High Protein Mass Gainers vs. Regular Protein Supplements: Which is Right for You

In this article, we will elaborate on Mass Gainers and Protein Supplements so you can learn and understand the difference between these dietary supplements. So, by the end of this article, you should be able to decide which product to choose according to your goals and requirements.

First, let’s start with the basics of Mass Gainers and Protein Powders

What is a Mass Gainer?

Mass Gainers are Supplements that contain a combination of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats to help in muscle mass gain. They are specifically designed for gaining muscle mass. Mass gainers are an excellent option for naturally thin individuals who have a faster metabolism, and struggle to gain weight through diet alone.

Classic “hard gainers” or “Ectomorphs” have difficulty packing on lean muscle mass despite consistently training and force-feeding themselves. Cases like these are where a mass gainer like 2X Nutrition’s REALGAINZ really comes in handy by providing a calorie-dense source of quality protein, carbohydrates, and fats.

What is Whey Protein?

A premium source of protein, whey protein is generated from cow's milk. Milk contains two types of protein: casein (80%) and whey (20%). The liquid byproduct of manufacturing cheese is referred to as "Whey." The protein fractions are filtered out of the whey liquid and spray-dried to form a powder, ultimately creating ‘Whey Protein Powder’.

As a popular dietary supplement among athletes, bodybuilders, and various fitness enthusiasts, Whey Protein confers various benefits for overall wellness and body composition because of its strong Amino profile. Whey Protein Powders are a purer protein source that supports lean muscle growth without the added calories from fats and carbohydrates.

Top 3 Differences between MASS GAINER and WHEY PROTEIN

While mass gainer and whey protein appear similar to you at first glance, their unique composition helps them serve different purposes.

Here are the 3 key differences:

1. CALORIE CONTENT

Most mass Gainers are much more calorie-dense, ranging anywhere between 500-1200 calories per serving. Mass gainers provide a practical means of increasing our daily caloric intake, which promotes healthy weight gain.

Protein Powders, on the other hand, are a fantastic choice if you're looking for a simple, low-calorie supplement to help with muscle building and repair.

2. PROTEIN CONTENT

Mass Gainers and Whey Protein Powders are both rich in protein, but Mass Gainers gives you far less protein than whey proteins.

Mass Gainer supplements are made with a balance of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals to give you more calories in every scoop. Hence, their protein content doesn’t nearly match those of protein powders.

On the other hand, Protein powders are designed to provide you with pure protein and little-to-no carbs and fat. Naturally, Whey Protein supplements serve a critical function in increasing muscle protein synthesis. Being rich in essential amino acids, especially Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs), protein powders also help to minimize muscle damage and soreness after a bout of intense training, enabling faster recovery.

3. INTENDED USE

As mentioned before, mass gainers are designed to help users gain weight, particularly muscle mass. Along with consistent resistance training programs, combining more calories with high protein intake will help you pack on muscle mass; a mass gainer makes it more achievable for individuals who find it hard to achieve calorie surplus through food alone.

Protein Powders are a bit more versatile than mass gainers given they can be used to support muscle growth and recovery without tacking on a ton of calories to your diet.

Compared to mass gainers, whey protein powders can also be helpful for those who want to lose body fat while preserving hard-earned lean muscle mass.

WHO SHOULD CONSUME WHAT

For many years, bodybuilders have used whey protein to maintain their muscles and enable them to endure intense physical activity. They benefit the body by making it stronger and more resilient. Whey protein supplements are also a universally essential form of food group, which means that they can also be used as a nutritional supplement for normal people to fulfill their protein requirement and do not necessarily have to be consumed by bodybuilders alone. 

Mass gainer supplements have more of a primary focus on helping your body put on some weight or muscle mass. It contains calories that supply you with the energy you need to engage in some physical exercise but have little effect on increasing the effectiveness of your muscles.

TAKEOUT

It is discernable from the information above that unless and until you have the very specific purpose of exclusively gaining weight, you can choose to stay away from mass gainers.

Whether you decide to use protein supplements or mass gainers as per your goals, you should always make sure to follow a healthy, balanced meal plan in addition to a strict workout regimen that can help you maintain your peak fitness levels at all times.