain diet chart for men and women are:

•   Dairy products, like whole milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream
•   Fruits of all varieties, which include fresh fruit, canned fruit, frozen fruit as well as fruit juices
•   Grains in the form of bread, pancakes, pasta, rolls, muffins, grits, rice, oats and cereals. Most grains and cereals are healthy and can increase a person’s daily caloric intake.
•   Meats such as lamb, pork, veal, beef, venison, turkey, chicken, prawns, shrimp and fish are relatively higher in calories in comparison to other foods. 
•   Nuts are very high in nutrition and they can also increase a person’s caloric intake. Cashew nuts, peanuts, almonds, pistachios, walnuts and a few other type of nut are all very high in nutrition, as well as calories.
•   Eating a high amount of oil could lead to cholesterol and heart problems. Therefore, foods that have been fried should be avoided on a regular basis. It is alright to cook food in moderate amounts of cooking oil, butter or margarine. Other forms of fat that can be included in a diet are mayonnaise, salad dressings and sandwich spreads.
•   Vegetables are great even for those people who want to gain weight. Therefore, in a weight gain diet chart vegetarian version, vegetables play a very important role. All types of vegetables, should be included in a diet plan for gaining weight, especially canned and frozen veggies.

In case a person’s metabolism is very high, due to which they do not gain weight in spite of adding the required calorie-rich foods to their diet, then a doctor may recommend adding a weight gain supplement to the person’s diet plan.

Supplements to Gain Weight and Muscle

There are several weight gain supplements for men and women that are easily available at most health stores. It is easy to find weight gainer pills, powders and drinks almost anywhere. Unfortunately, not all weight gaining supplements are effective or deliver the results that they promise. In fact, research indicates that there are only a few commercial supplements for weight gain, that are healthy and actually do work. Therefore, before using any of the available supplements to gain weight, people should analyze exactly how much weight they want to gain and what kind of weight it needs to be, for example muscle mass, fat, etc. Some of the popular healthy weight gain supplements for women and men include DHEA, protein (especially whey protein) and creatine. Out of these, the most common supplement for weight gain is whey protein.

Fitness experts usually advise their female clients to be careful while using supplements for weight gain for women. This is because most women, who want to gain weight are more interested in developing curves in the right places, instead of gaining muscles mass or fat. Therefore, before taking any weight gain supplements, it is important for women to consult their fitness experts or dieticians.

Apart from using weight gaining supplements for men and women, there are certain exercises too, that can help people put on weight and build their overall body mass. Most people who are trying to gain weight tend to shirk away from exercising and working out. However, exercising is important for everybody, including those people who are trying to gain weight.

How to increase weight gain in infants and children?

There could be several causes of poor weight gain in children and some of them could be quite severe. Therefore, it is important for parents to have a doctor check the child first, before trying options that can help the baby gain weight. Since most weight gain supplements for children or kids are not suitable for infants, parents may be required to make certain dietary changes, to include certain foods and formulas. In case of older children, there are many weight gaining supplements for children that can help stimulate the child’s appetite. Doctors may also suggest certain changes to the child’s diet and eating habits. In case the child does not react positively to the weight gainer for kids, he or she may be put through nutritional therapy.

Before adding any weight gain supplements to a diet, it is absolutely imperative for a person to check with a doctor as well as a fitness expert. This is because even some of the best weight gaining supplements can lead to adverse side effects in people, especially those who are suffering from any preexisting medical condition. This is probably why most health experts recommend following a high calorie diet for weight gain, instead of taking weight gain supplements. It is also important to remember that people could be underweight due to health problems and the use of a weight gainer supplements may help the person gain weight, but will not address the cause of the problem.

Should I Eat More To Gain Muscle?

You can eat to gain muscle mass. There are some foods to gain muscle mass, some of which include complete proteins such as those found in fish, eggs, cheese, meat, milk, and a lot of other animal products. Eat about 1 and 1.5 times your body weight in proteins.

Include some carbohydrates in your diet so that the glycogen stores of your body can be tapped into. Maintain the intake of salt. If you consume lots of salts, it leads to water retention in the body, therefore giving you a puffy appearance.

Spread your proteins and carbohydrates over 4 to 5 meals through the day.

Does Protein Supplement Improve Performance?

While protein supplements can be great for your health, over a period of time it is always better to consume proteins that are natural. Animal products are more beneficial for your body than protein supplements. If you are planning on strength and endurance training, these protein supplements are absolutely great.

For injuries and surgeries, protein supplements can help you get quick and fast recovery. High quality protein supplements can be really beneficial for your body. Protein supplements benefits are usually at par with the benefits of natural protein-based diets. Apart from these protein supplements health benefits, you also have improved athletic performance.

Are Body building Supplements Harmful?

Bodybuilding supplements are dietary supplements constituted of nutrients including proteins, essential fatty acids, glutamine, branched chain amino acids, and creatine, and are widely consumed by bodybuilders and athletes. Although many bodybuilders swear by these supplements, a lot of people also claim that these supplements are harmful.

Bodybuilding supplements contain ingredients such asartificial sweeteners, soy, and steroid-like substances. These substances can adversely affect your blood sugar levels, induce migraines, and may cause impotency in men. Some of the other possible side effects of bodybuilding supplements are liver injury and changes in the blood-lipid profile.

At the end of the day, anything in excess is harmful. This holds true for bodybuilding supplements too. If supplementation is followed within reasonable limits, it can help maximize your muscle gains. However, excessive supplementation can be detrimental to health.
Submitted on January 20, 2011
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