Some of the best mass gainers for 2022 Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe 5 of the best mass gainers for building muscle mass in 2022Medically reviewed by Daniel Bubnis, M.S., NASM-CPT, NASE Level II-CSS, Fitness — By Louisa Richards and Stefano Iavarone — Updated on September 27, 2022We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. People sometimes use supplements to help increase their muscle mass. This type of supplement is called a mass gainer. It helps people get the extra calories they need to build muscle. Share on Pinterest Quick linksBest for natural ingredients Naked Nutrition Chocolate Naked MassBest for extra vitamins and minerals Optimum Nutrition Serious MassBest for natural complex carbohydrates Transparent Labs Mass GainerBest for vegans Naked Nutrition Vegan Naked MassBest for medium-chain triglycerides and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs): True-Mass 1200Males and females often benefit from differing vitamin and mineral types, quantities, and combinations. With this in mind, some pharmaceutical companies develop specific formulas of supplements, vitamins, shakes, and health bars to benefit either male or female biology. A person should discuss their options with a doctor or healthcare professional who can help them decide, and choose the product they feel works best for them and their needs. What are mass gainers Intense physical training often requires a person to consume more food to get additional nutrients. Using a supplement that contains extra protein and carbohydrates is a convenient way to get more calories into the diet. People often take mass gainers as a shake-style drink. Mass gainers contain varying amounts of macronutrients. They sometimes have other ingredients, such as vitamins, minerals, and creatine, too. People can choose products with fewer calories if their focus is on gaining lean muscle rather than weight. This article looks at different supplements for building muscle mass and their nutritional contents. How we chose Medical News Today chooses products that meet the following criteria:Price: Products suit a wide range of budgets.Ingredients: Products list all ingredients clearly, with manufacturing processes outlined.Safety: Products contain ingredients deemed safe for ingestion.Reputation: Products are from businesses that adhere to industry best practices. Some of the top mass gainers Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication. Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here. Best for natural ingredients Naked Nutrition Chocolate Naked Mass Naked Nutrition mass gainers contain five ingredients:grass-fed wheycaseinorganic coconut sugarorganic tapioca maltodextrinorganic cacao powder Naked Nutrition says that its processing involves neither acid nor bleach and that the product contains no:hormonesglutenartificial sweetenersartificial flavors and colorsgenetically modified organisms (GMO)soy Nutritional profile Per serving, which is 4 scoops, or 333 grams (g), the Chocolate Naked Mass powder contains:1,360 calories50 g protein and 11.6 g BCAAs251 g total carbohydrates Each serving also gives a person 52% of their Daily Value (DV) of magnesium and 43% of their DV of calcium, though these values are based on a diet with 2,000 calories per day. Pros and cons The organic ingredients in Chocolate Naked Mass may appeal to people who wish to avoid artificial ingredients or are sensitive to gluten. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many people trying to build muscle aim for a 1-to-2 or 1-to-4 ratio of protein to carbohydrates. As a result, this product may contain too many carbohydrates for some.Price: around $70Price per serving: around $6 per servingProtein source: whey and micellar caseinCarb source: organic tapioca maltodextrinSugar source: organic coconut sugarSHOP NOW Best for extra vitamins and minerals Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass This product may appeal to people who want to gain weight and add essential vitamins and minerals to their diets. The protein-to-carbohydrate ratio is 1-to-5, so it may not suit people who want more protein and fewer calories. Key ingredients include whey protein concentrate, calcium caseinate, and egg whites. Nutritional profile The nutritional profile per 2-scoop serving, which equates to 334 g, is as follows:1,250 calories50 g protein250 g carbohydratescreatine, glutamine, and glutamic acid25 vitamins and essential minerals Pros and cons This product has a suitable range of vitamins and minerals, which add nutritional value. It is available in five flavors. However, it contains egg, wheat, and soy, so it may not be suitable for people with vegan diets or some intolerances.Price: around $67Price per serving: around $4 per servingProtein source: whey protein concentrate, calcium caseinate, egg white, and sweet wheyCarb source: maltodextrinSugar source: sucraloseSHOP NOW Best for natural complex carbohydrates Transparent Labs Mass Gainer The whey protein concentrate in this mass gainer is 100% grass-fed, and the carbohydrates include organic oats, tapioca, and sweet potato. The product also contains creatine monohydrate and natural sweeteners. It comes in two flavors. Nutritional profile Per 2-scoop serving, or 196.7 g, this product provides:790 calories53 g protein114 g total carbohydrates10% of the DV of potassium and 30% of the DV of calcium, based on a 2,000-calorie daily diet Pros and cons Transparent Labs brands itself as being transparent about what goes into its products. Its supplements contain premium, chemical-free ingredients, and the slightly higher price reflects this quality, the company says. However, there are only two flavors available. People who like more flavor variety may prefer a different product.Price: around $77Price per serving: around $5 per servingProtein source: whey concentrate and creatine monohydrateCarb source: organic tapioca maltodextrinSugar source: steviaSHOP NOW Best for vegans Naked Nutrition Vegan Naked Mass This product combines pea and rice protein with organic tapioca maltodextrin, so it may suit people with plant-based diets. Nutritional profile To ensure a complete amino acid profile, the ratio of pea-to-rice