The supplement industry has boomed with a variety of supplements today. But now it is becoming very tough for people to figure out what to choose from among the confusing variety of dietary and nutritional supplements. The best way of choosing a supplement is simply to understand the supplement. This is entirely what applies to the choice between whey protein and mass gainer.
Generally, mass gainers can provide an easy and appropriate way to get the added calories you need, without eating a ton of extra food. So, what is the difference between whey and a mass gainer?
Whey protein: Whey protein is a dietary supplement, a by-product of the cheese manufacturing process. It is the purest and most highly bio-available protein which is known for its rapid digestion. This is not only beneficial for athletes and bodybuilders but is suitable for everyone who wants to stay fit and healthy. Whey can be classified as whey protein isolate/whey protein concentrate and whey protein blend based on the protein content.
Mass gainer: Mass gainer is a supplement that features protein along with a high quality of carbohydrates and fat to boost your calorie intake. Mass gainer usually contains carbohydrates and protein in the ratio of 3:1, which means each serving of mass gainer provides 90 grams of carbohydrates and 30 grams of protein.
Difference between Mass gainer and whey protein:
Both whey protein and mass gainer contain protein, which means both of them help in muscle recovery and muscle growth. The major difference between 2 of them lies in the number of calories and the amount of protein obtained from each.
- Typically a serving of whey protein contains around 100-150 calories while a serving of mass gainer provides a whopping 1250-1500 calories.
- A mass gainer supplies 22 to 35% protein while whey protein supplies more than 60% protein.
- Whey protein is not rich in carbohydrate and fat as much as mass gainer is. Whey protein contains very little of both (carbohydrate and fat).
Let’s differentiate both of them on the basis of nutritional supplements and fitness goals:
Component | Generic mass gainer | Generic whey protein |
Energy | 200 Kcal | 125 Kcal |
Carbohydrate | 25 g | 1.3 g |
Protein | 5 g | 26 g |
Added sugar | 3 g | 0 |
Fat | 2 g | 2 g |
Glutamine | 1.3 g | 4.3 g |
Cholesterol | 12 mg | Negligible |
Percent whey isolate | Zero | 80% |
Thickeners | Yes | No |
Disclosure of all ingredients | No | Yes |
When it comes to actual bodybuilding, and you take mass gainer, all mass gainers provide you with a very brief surge of energy that will go down within a few minutes and potentially leave you with an insulin spur due to the number of sugar present in it. Whereas one of the benefits of whey protein is that it actually helps in targeting your muscles and reduces lactic acid build-up while boosting its healing process. That’s why bodybuilders are recommended to opt for whey protein rather than mass gainers.
If you are working towards fitness for strictly aesthetic purposes and do not want to coddle in heavy lifting as such, it is best that you stay away from the mass gainers. Because they generally cause a lot of changes to your body and can potentially disrupt your entire fitness journey by randomly increasing your body fat. You should opt for whey protein instead and cut down on your carbohydrate and fat intake to get a learner and a meaner appearance.
If you are looking to put on some weight, then the one benefit of mass gainer is definitely going to come in handy for you. This should be kept in mind to consume only healthy sources of food and avoid consuming too many processed items as they can have a bad effect on your health, even if they aid you put on a lot of weight. So, try to take best muscle gainer protein which has lesser side effects too.
Irrespective of whether you choose whey protein or mass gainer, always make sure to follow a balanced diet in combination with a rigid exercise schedule. Looking for an amazing mass gainer and whey protein with its own properties, have a look on MEALO to get the products of your own choice and need.