What is better to buy a protein gainer. What is the difference between gainer and protein and which is better to choose?

The result of training in the gym largely depends on the ratio of muscle gain and loss of excess fat. To achieve the desired effect, many people use nutritional supplements containing carbohydrates and proteins in concentrated form. Protein and gainer are considered the most popular in this category. But here's what to choose...

The result of training in the gym largely depends on the ratio of muscle gain and loss of excess fat. To achieve the desired effect, many people use nutritional supplements containing carbohydrates and proteins in concentrated form. and are considered the most popular in this category. But many people simply don’t know what to choose in a particular case.

There is no point in saying that one drug is better than another. After all, each supplement has a unique composition and helps the athlete achieve high results. To choose the right one for yourself sports nutrition, you need to figure out what the difference is between them?

Main differences

Gainer is a combination and high calorie content. This dietary supplement helps you quickly gain the necessary muscle mass and restore the energy spent during exercise. It should be remembered that carbohydrates predominate in the composition of the drug, in some cases they can account for up to 90%, which also needs to be taken into account when choosing sports nutrition. Gainer is suitable for those people who are unable to eat required amount food to get calories for weight gain.

The benefits of a high-calorie dietary supplement are:

  • Providing energy;
  • Restoration of glycogen reserves;
  • Increased performance;
  • Recovery muscle tissue and the body as a whole;
  • Increase in strength indicators.

The protein is made on the basis of protein, the content of which in the mixture reaches 96%. The percentage of protein will depend on the amount of extraneous additives, which include creatine, carbohydrates, etc. With the help of protein, you can gain muscle mass and lose weight, so many athletes can take it. It is in great demand in bodybuilding, because to build the required muscle volume you simply cannot do without protein.

This mixture has the following advantages:

  • Stabilization of nitrogen balance in the body;
  • Providing essential amino acids;
  • Maximum absorption by the body;
  • Strengthening the immune system.

Correct technique is the key to effective results

To figure out whether to take a gainer or a protein, you need to analyze your daily diet. An ectomorph who eats 3 times a day, dreaming of gaining the necessary muscle mass, may lack both proteins and carbohydrates. In this case, you need to take both nutritional supplements, since the body needs both at the same time.

It happens that a thin person eats 5 times, following all the rules and including the required amount of protein in his diet, but still the desired effect is not visible. Then you need to think about calorie content, because it turns out that a person spends more calories than he receives. And in this case, a gainer will come to the rescue, since there is already enough protein in the body.

If a person has a dense physique that quickly gains weight, then it is better to give preference to protein. Although an endomorph who eats about 5 times a day can get enough protein and carbohydrates from regular daily food. The main thing is to create the right diet for yourself.


Gainer or Protein for girls

When a representative of the fair sex dreams of gaining muscle mass, you should pay attention not only to the diet, but also to her individual characteristics of the body. A thin woman who eats well and is not gaining weight can take a gainer that can increase her daily caloric intake. But before you start taking it, you need to make sure that your regular food provides the optimal amount of protein. If this indicator is low, then you should include protein in your diet. For those girls who find it easy to dial total weight, it is best to take protein (casein or whey), but not gainer.

When composing an individual mixture, it is better to seek advice from a doctor and a professional instructor. And also, do not forget that neither a gainer nor a protein can replace a person’s proper nutrition.

Here you need to take into account that mass differs from mass. You definitely need to think about the quality of this very mass. When choosing one or the other, you should always remember that with a gainer you can gain not only muscle, but also fat. Your training while taking the gainer should be very intense. Of course, the risk for those who are thin and have trouble gaining weight is less than for those who tend to be overweight. If you take only protein (even with enough carbohydrates), there is a chance that you will not gain the desired volumes. Dilemma? Therefore, the question of protein or gainer is very one-sided and exaggerated. There are 4 factors for muscle fiber hypertrophy:

  1. Sufficient amount of amino acids (presence of protein).
  2. The presence of free creatine in the muscle.
  3. Hormones (increasing your own testosterone levels can only be achieved through high-intensity training and stress for the body).
  4. Competent training.
Try to approach the issue comprehensively from the first days of training. There is no magic pill. If there was one, they would only sell it. And in simple words, it is better to choose a gainer for an ectomorph (thin), as well as for those who cannot eat regularly and for those who combine exercise with iron and exercise. martial arts, boxing and wrestling.

Astafiev Daniil - leading specialist in sports nutrition online store

Each athlete makes an individual decision about which sports nutrition is best for him to achieve his goals. You can often find long debates about what is more effective: protein or gainer. At the same time, many see only one difference between these supplements - the presence of carbohydrates in the gainer and their absence in protein. While in fact the main characteristics should be considered in more detail.

