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Gainers. Should you be afraid of them?

Article provided by the website ironflex.ru.
2013-08-12

A gainer is a food supplement in powder form, mainly used by athletes to increase muscle mass and replenish the body's energy losses. It can be taken not only after workouts but also before starting them, as well as according to a schedule throughout the day.

How safe is it to use a gainer? This question usually arises among people who are starting intensive training for the first time and have found that consuming regular foods, even taking into account the calories, micronutrients, and vitamins they contain, does not provide the body with the necessary energy, and muscle mass does not grow or increases very slowly.

First, let's clarify what a gainer is. This is a preparation consisting of proteins and carbohydrates, made from natural products. The mixture may include, for example, wheat gluten, which contains essential amino acids; an extract from hawthorn fruits, which stimulates circulation; an extract of Eleutherococcus, which enhances performance, and much more. It depends on the type of supplement.

Can a gainer cause individual intolerance? Generally speaking – it can. This is determined by the individual's reaction to the components of the food supplement. To rule out allergies, one must carefully read the composition of the gainer (manufacturers always indicate it on the product packaging). Don't be upset if an undesirable component is found. For people allergic to lactose, there are food supplements without it. Naturally, these are also designed to dissolve in water, not in milk. Some gainers may cause diarrhea or bloating.

If such symptoms are observed, it is important to first check compliance with the dosage. If nothing is violated, it is simply necessary to change the food supplement. There are many brands of gainers, produced by various companies, so you can find an acceptable and safe product for yourself. The gainer's ability to stimulate muscle mass gain (which primarily explains its immense popularity among bodybuilders) may not be beneficial for everyone. If a particular athlete tends toward fullness and the dose of the food supplement exceeds the body's needs, there may be an increase in not only muscle but also fat tissue. For such people, it is better to give up the gainer and use protein supplements that promote muscle growth and reduce fat deposits.

Many young athletes planning to take gainers are concerned about their impact on male potency. They usually fear negative effects. The reasons for such doubts are unclear. As mentioned earlier, gainers are mixtures made from natural food products. They typically contain not only proteins and carbohydrates but also many vitamins and amino acids that are beneficial for an actively functioning body. Food supplements are aimed not at suppressing any human functions but at stimulating them, providing the body with additional energy. One should expect not a decrease in male abilities from gainers, but rather an increase.

When all doubts about gainers are dispelled, one can think about choosing a product. Which gainer is the best? The food supplement cannot replace full nutrition. It is merely an addition to it. This must not be forgotten when choosing a gainer. The approach should be individual for each athlete, considering not only the intensity of training but also age, body type, and other individual characteristics. One of the most important aspects of taking gainers is their combination with regular food intake and adherence to the dosage recommended by the manufacturer. Overdose is not dangerous – excess substances simply will not be absorbed by the body. However, it should not be allowed at least to eliminate unnecessary energy expenditure. Understanding the action of the substances included in dietary supplements will help choose the right gainer among the many available in the market. When buying, one should not focus on cheap supplements, as they may turn out to be of poor quality or expired. It is better to trust proven manufacturers, while also keeping an eye on the product's expiration date.

Note from the administrator

Here are several good and proven gainers from both the expensive and more affordable segments:

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