What protein powder is best for weight gain?
Any type of protein (egg, pea, whey, etc.) can help you gain weight, and no one type is better than the other. Anyone who tells you that you need a particular type of protein is just trying to sell you something you do not need. As long as a protein supplement helps you achieve and maintain a calorie surplus, it will help you gain. Before you start scooping protein powder and chugging protein shakes, however, you should know that not all protein powders are created equal.
Many protein powders are loaded with ingredients that are not good for you. Emulsifiers, thickeners, and fake sweeteners and flavors are a few of the top offenders. Ingredients like these, because they look nothing like real food, mess with your gut microbiome – the collection of microorganisms that live in your gut. Not only does this impact your ability to digest and absorb food, but it also causes inflammation, painful side effects, and even the development of chronic diseases.
The best weight gainer protein powder is made with a short list of simple ingredients. Basically, the more your protein powder looks like real food, the less likely it will be to cause harm. Continue reading to learn more.
One of the reasons why we make the best protein powder for weight gain is that we, unlike most protein powder companies, do not use food additives. Additives bear little resemblance to real foods, making them difficult to digest. As a result, they linger in your gastrointestinal tract and feed your hungry gut bacteria. As these microorganisms eat, they generate gas, which can cause symptoms such as bloating, flatulence, stomach pain, and constipation. Partially digested food additives can also cause your colon to absorb excess water, making you run to the bathroom (if you know what I mean).
Here is a list of the most common food additives in protein powder:
acacia gum, acesulfame potassium, artificial flavors, aspartame, carrageenan, cellulose gum, dextrin, dextrose, erythritol, gellan gum, guar gum, gum arabic, inulin, locust bean gum, “natural” flavors, maltodextrin, rice syrup solids, soy lecithin, silica, sucralose, sunflower lecithin, xanthan gum, xylitol
As time passes, the regular consumption of food additives can disturb regulatory pathways in your intestine, setting the stage for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other systemic inflammatory conditions. Food additives, especially artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, can also perturb your gut microbiome. An imbalanced gut microbiome is a leading driver of inflammation in the body, and linked to the development of several chronic diseases.