The effect of protein and gainer on the body

Translated, “protein” means protein; its content in this sports supplement is usually 70-90%. Protein is obtained from milk, whey, eggs, and soy. Vegetable soy protein is considered to be of low quality, but it is a good solution for vegetarians. In addition, there may be individual intolerance to lactose, and casein is not well absorbed by everyone.

Proteins differ in the speed of absorption, complete or incomplete composition of amino acids and cost. There is also a complex protein on sale, which includes several varieties at once, however, not all manufacturers indicate the exact ratio of ingredients, along with the advantages different types you will also get their disadvantages.

Slow proteins take a long time to digest, so they are suitable for drying. Fast ones are more effective in building muscle. Protein also stabilizes nitrogen balance and strengthens the immune system. Contraindications to taking protein are kidney diseases, for example, renal failure.

People who lead an active lifestyle find it convenient to take protein bars with them. They are sold in different flavors, grains, L-carnitine, fruits and nuts, and you don’t have to mix anything in a shaker in front of others. As for protein that enters the body with food, it is found in dairy products, eggs, fish, and meat.

In a gainer, proteins are combined with carbohydrates, and the proportions can be different. For example, one serving of Serious Mass gainer contains 251 g of energy carbohydrates and 50 g of protein, and one serving of Muscle Juice 2544 contains 162 g of carbohydrates and 55 g of protein complex. The protein base of the supplements is also different. In Multicomponent Gainer it consists of 60% whey protein concentrate and 40% micellar casein.

The body uses protein as a building material for muscles, carbohydrates are needed to restore energy. In other words, if your goal is to increase muscle mass, you need both protein and carbohydrates. Muscles will not grow until glycogen is replenished. Taking a gainer will improve performance and increase strength gains.

The athlete's body's need for carbohydrates is 3-4 times higher than for proteins. However, it is easier to get enough carbohydrates (as opposed to protein) from food. Trainers recommend choosing a gainer for those with a thin physique, or for athletes who are likely to skip meals without being able to eat regularly. A carbohydrate-protein mixture is also useful for people who combine training with hardware and martial arts. Manufacturers also include other useful ingredients in gainers: creatine, vitamins, minerals.

  1. Both supplements help build muscle mass and improve performance.
  2. Trying to compare possible harm And side effects will also fail, since both a gainer and a protein good quality made from natural food raw materials.
  3. You can harm your body if you purchase a counterfeit product or take sports nutrition not according to the instructions, unjustifiably increasing the dosage. Unless protein is not recommended for people suffering from serious kidney or liver diseases, and those with individual protein intolerance.
  4. Both gainer and protein are well absorbed by the body, without creating additional stress on the digestive system.
  5. Both supplements are drunk dissolved in water, juice or skim milk.

Which is better: protein or gainer?

How to understand, gainer and protein: which is better? Athletes who have a thin, ectomorphic physique are recommended to take a gainer. A gainer is a sports piece of meat with a side dish of carbohydrates. Try to choose a supplement that contains protein High Quality, it can be in isolate form. A large amount of carbohydrates will increase positive effect and will increase the overall weight of the athlete. You don’t have to drink a gainer if the athlete gets the required amount of carbohydrates from food.

At the same time, for endomorphs and athletes prone to gaining excess weight, a carbohydrate mixture with a high glycemic index can only do harm and bring unnecessary pounds of fat. In turn, protein consumption does not affect the formation of subcutaneous fat and has positive influence for protein metabolism. Slow protein is drunk for drying, and fast protein is drunk to strengthen muscles. You need to start with a fast one, and then gradually move to a slow one.

When choosing a gainer or protein to gain muscle mass, it is important to consider the type of energy exchange. A specialist - a professional instructor or a doctor - will help you determine it. You can understand the first results after taking it after a month of regular training.

Among the types of protein, three are especially popular:

How to take protein and gainer

Caseins can be drunk at night so that the muscles receive amino acids. Mixtures of whey and casein protein are also suitable for drying and post-workout recovery. Multicomponent proteins are also needed for rapid muscle gain. In this case chemical composition the portions will be richer.

If you still find it difficult to choose a gainer or protein to gain muscle mass, try taking both supplements at the same time in this way: combining a low-protein gainer and protein in equal proportions. Professional athletes can also give other advice on what to take to gain weight: protein or mass gainer.

Many people believe that you can start gaining weight with a gainer, and then switch to protein. Again, protein will be more relevant for women, since they store more fat. For men, it is closer to using a gainer that increases muscle tone.

When the right choice Gainer and protein will become reliable helpers on the path to results. The difference between these additives also lies in the time of application. To gain muscle mass, gainer mixed with milk, juice (not from citrus fruits) or water (room temperature) is drunk before training, about an hour and a half. For these purposes, they usually take 1.5 g of powder per 1 kg of athlete’s weight. A protein cocktail- both before and after physical activity, so that the muscles not only develop, but also recover. Berries or fruits are added to the drink to taste. A scoop of protein contains approximately 30 g of powder.