protein is 2-to-1. Per 4-scoop serving, which is 315 g, the supplement contains:1,230 calories50 g protein248 g total carbohydratesfour essential minerals Pros and cons This product is suitable for vegans looking to gain weight and muscle. It is also free from gluten, soy, and GMOs. However, this product only contains 11 servings per container.Price: around $65Price per serving: around $6 per servingProtein source: yellow pea protein and organic brown rice proteinCarb source: organic tapioca maltodextrinSHOP NOW Best for medium-chain triglycerides and BCAAs True-Mass 1200 True-Mass 1200 features a 4-to-1 ratio of carbohydrates to protein and also contains healthy fats. Key ingredients include whole oat flour, whey protein concentrate, calcium caseinate, and egg albumin. Nutritional profile Per 2-scoop serving, or 320 g, this supplement provides:1,271 calories53 g protein216 g total carbohydratescalcium Pros and cons True-Mass 1200 is a popular product with good reviews, though some people have concerns about the long list of ingredients.Price: around $65Price per serving: around $4 per servingProtein source: whey protein concentrate, calcium caseinate, milk protein isolate, whey protein isolate, micellar casein, egg albumin, hydrolyzed whey protein, and glutamine peptidesCarb source: maltodextrin and whole oat flourSugar source: sucraloseSHOP NOW Comparison chart The following table provides an overview of the mass gainers in this article.Naked Nutrition Chocolate Naked MassOptimum Nutrition Serious MassTransparent Labs Mass GainerNaked Nutrition Vegan Naked MassTrue-Mass 1200Dose4 scoops2 scoops2 scoops4 scoops2 scoopsNumber of servings1116151115Gluten-freeyesnoyesyesnoLactose-freenononoyesnoVegannononoyesnoSubscriptions availableyesyesyesyesyesFree shippingon orders over $99yeson orders over $99on orders over $99on orders over $89Pricearound $70around $67around $77around $65around $65 Side effects People with an intolerance to certain foods may find that mass gainers upset their stomachs. Anyone who is trying them for the first time should start with a smaller amount and increase it gradually. If a person consumes mass gainer supplements without working out regularly, they are likely to gain fat rather than muscle. Therefore, some people may benefit more from increasing the amount of lean protein in their diet. How to build muscle The primary way to build and strengthen muscles is to use that muscle group. By using the muscle group, the muscle fibers break down and repair, strengthening it over time. A 2019 review looked at 30 human studies on different set training exercises. It suggests that 3–6 sets with up to 12 repetitions at a moderate intensity with subsequent intensity increases can lead to maximizing overall muscle growth. However, diet also matters. People should aim to eat a nutritious, balanced diet while exercising to increase muscle mass. Research suggests that additional protein may help build muscle. Consuming 0.25—0.30 g of protein per kilogram (kg) of body weight after resistance exercise alongside daily consumption of around 1.6 g of protein per kg of body weight may help increase muscle mass. Exercising and mass gainers Mass gaining products typically contain a high amount of calories, protein, and carbohydrates that may help restore and build muscle during exercise. Research from 2017 states that mass gainers, together with exercise, can help muscle protein synthesis. A 2020 pilot study looked at participants who combined resistance training with whey protein isolate. The results show that the supplementation of protein together with training resulted in larger muscles. However, it did not affect actual strength compared with the participants who did not consume the protein. Frequently asked questions about mass gainers Here are some answers to common questions about these supplements. Can I naturally gain muscle mass Yes, people can naturally gain muscle mass. Exercise, such as resistance training, can help build muscle mass in combination with a nutritious, balanced diet. Is mass gainer unhealthy Mass gainers can contain high amounts of sugar and carbohydrates. These products may not suit people with diabetes or insulin resistance. Anyone with health conditions that may experience worse symptoms with additional sugar in their diet should contact a healthcare professional before buying supplements. Summary The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate mass gainer products, so it can be difficult to tell whether a product actually contains what is on its label. However, people who require extra protein and calories to build muscle during periods of intense training may find mass gainers helpful. A person may choose a product based on its ingredients, taste, and value for money. Once a person settles on a supplement, they can change the taste, texture, and nutritional content of their shake by adding ingredients such as nut butters, fruit, or oatmeal. Last medically reviewed on September 27, 2022SupplementsNutrition / DietSports Medicine / Fitness 4 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Carbone, J. W., et al. (2019). Dietary protein and muscle mass: Translating science to application and health benefit. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6566799/Duarte, N. M., et al. (2020). Intake of whey isolate supplement and muscle mass gains in young healthy adults when combined with resistance training: A blinded randomized clinical trial (pilot study) [Abstract].https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31565912/Jäger, R., et al. (2017). International society of sports nutrition position stand: Protein and exercise.https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-017-0177-8Krzysztofik, M., et al. (2019). Maximizing muscle hypertrophy: A systematic review of advanced resistance training techniques and methods.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6950543/FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Daniel Bubnis, M.S., NASM-CPT, NASE Level II-CSS, Fitness — By Louisa Richards and Stefano Iavarone — Updated on September 27, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? 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