Weight Gain Supplements

Weight gain supplements can help in gaining weight when they provide a combination of high calories, high protein, high carbohydrates, high fats and sugars with ample vitamins and minerals. High calorie supplements need to taste great or else they will not be used regularly.

Alternate Uses

In some cases, a weight gain supplement can be invaluable as an energy resource for the outdoor enthusiast. Just as a power bars are a great idea, you can bring a powdered calorie supplement in your pack to mix with water on the trail. You get the calories you need, and the hydration, without having to carry a ton of food around with you. Calorie supplements can also be great for your teenage athlete who can't seem to stop eating you out of house and home! Get them a powdered weight gain supplement and make sure they are getting the nutrients they need, as well as the calories.

Weight Gain Shake

The weight gain shake will work when it is high calorie and high protein, high carbohydrate, and high fats. Some weight gain shakes are primarily protein and protein only shakes are not adequate for weight gain if the high calories are missing. Pick a shake with protein, carbohydrates and fats with the highest calories.

Weight Gain: Pills

Pills do not supply the body with the amount of weight gain nutrients and high calories the body needs to gain weight. To gain weight, the body needs a combination of high calories and nutrients. A pill is too small to contain all the needed weight gain nutrients. That is why effective high calorie weight gain supplements are in powder form, not a pill.

How Weight Gain Supplements Work

A proper weight gain powder can provide the extra high calories and special nutrients the body needs to gain weight that are not being provided with regular foods. When a weight gain supplement offers the combination of high calories and high nutrition, the body stores this extra nutrition as needed weight gain. .

Dietary Supplements Vs. Weight Gain Supplement

A dietary supplement is a product, usually taken by mouth, that contains an ingredient that might otherwise be missing from your normal food diet. The dietary ingredients typically contained in a supplement are herbal supplements, vitamins, minerals and calories. The FDA does regulate dietary supplements, as foods, rather than as drugs. Dietary supplements should not make claims that they can cure any diseases or conditions. According to the FDA: "...(A) product sold as a dietary supplement and promoted on its label or in labeling as a treatment, prevention or cure for a specific disease or condition would be considered an unapproved--and thus illegal--drug. To maintain the product's status as a dietary supplement, the label and labeling must be consistent with the provisions in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994."

Weight Gain Shakes

To gain weight, 1-3 weight gain shakes are recommended each day, depending on the calories and nutrients. A proper high calorie supplement shake can provide over 650 extra calories per shake, more high calories when fruit and ice cream is added.

High Calorie Weight Gain Shakes

To gain weight, high calorie shakes should also accompany regular food. You don't want to just substitute the weight gain shake calories for the diet calories. You need to add more calories to your diet with the weight gain shake. In combination, a high calorie weight gain shake and regular diet add more weight.

What to Look For

Your weight gain supplement should be one that can be mixed with water or another liquid depending on your taste and preference. The supplement should have a balanced equation of vitamins, protein, carbohydrates and sugars and should give you the exact number of calories and grams of all ingredients so you can integrate the supplement into your weight gain diet appropriately.

Helping You Absorb Necessary Nutrients

Your weight gain supplements should contain ingredients that aid the absorption of nutrients. Aspartate is one such ingredient. It is a protein that helps the body to absorb necessary nutrients. In the case of someone with an illness these ingredients can mean the difference between weight maintenance and healthy weight gain. Be careful no to confuse aspartate with Aspartame, which is an artificial sweetener.