Summarizing the above, we can say that both proteins and carbohydrates are important for gaining muscle mass. Protein alone will not ensure full muscle growth, but carbohydrates alone will not be enough.

There are cases when it seems that sports nutrition is taken correctly, but no serious muscle growth is observed. Don’t rush to change the proportions of protein and carbohydrates, check the rest first possible reasons. You may not be eating enough calories, not exercising regularly, not increasing your load, or, conversely, overtraining.

Do not forget that both protein and gainer cannot replace fully normal food. Monitor the dosage so as not to cause side effects- skin rashes or gastrointestinal upset. An increase in the concentration of carbohydrates in the body can cause problems with insulin secretion. To eliminate unpleasant side effects, try stopping the supplement for a few days or reducing the daily dosage.

Anyone who begins to actively train in gym, sooner or later gets acquainted with sports nutrition. Most beginners have a goal: gaining high-quality muscle mass in the shortest possible time. Which is better - a gainer or a protein to cope with the task? In the article below you will find the answer to this question.

Protein and gainer - what's the difference?

Protein and gainer are food supplements whose composition is based on proteins and carbohydrates. The main difference is the proportion of protein per 100 g of product. In one serving of gainer, the mass fraction of protein is approximately 20-30%, and in protein – 70-80%. A logical question arises: why then do people take gainer? The fact is that carbohydrates, of which the supplement mainly consists, are also an important nutritional element. Especially for athletes whose body is constantly exhausted and needs additional “feeding”.

Exists Golden Rule bodybuilding: “Muscle mass will increase when the amount of calories consumed exceeds the amount of calories expended.”. In this light, taking a high-calorie gainer no longer looks so pointless.

The other side of the coin is the quality of the weight being added. If there is an excess of carbohydrates in the diet, there is a risk of gaining a couple of extra pounds along with the muscles.

Is it possible to combine gainer intake with protein?

People predisposed to obesity (endomorphs) should immediately get rid of such thoughts. For them, this union of nutritional supplements will not bring any positive dividends. But for ectomorphs and mesomorphs, simultaneous intake of gainer and protein often becomes the solution to all problems associated with weight gain.

To effectively introduce sports nutrition into your daily diet, you should adhere to the following principles:

  • take protein after waking up;
  • use gainer immediately after training, and protein before;
  • during long periods between meals, give preference to gainers;
  • before bed: only slow protein (casein);
  • the composition of the additives should harmoniously fit into the daily norm of BZHU;
  • sports nutrition is designed to complement the diet, not replace it.

Taking a gainer and protein together is not only harmless, but also beneficial. These two supplements will harmoniously replenish energy reserves and supply building materials to the body.

So what is better to drink - gainer or protein to gain muscle mass?

To answer this question, you need to correctly determine your body type and clearly formulate your sports goals. The first point will not be difficult to cope with! After a month of training, you can determine how quickly muscles grow, how long it takes to recover after physical activity, does it appear excess weight with increasing calorie content:

  • If your muscles are already growing well, and you just want to speed up this process and add high-quality protein to your food, then protein will be an ideal nutritional supplement;
  • If you have significantly increased your diet, but your weight is at a “dead point”, then a gainer is your choice.

Important! Often, in pursuit of quick results, people begin to take very high portions of gainer. Do not forget that the basis of the supplement is carbohydrates, which, when in excess, are transformed into subcutaneous fat. Watch how your physique changes and adjust the number of techniques in accordance with the result.

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Conclusion

Protein or gainer? Together or separately? These questions are often asked by beginners in search of the ideal set of sports nutrition. Everything is individual for each person, but by following the advice from this article, you can quickly make a choice.

Coming to Gym, many people don’t even think about buying sports nutrition. This is understandable; a beginner, of course, has no use for it at all. You can completely do without sports supplements by wisely balancing your diet. Sports nutrition is not such a necessity, as the manufacturers of this very nutrition tell us. Everything is clear here in principle. The manufacturer is trying in every possible way to increase sales and prove that without its “super” sports supplements you won’t succeed. They do this well. Of course, when an athlete becomes more experienced and the increased meat becomes scarce, sports nutrition really becomes a very important attribute in training, but in reality initial stage This is absolutely nothing. The main thing is proper nutrition, diet and fruitful workouts. As I said in previous articles, sports supplements are more of a convenience than a necessity. It is not always possible to have a snack, for reasons such as work, study, etc.

