5+ Best Supplements for Weight Gain That Really Work

Don’t like your reflection in the mirror and think that you are too skinny? Here are the best supplements for weight gain that really work, have no harmful side effects, and can be fully relied on. Such products as protein powder and creatine are sure to make you look more attractive and athletic!

Have a Healthy Lifestyle

First things first: even the best supplements for bulking won’t be of much help if you neglect to have enough sleep. Avoid going to bed late at night and make sure you have at least eight consecutive hours of sleep every day. 

Find an effective way of dealing with stress and take enough rest, do not overextend yourself. 

If you believe that you are underweight, check yourself using this free body mass index (BMI) calculator. If your BMI is below 18.5, you are indeed underweight and need more body mass for optimal health. 

In most cases, it is muscle mass and not fat that you want to gain. Thus, your diet needs to include a lot of food that is rich in proteins as well as various kinds of vegetables and fruits. This doesn’t mean that you have to go without fat and carbohydrates: your menu needs to include them, but it is proteins that need to be the staple of your diet. 

1. Caloric Foods

To build muscle mass you need to exercise a lot and consume more calories than you have spent. This means eating such caloric foods as milk, red meats, eggs, rice, nuts, cheese, potatoes, oily fish, dried fruit, whole grain bread, chia seeds, avocado, cheese, and last but not least, dark chocolate.

If you have trouble eating large meals, break them into smaller ones and eat more often. Have five or six meals a day instead of the universally recognized three.

You can find the best supplements and foods for weight gain on iHerb. Here is one of the highest-rated dark chocolate products in this online store:

Strong + Velvety Dark Chocolate, 85 g (3 oz) by Endangered Species

• 88% cocoa
• Fairtrade
• Non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, kosher

2. Protein

Proteins are the raw material for your muscle fibers; while excessive consumption of fat and carbohydrates might lead to increased body fat, a diet that is rich in proteins (if combined with physical exercise) results in increased muscle mass. 

Protein supplements contain highly bioavailable forms of proteins that are easily absorbed by the body. Studies show that people who combine protein supplements with regular physical exercise gain more muscle mass compared to those who do not take these products.

To maximize the growth of new muscle tissues, take protein supplements right before and immediately after your training session. Thus, you need to consume 0.18 to 0.22 grams of high-quality protein for each pound of your body mass (or, if you use the metric system, 0.4 to 0.5 grams for each kilogram) twice a day.

Hydrolyzed whey protein is the best protein powder for weight gain and muscle building as it offers considerably higher bioavailability than all other types of protein supplements. 

Here is one of the top-rated hydrolyzed whey products on iHerb:

Platinum Hydro Whey, 1.64 kg by Optimum Nutrition

• 30 grams of proteins per serving (41 grams)
• Chocolate flavor
• Add the powder to water, milk, or any other beverage
• No banned substances
• Reputable brand

If you cannot make yourself a protein drink, use protein bars — preferably ones that are rich in whey protein. Although these products cannot boast of ultra-high bioavailability, they still have the undisputable advantage of being extremely convenient if you are on the go.

Here is one of the best supplements for weight gain in the form of protein bars:

Chocolate Peanut Caramel Bars, 50 g Each, 6 Bars by Pure Protein

• Each 50 g bar contains 20 grams of milk and whey proteins plus 2 grams of sugar and 6 grams of fat
• 190 calories per bar
• Drink 8 fl. ounces of liquid with this protein bar

3. Creatine

Creatine is an organic compound that is used by the body to recycle energy molecules called ATP. Extensive research into the properties of this compound has proved that creatine can help increase both strength and aerobic endurance of the muscles. A 2003 study (as well as numerous other studies that have been carried out over the decades) demonstrated that dietary supplements with creatine can help increase muscle mass.

While numerous forms of creatine are available as dietary supplements, it is creatine monohydrate that is considered to be the most effective and safe. Thus, if you wonder, what’s the best supplement for weight gain, try a combination of hydrolyzed whey protein and creatine monohydrate. 

To get the maximal overall level of intramuscular creatine it is recommended that you take numerous small doses of this supplement during the day:

• On the day of your training take 20 to 25 grams of creatine divided into 4 (or 5) equal 5-gram doses or, if possible, into 20 (or 25) equal 1-gram doses;
• On the days when you do not have a workout take 3 to 5 grams of creatine in several equal intakes.

Creatine monohydrate is considered safe: there are people who consumed high daily doses (up to 30 grams) of this supplement for as long as five years and experienced no detrimental side effects. Still, in some people doses of 5 grams and more can lead to diarrhea; thus, if you have never tried creatine monohydrate before, do not use a high dosage right from the start.

Buy the best supplements for weight gain and muscle growth on iHerb. Here is one of the most popular and top-rated supplements with creatine monohydrate in this store:

Powdered Creatine Monohydrate, 1000 grams by ALLMAX Nutrition

• Ultra-fine powder guarantees the best possible bioavailability
• No banned substances
• Dissolve the powder in water, juice, or milk
• Free scoop is included
• Well-known dependable brand

4. Weight Gainers

While protein supplements mostly contain protein, the so-called weight gainers often add a substantial share of fat and carbohydrates to the mix. These products are extremely caloric and can help you achieve a noticeable weight gain. Unfortunately, at least a part of this gain might result from the increase in body fat and not from added muscle mass. 

What’s more, if you don’t approve of highly processed products and are looking for the best natural supplements for weight gain, there is no better option than a lot of highly caloric regular food mentioned above. 

Still, if you want a very fast way to increase your body mass, you might give a try to one of the best powder supplements for weight gain:

Weight Gain, 576 g by Naturade

• 2 scoops of the powder contain 220 calories, 9 g of fat, 24 g of carbohydrates, and 10 g of protein
• Contains natural enzymes (bromelain, pancrelipase, papain) for optimal utilization of nutrients
• Needs to be mixed with water or milk
• Does not contain artificial sweeteners, colors, or flavors
• Naturally vanilla flavored

5. Caffeine

Caffeine is the most popular stimulant that can help you feel more energetic and do more exercise to speed up your muscle growth. Unfortunately, in some people caffeine is known to suppress the appetite, which can prevent you from eating enough food. Thus, drink coffee to get an energy boost only if it doesn’t interfere with how hungry you feel.

Here are ones of the most popular coffee products on iHerb:

 Organic Fairtrade Instant Coffee by Mount Hagen

• Certified organic
• Arabica beans
• Freeze-dried

Ground Coffee by Mt. Whitney Coffee Roasters

• Medium roast
• Certified organic

• High-grown Arabica
• Nitrogen-filled for freshness

Now you know what are the best supplements for weight gain. Keep in mind that to get an effective increase in muscle mass you need a lot of physical exercise, otherwise the huge number of calories you get with dietary products will turn into fat. So, don’t forget to take your daily dose of the gym. Take care & see you soon!