Let's consider a situation where an athlete is already quite experienced and is thinking about buying sports nutrition. ? To be more precise, in this article we will talk about two very popular sports supplements, one of which contains a large amount of carbohydrates and less protein, and the second supplement contains a large concentrate of high-quality protein. As you might have guessed, we will talk about: “Which is better, protein or gainer?”

Many Internet resources and magazines publish articles on the topic of weight gain, where they refer to the fact that protein will help an athlete in this difficult task, and in some places, a gainer. And other articles write about combining these products. An athlete is often confused when choosing these sports supplements. What is better to buy, protein or gainer, which is better?! We will answer this question in this article, and also consider the difference between a gainer and a protein.

GAINER AND PROTEIN (A LITTLE THEORY)?

Before choosing what suits you best, you should know the basic properties of these products. Once you know this, it will not be difficult for you to make a decision. Now, I will tell you a little about both supplements, as well as what.

PROTEIN

Translated from English, protein means protein, that is, the main component for the construction of muscle tissue. Of course, carbohydrates, fats, and all kinds of vitamins are also important here. But without protein, there will be no growth muscle fibers. It's like building a house without bricks, on cement alone. As a rule, a sports supplement called “protein” contains 70-90% protein, the remaining percentages are amino acids, fats, and vitamins (in small quantities). There are many types of protein: whey protein, casein, soy protein, milk protein, egg white. They all have their own function. Whey, for example, is absorbed very well and quickly by the body; it is very good to drink in the morning. It is better to take casein at night, before going to work or university, because it contains “slow protein” that is absorbed within 6 hours, which is an excellent option if you do not have a snack in the near future.

GAINER

A sports supplement called “gainer” consists of a high concentrate of carbohydrates and proteins. Also, she can contain various vitamins, minerals, creatine. This supplement tends to be predominantly carbohydrate, but the numbers can sometimes fluctuate depending on the type of product. For example, there is a difference where the concentration of proteins is 10% and carbohydrates 80%. Or another example where the amount of proteins and carbohydrates is equal. As we know, carbohydrates are organic substances that supply our body with energy. This sports supplement is good not only for gaining weight, but also for increasing efficiency. training process. Gainer will come in handy in the morning, when the body has exhausted its reserves and urgently needs to refresh itself to avoid catabolic processes. He will also become you best friend after training, when it is necessary to close the protein-carbohydrate window.

WHAT TO CHOOSE, GAINER OR PROTEIN?

A gainer is perfect for gaining muscle mass. As mentioned above, carbohydrates predominate in this protein-carbohydrate supplement, and this promotes weight gain. Typically, this additive is used. These are people who are prone to losing weight, they have a high metabolic response, they are also called hard gainers. It is for this type of people that a gainer is perfect, since one serving of this supplement contains 1250 calories. Perhaps the only drawback is its cost. If you take 5 kilograms of protein and the same amount of gainer, their cost will be approximately the same, but the catch is that one serving of gainer is 320 grams, while one serving of protein is 30-40 grams. Accordingly, 5 kilograms of a protein mixture is designed for approximately 1-3 months, and a protein-carbohydrate mixture will only last you a couple of weeks.

It is also possible to consume protein and gainer together. When gaining muscle mass, this method increases the effect. They need to be mixed to get the right ratio of proteins and carbohydrates. If you resort to this method, you can significantly save money, since gainers, where the protein concentration is low, cost 2 times less. This is a very good way, since if you use one protein, you may not add carbohydrates to your diet. daily diet athlete For example:

  • Super Mass Gainer – 5400g / 2720g (15% protein and 76% carbohydrates) + Elite Whey Protein(76% protein and 8% carbohydrates) is a great option!
  • CytoSport Complete Whey (73% protein and 8% carbohydrates) + Maxler Special Mass Gainer – 2270g / 5450g (15% protein and 80% carbohydrates)

Also, protein can be used for weight loss purposes. Due to its increased protein concentration, when given a certain diet, protein promotes the burning of excess fat. There are special diets for cutting, which include the consumption of protein and almost no carbohydrates.

From the above material, we can conclude that the choice of protein or gainer is a purely individual choice of each person, depending on his body physics, goals and training. We can emphasize the basic principles by which you can choose sports nutrition:

  1. If you are thin, then a gainer that can be effectively mixed with protein is perfect for you. After achieving the desired result in weight gain, you can safely switch to protein, especially after the off-season, during the drying period.
  2. If you have a fairly heavy build and it’s easy for you to gain weight, then you can also use a gainer, but in moderate concentration, so as not to overdo it and gain extra pounds of fat. It’s better to buy protein, plus add to it.
  3. If you want to remove unnecessary body fat, you should start right away with protein

That's basically all the information you need to choose a protein or gainer. You can find out more about sports supplements in the sports nutrition section. Finally, a short survey: