A huge variety of sports supplements and manufacturers flooded the market, and the choice and search for something of high quality still remains difficult (of course, for those who first think and then buy =)). In this article, we will tell you about which sports nutrition manufacturers are the best, and which ones you shouldn’t trust?! To do this, we decided to make a personal rating of sports nutrition!
On the one hand, it seems that a large selection increases your ability to buy something really good and effective, but in fact it is not. It's good when, in pursuit of the palm, manufacturers improve the quality of their product, hoping to surprise the buyer with something new, and sometimes even innovative. But unfortunately, many brands are trying to gain popularity with a completely different approach - using cheaper and, of course, lower quality raw materials in order to lower prices and make their product more attractive to the buyer.
We will highlight the best products that have been quality tested by dozens or even hundreds of customers. Our rating of sports nutrition manufacturers will be as honest as possible, based on personal experience and the opinion of our customers, although a little subjective.
And today you will even get acquainted with several of its options:
- Rating of the best sports nutrition (pop brands);
- Rating of elite sports nutrition in the underground sphere;
- Top sports nutrition manufacturers based on sales!
Excursion to the ranking of sports nutrition manufacturers in the world!
What sports nutrition brands will you see when you go to a regular sports nutrition store? ON, BSN, Dimatize, Universal Nutrition, etc.? For many buyers, they are the best manufacturers of sports nutrition. Yes, they are the most popular and bought, and also very old) Pop brands have their own merits - high quality products. They can offer you an excellent recovery base (BCAA, Protein, Vitamins and minerals, etc.), but they do not have what is becoming very popular and popular today - really powerful fat burners, pre-workouts, pampilka, nootropics, relaxants, hormone boosters growth and testosterone, and certainly you will not find SARMs and Designer steroids in them! This is a MINUS.
Another sin of popular brands in a huge number of fakes! This scourge accompanies them almost all the way to their success, but especially spread during the crisis. After all, what are the most popular brands of sports nutrition in Russia? Of course, these are ON, BSN, Dimatize, Universal Nutrition, etc. And you don’t even think about their quality when buying, but in many cases you buy a fake!
Attention! How to distinguish a fake from the original? There are several signs:
- If the price is very low - either the store sells a Chinese fake (we ourselves saw the price list from China for all your favorite brands at penny prices, but let's not join this one and we will not enter!), Or on the verge of bankruptcy and trying to quickly sell the goods ;
- On the window you see products OFFICIALLY out of production (see manufacturers' websites), for example Jack3d with geranium, or OxyEllite (classic of the genre) - this is a 100% fake that is made in India or China (by the way, sellers of these products will convince you that USPlabs moved their production there =))! And if you see that the store has signs one and two, then it is obvious that you need to add it to your personal black list and forget the way to it forever!
- There are many more ways to identify a fake by a label or packaging design, but for this you need to be a person who is deeply in the topic of this business) They are now very cool, so this option is not for 99% of buyers.
Okay, let's release the "ancients" for a while and look at the domestic market, which you will not see in the rating. Take for example a new product that just flooded sports nutrition stores - PureProtein. Everyone praised, praised, PR, and it seemed that people even believed and began to actively buy, but a little later the hype passed, and negative reviews about their products began to come out - either bars with mold, then with hair, then the taste of additives like washing powder . They did their best with the packaging, and with advertising, but they somehow forgot about the quality (In general, like all Russian brands, Pure will definitely not be included in our ratings!
Let's move on to our favorite underground! This sports nutrition is famous, firstly, for its compositions! They are not just wide, they are massive! If it’s a pre-workout, then it has a lot of stimulants, a lot of ingredients that give endurance and strength to muscles, amino acids, vitamins, etc. With dosages, underground brands are also not greedy, they work for the maximum result.
By the way, it is worth mentioning one more thing in favor of the underground sports nutrition - a minimum of fakes. If the popular brands that we mentioned above are constantly faked due to their high popularity, then little-known, not publicized ones are much less susceptible to this trouble, but still they are, and this is already a proven fact (
Rating of the best sports nutrition (pop brands)
The company began its history in 1986, the founders are brothers Tony and Michael Costello. At that time, there were already enough brands producing sports nutrition, and the guys decided to break through not in quantity, but in quality. To date, the company has its own scientific laboratory, employs only highly qualified specialists and has a production facility with a total area of 46,000 sq.m.! The familiar 100% Whey Gold Standard protein has been at the top of the rankings since 2005! In Russia, the brand is represented by such famous athletes as Stanislav Lindover, Alexander Yashankin, Andrey Popov, Arkady Velichko and others.
The best sports nutrition from Optimum Nutrition
The company was founded in 2001 in Boca Raton, Florida by Scott James and Chris Ferguson. These guys decided to create sports nutrition from scratch, setting themselves the task (which became the company's slogan) - "no imitations - only innovations!". Success caught up with them in 2005 when their Cellmass Creatine won the "Best Creatine of the Year" award and remained at the top position until 2009. Today, the brand is sold in more than 40,000 stores worldwide, and is represented by such famous athletes as Ryan Hughes, Amanda Latona and even famous MMA fighter Conor McGregor!
Best BSN Products
The company was founded in 1977 and is considered one of the oldest. Its production is located on 1500 sq.m., and its range includes more than 550 additives! Universal has one of the most interesting and unusual assortments: there are both meat and egg aminos, creatine, glutamine and other supplements in various dosages! Since 1981, the company has split into two lines: Animal and Universal. It was the first line that gave the world adored by many vitamins, amino acids, creatine and other supplements in portioned sachets! Today it is not only a popular manufacturer of sports nutrition, but also a publicist of scientific materials related to sports.
Best Universal Nutrition Products
Elite sports nutrition in the underground - our rating
And now let's talk about brands working in the underground. Unfortunately, few people know about them, and the thing is that they are not as well publicized as pop brands. In the West, the underground is loved and actively used, it is very popular there, but why, you will find out just by looking at the variety and power of flagship products!
A rather old brand from the underground world, which became famous thanks to its coolest designer steroids - Epi Smash, Super Trenabol, Halo Elite, Super DMZ RX 2.0, Metha-Quad Extreme and Black Jack! The company is run by President PJ Braun and CEO Aaron Singerman. These guys can really be called geniuses for their innovative and high-profile ideas, and equally high-profile products! Now, in addition to DS, they have pre-workouts, burners, nootropics, BCAAs, PCT drugs, CAMPs, proteins, ..., in general, everything you need for the result! Blackstone is one of those whose products you want to return to again and again!
Best Blackstone Labs Products
This company is an absolute newcomer to the sports nutrition industry, but has already managed to create over 20 super-quality supplements for any purpose. It was created by two doctors who worked in the field of chiropractic, cosmetology and rejuvenation, and a little later they decided to create their own line of products, which is tailored to the goals of fitness and bodybuilding. The first product to take the world by storm, the God Of Rage pre-workout is the most incredible lineup you've ever seen! In addition to it, Centurion released the Blood Rush pamp, which has become an indispensable element of this stack. In addition, the guys produce SARMs, prohormones, support drugs and PCT of the highest class! Plus Omega-3s, sleep-enhancing foods, and more…
Top Centurion Labz Products
The Chaos Laboratory at one time made a real splash on the Russian market, since we did not have such products yet. These are not only steep compositions, but also overestimated dosages. The company spends a lot of money on quality raw materials and constantly pleases us with something new. Their products include designer steroids, test boosters, aminos and BCAAs, pre-workouts, fat burners, nootropics, relaxers and more. If you want to try something truly extreme, then welcome to the world of Chaos!
Top Chaotic Labz Products
Xcel Sports Nutrition started with designer steroids and brought them to the state of originality! They have the coolest line of prohormones - Mammoth DNA Resurrection - 6 extreme prohormones, Sasquatch DNA Resurrection - 4 extreme prohormones, Yetti DNA Resurrection - 6 extreme prohormones, the highest dosages and cool compositions. In addition, you can find among their products SARMs, Creatine, BCAAs, Protein, growth hormone and testosterone boosters, fat burners, etc. In general, this brand will be able to provide you with both a recovery base and pamper you with a quality course!)
Top Xcel Sports Nutrition Products
The company was founded in 2008 in the USA. Its name fully reflects the policy and ideology of the brand. The creators decided to embody the idea of rebirth in their brand, i.е. create sports supplements with a completely new concept! Of course, you know their most popular product - Stimul8 - an incredible super euphoric pre-workout that won the hearts of many. They also have aminos, relaxant, pampilka, vitamins, etc.
Top Finaflex Products
The work of this company is built on three principles: innovation, quality, composition. They have their own laboratory, in which they recruit only the best professionals and constantly retrain. Today, the total area of their production is about 150,000 square meters! Every year they produce 22 billion tablets and 6 billion capsules, 500 million jars, 250 million blisters. It's hard to say that they are not popular) For sure, APS are known to you by their coolest Mesomorph pre-workout. They also have the most powerful complex fat burner + test booster + Phenadrine pre-workout, testosterone booster, protein and much more.
Best APS Nutrition Products
A company that has been in existence for over 20 years. Its quality can mislead you, convincing you that the company is American. Yes, it is indeed based in the city of Norcross in the north of Atlanta in the USA, but its origins are Georgia! Among the supplements you can find the best Lipodrene fat burners, as well as Stamina-Rx sexual stimulants for women and men, and much more. Their slogan is "Based on nature - based on science"!
Bars? Energy? Powders? Pills? It's hard to understand, we know. Therefore, our fitness expert Dmitry Smirnov has compiled instructions for you on the selection and use of so-called sports nutrition products that are popular in Russia.
And using my 12 years of coaching experience (and 25 years of self-training experience), I will make you an expert in sports nutrition. Lesson one - never use the phrase "sports nutrition". These are supplements, “supplements”, and this word is more consistent with the main task of such products - to close holes in your diet, the lack of certain vitamins, trace elements, amino acids and other things (trust me, everyone has such gaps). I would conditionally divide consumers of sports supplements into two groups:
1. You have been training hard (3-4 times a week without skipping) for a long time for the sake of a specific result - for example, you dream of shaking a barbell weighing 150 kg or running a marathon 42 km 195 m. You can and need a lot of what will be discussed below. I will offer specific sets of sports supplements for each task (see "Recipes").
2. Beginners, even if they train hard, - in the first six months you should get by with only both types of proteins: “quick” before breakfast, “long” at night. They make up for the protein deficiency that any Russian man has. I will recommend the same diet to those people who go to the gym once a week, “for themselves” (however, if you are overweight, consult a nutritionist first).
Well, I recommend taking both categories (after consulting a doctor) with cardio- and chondroprotectors, regardless of the training program. Let's move on to the powders and bars. If any product known to you is missing from this material, it means that I consider it unnecessary.
1. Protein
Release form: powders
Why: Protein is often drunk right after a workout, saying: "Muscle mass, muscle mass!" But without carbohydrates, which everyone forgets about, protein powder in the matter of instant muscle building is practically useless. Use it just to make up for a general lack of protein. The body will find where to attach it, for example, make testosterone out of it. Proteins are "fast" and "long". The former are more biologically available and instantly provide your body with energy and building material. The latter give the protein gradually, over several hours. It is not difficult to distinguish them: any whey (whey) is “fast”. Any combination containing casein protein (casein) is "long".
How to take: "Fast" protein is consumed in the morning (1 serving 20 minutes before breakfast) and immediately after fat burning workouts. In general, I am a staunch supporter of a predominantly protein breakfast, this allows you to gently raise blood sugar levels after a night's sleep and further spin up your metabolism. “Long” drink 30-90 minutes after the last meal, at night, so that the body has proteins at hand even in a dream.
Recommended: Of the sports supplements that my clients have come across, I can recommend VPX's "quick" Zero Carb for breakfast. For the night, I wholeheartedly recommend "Infusion" from SAN. True, it is more than protein - such products are called "meal replacement". It includes different types of protein (which are absorbed at different times and therefore provide your body with nutrition all night long), as well as vitamins and a dosed amount of carbohydrates that does not harm the figure.
2. Complex amino acids
Release form: capsules, tablets, caplets
For what: I strongly doubt that there are a lot of amino acids in products with such names. Rather, it is the usual "fast" protein, only in convenient packaging. On the road or after a long night in an ambush under the nose of the enemy, where you can not get a shaker, this is a good replacement for a protein shake.
How to take: In any training regimen, except for hypertrophy, - 2-3 tablets 2-3 times a day, as a replacement for protein powders. And in the midst of a long hypertrophy program - 3 tablets twice a day, you can with food or a gainer, and you will also drink protein.
3. Gainer
Release form: powder
Why: My favorite product! The combination of easily digestible proteins and carbohydrates contributes not only to rapid weight gain, but also provides a hurricane of energy before training, and also significantly speeds up recovery after.
How to take: On training days, 30-45 minutes before training and immediately after. On rest days, 1 serving in the afternoon. In endurance training mode, you can three times a day: before and after training, as well as at night. And never eat a gainer for breakfast! The mass in this case will grow only on the sides.
Worth remembering
No amount of creatine with protein will ever correct technical errors or help sleep deprivation. Also, be aware that no supplement can replace a complete, regular, and healthy diet. And do not forget that even harmless and certified products, if used thoughtlessly and beyond measure, can cause irreparable damage to health. If you suffer from food allergies, metabolic disorders, diabetes, chronic diseases of the heart, kidneys, liver or gastrointestinal tract, then before taking any sports nutrition, you should definitely consult an adequate, qualified doctor.
4. BCAA
Release form: tablets, capsules, powder
Why: BCAAs are also amino acids, but only three: isoleucine, leucine and valine. According to a number of studies, skeletal muscles have the most of them. I use BCAAs (and I advise you to do the same) to lose much less muscle during your "fat-burning" or endurance-building period.
How to take: When training - 5 capsules before and immediately after training. On rest days, 2 capsules with regular meals.
5. L-carnitine
Release form: tablets, capsules, ampoules
Why: Carnitine makes it easier for your body to access fat stores. I'm not ready to say that L-carnitine helps to lose weight, but it really increases endurance and has a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health.
How to take: 1 tablet 2 times a day with food when training endurance or strength. And with any type of training, if you feel that the heart is experiencing a lot of stress (for example, on a hot summer day).
6. Creatine
Release form: powder, tablets, capsules
Why: Creatine is a precursor to creatine phosphate (CP), one of the main sources of energy for muscle work. CF provides an exceptionally short-term power nature of the work (the first 3-5 repetitions in the bench press, for example). It is generally accepted that taking creatine-containing supplements allows you to increase strength. For some, this is true, but for others, this supplement has no effect. Try it - suddenly this food is in you.
How to take: 2-3 g once a day, you can along with a gainer. Just be sure to drink after at least three glasses of plain water. Creatine has an unpleasant ability to absorb fluid, which can lead to spasms, bloating, and even trauma to the connective tissue, for which normal hydration is critical.
7. Glutamine
Release form: powder, granules, capsules
Why: With heavy physical exertion, glutamine reserves in the body are depleted, and this negatively affects the immune system and reduces regenerative abilities. Therefore, if you have more than 5 training hours per week, you should use this supplement.
How to take: At a dose 2 times a day, in the morning and in the evening 15 minutes before meals - and you will recover normally, it is easier to endure stress and get sick less.
8. Energy
Release form: "jars", powder
Why: Another favorite product of mine! A high-quality energy drink at the same time whips up your mood, sports enthusiasm and healthy aggression. During strength training, such a product is of paramount importance. Just keep in mind - these are special sports energy drinks that are sold in special sports nutrition stores! They contain practically no sugar, but there are substances that support the health of the cardiovascular system. They have little in common with supermarket energy drinks.
How to take: Just half a small bottle, drunk 30-45 minutes before training, - and you are ready to break any records! However, I do not recommend drinking energy drinks before every workout (maximum 1-2 times a week), and in no case drink more than one piece per day.
What to mix powders with?
Proteins and gainers can be mixed with ordinary non-mineral and non-carbonated water, freshly squeezed or packaged juice, as well as milk. For a gainer, the best option is water, in combination with juice or milk, the amount of carbohydrates and calories in the mixture will greatly go off scale. Protein powder will tolerate any of the liquids listed above, except that milk should be selected with the least fat. By the way, if your intestines do not tolerate milk, you can safely interfere with the protein on ... kefir. But all other powders, especially creatine, can only be mixed with water, and they must be drunk immediately - in liquid form, additives are the least chemically stable.
9. Testosterone Boosters
Release form: capsules
For what. To supplements that increase testosterone levels, the attitude of doctors and laymen, as a rule, is completely negative. Obviously, because they are confused with hormonal doping. However, boosters do not pump you with extra hormones, but only gently increase the secretion of internal, your own testosterone. From the point of view of physiology, this means “becoming younger” by a few years, especially if you are over thirty. If you are 17-22 years old and you are healthy, you can safely do without this supplement - hormones in you are already in bulk!
How to take: The most useful quality of testosterone boosters, I think, is their stimulating effect on glucose metabolism. Therefore, in my opinion, it is most reasonable to use them when you are trying to get rid of excess fat. 2 capsules 2 times a day with meals.
10. Protein Bars
Form: you will laugh, but these are candy bars!
Why: Perhaps the most convenient source of protein and carbohydrates: no need to stir or drink - tore open the package and eat to your health! Use to quell hunger between main meals.
How to use. A couple of high-quality bars consistently beat off interest in food for exactly 3 hours, even for such an eternally hungry swallow like me. But the daily rate, according to my observations, is no more than 2-3 bars. If you exceed the dose, problems with appetite may begin!
* "Fast" protein - before breakfast and after training
** "Quick" protein for breakfast, "long" protein before bed
to health
There are a number of sports supplements and near-medical products that you can use in your diet, regardless of the goals that you are pursuing at a certain point in time.
cardioprotectors They should be taken before training during the hot season and during periods of endurance training. These include the L-carnitine already described above, as well as preparations containing potassium and magnesium - substances responsible for the smooth functioning of the heart. For example, potassium and magnesium aspartate.
vitamins and minerals I do not agree with the opinion that prevails among athletes and a number of coaches about the need to take increased doses of vitamins. Therefore, as a trainer, I prefer trivial pharmacy multivitamins in a normal dosage. As a rule, this is one serving immediately after breakfast. For taking additional vitamins supposedly useful to the athlete / pitching - C, E and B separately - I don’t advocate. More than enough multivitamins!
chondroprotectors American coaches have a good saying: “If you don’t play sports, you will go to a cardiologist. If you go in for sports, you will get to an orthopedist! So that the last part of this wonderful phrase does not touch you, regularly take chondroprotectors - additives that facilitate the regeneration of cartilage tissue and the restoration of the ligamentous apparatus as a whole. Even if you rarely go to the gym or don’t go at all, chondroprotectors are worth drinking to prevent diseases of the musculoskeletal system. How often? This information should be in the instructions for use.
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Dmitry Smirnov
The main argument in choosing one or another sports nutrition, as a rule, is someone's reviews. Friends, co-workers, coaches, and retail store clerks. Everyone has their own opinion based on personal experience with supplementation. And the more this experience, the more balanced opinion the person giving these or those recommendations has. Based on its more than 20 years of experience in the field of trade, our store decided to create its own overview of sports nutrition manufacturers. Build a certain rating. It does not claim to be the ultimate truth and, of course, is not a guide to choosing supplements. This is just the total experience that ours has accumulated, based on the sales volume of certain drugs and feedback on their effectiveness. From year to year, the quality of goods from manufacturers could change, so we tried to determine the trend for each company and derive our estimates based on the policies of the companies.
First of all, it is worth deciding on a scale of values. We will evaluate each brand of sports nutrition in three categories: price, quality, innovation. If everything is more or less clear with quality, then we will evaluate the price taking into account the demand and sale of goods. It is logical to assume that the market (i.e. sales volumes) is the best indicator of producer prices. By innovation we will mean the speed with which the manufacturer responds to new scientific developments and their introduction into production, as well as the diversity of the range. For each of the criteria, there is a ten-point scale, and the averaging of all three ratings gives the overall rating of the sports nutrition manufacturer.
Since, as a rule, everyone is interested, first of all, in the final conclusions, we will go in a non-standard way - we will start from the end. We will first publish the rating of sports nutrition manufacturers, and then we will decipher it and argue for each item.
Rating of manufacturers of sports nutrition
Manufacturer
Final score
Quality
Innovation
superset
What can I say - traditions and principles! The company was one of the first to do business in the middle of the last century. The additives of that time differ from modern drugs in much the same way that modern cars differ from cars of the 50s. And the company has come a long way over the years. By investing huge amounts of money in the popularization of bodybuilding, holding the world's largest competitions, the Weider brand has become almost synonymous with the word "bodybuilding". And this played a cruel joke on the company - the quality of Weider products was very low. Huge demand, worldwide fame forced the management to act on the principle of seeking maximum profit - low quality at high prices. However, the further development of the nutritional supplement market and the emergence of other global manufacturers made the Vader brothers change their minds and pay special attention to quality. At the end of the last century, a landmark event took place - Weider bought a controlling stake in a German company HALEKO. Whose factories produced what was considered the best nutrition company Multipower. Since then, for the European market foodMultipower and Weider are produced in the same factories and have the same perfect quality.- Price. 5
It is worth recognizing that the price of Weider products is quite high. But the quality is worth it. - Quality. 10
The absolute leader in our rating of sports nutrition manufacturers. The only product that has never been complained about in terms of poor digestibility or lack of results. Probably the merit of Multipower is more here, in whose production Weider “settled”, but what can you do if the realities of modern business are like that. - Innovation. 7
This is not to say that Weider is the market leader in new sports nutrition products. However, it is worth recognizing that the company quickly responds to both new developments and changes in demand. Proof of this - regularly appearing new supplements and drugs.
Outcome: a well-deserved place number 1 in the list of sports nutrition manufacturers.
In the late 90s - the undisputed market leader in sports nutrition. Despite the very high prices for that time, supplements were in great demand. No stomach problems, pleasant taste, high efficiency. More than enough for many athletes to remember the hackneyed truth "we're not rich enough to buy cheap proteins." However, the lost battle of the Vader financial empire forced the launch of the Weider brand into its factories, which significantly pushed Multipower out of both European shelves and in the sympathy of athletes. The quality of the German company is the same as that of the American competitor, and the prices are approximately the same. However, it is worth recognizing: Multipower lags far behind in the speed of introduction of new products into production. And the assortment itself is significantly inferior to Weider. And therefore a legitimate second place- Price. 5
- Quality. 10
- Innovation. 5
A very popular brand among older bodybuilding enthusiasts. Once drugs were actively supplied and also actively sold in Russia. True, in those days, sports nutrition was generally difficult to find, and therefore athletes grabbed everything. And therefore, if something of high quality was encountered, it was especially appreciated. Twinlab is just one of them - quality food manufacturers. A company that has chosen a scientific approach to the formation of a range of sports nutrition as its credo. However, some stagnation in development led to the fact that other manufacturers went ahead.- Price. 5
In our opinion, a slightly overpriced product. Qualitatively, but shipping from the USA brings its own surcharges to the final cost on the shelves. To reach the mainstream, Twinlab must look for new ways. - Quality. 9
No comments. Excellent quality. - Innovation. 5
The company has a number of quite interesting and original products. Twinlab was one of the first to offer a specialized product for strengthening joints and ligaments. And for many years, Joint Fuel has been successfully helping athletes treat injuries. And there are many such drugs. Let Twinlab offer new items not as often as we would like, but if it does, you can be sure that this is something really worthwhile.
An old and highly respected brand. First of all, for not only making money on athletes, but also really trying to do something for the development of bodybuilding. Universal Nutrition holds various workshops, forums and competitions for amateurs and between amateurs.As for - for many years she has been trying to focus on special preparations - anabolic formulas. The drug has been known to bodybuilding enthusiasts for almost 20 years. Animal Pak was one of the first products on the market for sports nutrition to increase endurance and training intensity. And since then, Universal Nutrition has been constantly trying to offer athletes something new to increase the intensity and effectiveness of their training. , and many other additives adequately reflected the scientific progress of recent years. The very word "Animal" (English - animal), which is in the heading of most preparations, speaks of what, according to the idea of the authors of the preparations, an athlete should turn into in training. A joke of course, but in every joke, as you know ... And the fact is that Universal Nutrition supplements really work.
- Price. 5
Prices are slightly lower than the leaders of our list. However, given the quality, they do not seem low. - Quality. 6
As for special preparations, there are no complaints about Universal Nutrition. What is promised is what the athlete gets. But in the segment of simple supplements - proteins, gainers, creatine - here the quality loses to the top three. - Innovation. 7
On the one hand, Universal Nutrition could put a fat ten for those drugs that you will not find anywhere else. Truly unique products of our own design. But on the other hand, there is an obvious shortage in the range of proteins and gainers - the basis of sports nutrition. And their quality loses to many competitors. Therefore, the final score is significantly lower than what it could be.
A large assortment of goods is actually the main advantage of the American manufacturer. Moreover, this assortment was large even in the 90s, when many companies produced 3-4 items each. At one time, Optimum Nutrition had the title of the best company in terms of price / quality ratio. However, over time, prices have risen, but the quality is not very good. However, you can’t go against the facts - there is quite a lot of demand for Optimum Nutrition. Which, however, is rather due to tradition.- Price. 5
In our opinion, the price of Optimum Nutrition is somewhat overpriced by the manufacturer. - Quality. 6
- Innovation. 6
Optimum Nutrition responds quickly to market innovations and regularly releases new products. However, in this it is far from such companies as Weider and, moreover, Universal Nutrition.
6. Superset (Superset)
The Superset company is the most dynamically developing domestic manufacturer of sports nutrition. And many consider him to be the only manufacturer nutrition. Those. a company that is trying to create, develop something, and not just pack dairy ingredients under its own brand. Throughout its history (which is more than 20 years old) the company has been systematically developing, increasing the range and quality of its products. For all the years - the company never stopped production, did not change the owner, did not go bankrupt. And this is after so many Russian crises! There is something to respect.
At the moment, "top" products like Super Formula or Super Whey 100 are at the level of the middle segment of imported additives.
- Price. 9
The main advantage of Superset products over all competitors. Affordable and high quality. If you do not aspire to the podium, then in 99% of cases Superset products will satisfy all your needs. - Quality. 5
The quality of both proteins, and gainers and creatine in Superset is at a fairly high level. It does not cause problems with assimilation, the result gives. A serious minus is perhaps the taste of proteins and gainers. Here Superset loses to imports. But the use of strong flavors will seriously increase the cost of production. And what is more important to you - low price or good taste? There is no definite answer here. - Innovation. 2
The second disadvantage of the company is the slow introduction of new products into production. Until now, the range of products does not include adaptogens, fat burners (except for l-carnitine), vitamins, special preparations and much more that other companies have been producing for years. But one can understand - the cautious policy of the Superset is due to Russian reality, the need to constantly think about tomorrow. All investments occur only after a deep analysis of the market and demand. This is what allows Superset to exist and develop for more than 20 years. Careful policy is the key to longevity. But in terms of assortment there is still a big lag behind import companies.
7. Olimp
The Olimp company became known in our country not so long ago. However, it has already won its audience due to a fairly active marketing policy. We must pay tribute - additives are in demand, there is nothing to blame for the quality. The assortment is quite simple, but on the other hand, everything you need is present. Many drugs contain, which is especially valuable for joints and ligaments. In addition to collagen, the range includes such specific preparations as coenzyme Q10, omega 3 fatty acids and zinc.
- Price. 5
- Quality. 6
- Innovation. 4
8. MuscleTech
At one time, MuscleTech showed great promise for a breakthrough in the segment of products for burning fat and losing weight. Preparations of the "Hydroxycut" series immediately gained popularity due to their special effectiveness. However, subsequently the company seriously slowed down, letting its competitors go ahead. And high prices did not contribute to the growth of popularity. Thus, MuscleTech can be distinguished from hundreds of manufacturers around the world, but nothing more.
- Price. 4
- Quality. 6
- Innovation. 5
9. Leader
The Finnish company is the leader so far only on paper. Despite the rather good quality and pleasant taste of the products, they leave much to be desired in their thoughtfulness for the needs of athletes. In addition, prices could be lower, especially considering the proximity of Finland and Russia and, as a result, significantly lower overhead costs for delivery. The range is quite large, but very irregularly supplied to our country
- Price. 4
- Quality. 6
- Innovation. 4
10. MHP
The last place should not be approached too critically and regarded as "the worst manufacturer of sports nutrition." On the contrary, getting into this rating is a remarkable fact in itself. After all, there are hundreds of manufacturers of nutritional supplements for athletes all over the world. And even if the tenth place, but still it is a certain level and an indicator of the seriousness of the company.
MHP products can be attributed to the middle segment - average quality, prices, variety of goods. However, its products are in steady demand in our country, and this should be noted.
- Price. 4
- Quality. 6
- Innovation. 4
Sports nutrition manufacturers - results
Once again, we draw your attention to the fact that this review of sports nutrition manufacturers is not a dogma, not an attempt to impose an opinion, and not even a competition - no one will present prizes and medals here. This is only our experience and our view of the current state of affairs in the market of sports nutritional supplements. If you have your own opinion, your own opinion, your own experience - and perhaps we will publish it as an addition to this article.
Nutrition is extremely important, because muscles are built precisely thanks to the elements entering the body. And if there is a goal to gain muscle mass in a short time, then it is all the more important to choose the right set of sports nutrition for gaining muscle mass.
There is a basic set of sports nutrition for gaining muscle mass that every athlete should know:
- BCAAs
- Multivitamins;
- Omega 3;
- Glutamine.
These substances not only help develop muscles, but also support overall health.
To gain muscle mass, ordinary products are not enough; in any case, you will have to turn to sports supplements for help. In addition to working out hard, it's also important to maintain a calorie surplus. All bodybuilders take a sports complex that includes several basic supplements.
Whey Protein
This is one of the main components that is included in sports. This supplement has a complex composition that can be completely different, but it includes many important elements and amino acids. Proteins are an important part that is included in any
Gainer
If you can’t gain the required number of calories in any way, then a gainer will come to the rescue, which is also an important component that should be included in a sports nutrition kit for gaining muscle mass, because a large amount of protein is the key to muscle growth. But when choosing a gainer, you need to pay special attention to the composition. It is important to ensure that there are not too many carbohydrates in it, giving preference to protein.
BCAA
It is a complex of three amino acids: leucine, isoleucine and valine. They are extremely important for the body, but it does not synthesize them on its own. BCAAs stimulate insulin production, which helps fuel your muscles. In addition, these three amino acids prevent protein breakdown and muscle breakdown.
Pre-workout complexes
Often, training pretty exhausting the body, there is no strength left at all. To cope with this and add strength and energy during training, the use of simulators, which contain caffeine or geranamine, will help. If you need extra energy, then you can safely add pre-workout complexes to your set of sports nutrition to gain muscle mass.
Creatine
Increases strength and stimulates the growth of volumes. There are many types of creatine on the market today, but the monohydrate remains the most common.
Omega 3
This component is found in fatty fish, but even this is sometimes not enough for an athlete and therefore one has to resort to supplements. The best choice is fish oil. Omega-3 improves blood circulation, which speeds up the delivery of important substances to the muscles. But its benefits do not end there, it also speeds up metabolism, which helps to get rid of fat, and is good for the cardiovascular system.
Multivitamins
They practically do not affect but, despite this, are no less important. Chasing weight gain, taking various supplements, the athlete begins to forget about some important vitamins, without which chaos will come in the body. Even if you eat fruits and vegetables in large quantities, some vitamins may still be lacking.
Glutamine
This amino acid is found in the muscles most of all. Although the body itself is able to produce it, an additional intake will not hurt. Glutamine helps with recovery, so it's best taken after workouts and at night. Glutamine should be included in your sports nutrition, for a quick set of muscle mass, it is simply necessary.
Mistakes
- Protein-only breakfast. It is wrong to eat carbohydrate-rich food in the morning, because while we sleep, blood sugar levels drop and all the carbohydrates consumed after waking up will go straight to the stomach. Every person who has the goal of gaining muscle mass should have a hearty breakfast. First of all, as soon as you wake up, it is best to drink a protein shake, but not a simple one, but a highly purified hydrolyzed whey protein isolate. This is important because regular whey will take a long time to digest, but this one takes about 15 minutes. At this time, you can do some of your business, for example, take a shower. After this time, an appetite will appear, because the protein will have time to digest, the metabolism will accelerate, and the body will begin to ask for a new portion of food. Coming to the kitchen, you can cook an omelet, oatmeal, pancakes, cottage cheese. If you wish, you can eat several different dishes at once. In the morning diet, it is important to have both protein and carbohydrate, so they should be equally divided. The main thing is to eat your fill. As a drink, it is recommended to drink a cup of green tea. And, of course, we must not forget about vitamins and fish oil!
- A large amount of carbohydrates immediately after training. You can often hear advice about the need to consume easily digestible carbohydrates after a workout, but this is wrong. Thus, the appetite will only go away for the next 2 hours, preventing you from eating food that is really important for muscle growth. are good only if the goal is to increase strength and endurance, and not gain mass. And if you are striving for the latter, then your choice should stop at the protein.
- Refusal of protein shakes. Some do not include protein in a sports nutrition kit for gaining muscle mass, limiting themselves to gainers, believing that only a combination of carbohydrates and proteins will give the desired effect, but protein itself will not. One simple rule works here: protein is important for muscle growth, so the first thing to do is to focus on it. For people who regularly exercise in the gym and strive to gain weight, it is recommended to consume protein at the rate of 2-3 grams per kilogram of body weight. Also, it is important not to try to gain weight on an ongoing basis, but to eat hard for a couple of weeks, trying to achieve the maximum result, and then give the body a break from the constantly arriving calories. To gain mass, proteins from ordinary products are not enough, so without the help of protein shakes, nowhere. It is best to drink whey protein before and after training, and slow protein before bed. What sports nutrition for gaining muscle mass can do without protein shakes? None.
- Underestimation of BCAA and glutamine. BCAA is a complex of three amino acids that are extremely important: isoleucine, leucine and valine. They are considered almost the most important component of building muscles. The importance of taking these amino acids lies also in the fact that the body is not able to synthesize them on its own, so they come only with food. In addition to capsule form, BCAA is also available in powder form, which makes it easier to take, since the powder is tasteless and odorless, it can be added both to your shaker and to food. These amino acids are recommended to be consumed during training, namely, to break the use into 3 times: before, during and after.
- But BCAA amino acids alone are not enough for active muscle growth. The body needs even more amino acids than the previous three. Thanks to them, he will be able to produce hormones. This is where powdered amino acids come in. They are absorbed faster and taste better than tablets. It is best to consume them immediately after a meal.
- Some mistakenly believe that water is an obstacle to the natural processes of digestion. This is not so, and besides, it is also necessary. Water is the engine of anabolic processes in the body that promote muscle growth.
Sports nutrition for gaining lean muscle mass
Drying is a fairly common term among bodybuilders. They designate the right sports nutrition for gaining muscle mass, which is designed to maximize the elimination of body fat, which will make the body toned and the muscles become more pronounced. Everything is logical here, during drying, a person seeks to lose excess water.
As everyone knows, the body takes energy primarily from carbohydrates. Glucose is stored in the body as glycogen, and if you consume too many carbohydrates, the glycogen will begin to turn into fat. So in order to make the body fit, you need to use this glycogen and fat, for which you exclude carbohydrates from the diet, and the body will begin to take carbohydrates from its reserves on its own. Although at first glance this type of so-called diet seems to work, it can be dangerous. So most often experienced athletes do such things. It is impossible to choose the best sports nutrition for gaining muscle mass suitable for everyone, because it is very individual.
Most often, bodybuilders resort to drying before the competition. There are 4 foods that can be consumed in unlimited quantities: egg white, chicken breast without skin and fat, preferably steamed, fish, squid fillet. But in the diet, albeit in a very small amount, carbohydrates in the form of greens, cucumbers, cabbage, buckwheat porridge should be present. For an average person who wants to lose weight, drying is not at all the most suitable option. In this case, it will be sufficient to adhere to a few elementary rules.
Rules for proper nutrition
- Do not exhaust your body with debilitating diets. It is much better to know and consume what is useful and to exclude harmful products.
- What is best to forbid yourself is flour products and sugar.
- Replace mayonnaise, chips, sausage, ice cream with vegetables, mushrooms, cottage cheese, kefir, cheese.
- A complete rejection of fats can become extremely dangerous for the body, as metabolism, the condition of the skin, hair, and nails will deteriorate.
- Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
- Don't eat before bed. If it turned out that you have time to eat quite late, then it is best to have a snack with some fruit and kefir.
- It is best to eat often, but in small portions.
Home sports nutrition for gaining muscle mass is also possible. You can also prepare protein shakes yourself and be sure of their composition. All you need is a blender and the necessary ingredients.
- The first protein-carbohydrate shake can be made from a combination of milk, 1 banana and 1 tablespoon of honey.
- You can also cook from 100 g of cottage cheese + milk + banana.
- Another option is milk, egg white, banana and a tablespoon of sugar.
These are not all cocktail options. Taking these ingredients as a basis and adding various fruits and nuts to them, you can make a protein shake that will be no worse than the purchased one, and in addition, some harmful substances may be present in store mixes, and you will be sure in the composition of the drink prepared by yourself.
Athletes who want to increase their body size should eat in a caloric surplus. This is the main condition for the growth of muscle mass. This can be achieved by having a clear training plan, nutrition program and additional sports nutrition. Such a set will reduce the time for weight gain.
The main types of sports nutrition
There are many supplement options, but not every sports nutrition is suitable for gaining muscle mass, for example, fat burners are not suitable for building muscle. Among bodybuilders, such a complex is recognized and popular:
- glutamine;
- protein;
- gainer;
- BCAAs
- multivitamins.
This set of sports nutrition not only helps to increase muscle mass, it provides the body with the necessary energy reserve for productive, full-fledged workouts. It will not grow fat, but muscles. Drying with the help of such a complex will not work, so we are not talking about dry mass. You need to drink all this together with a full-fledged diet of ordinary food.
Protein for muscle gain
The main goal is to gain muscle mass, so you can’t do without protein in this complex. This is the main source of protein, which will become the building material for muscle tissue. Protein sports nutrition for muscle growth is conventionally divided into three main types:
- Serum. The main type of protein used by the vast majority of athletes. It must be included in sports nutrition for gaining muscle mass. It contains many amino acids, elements useful for the body, is quickly absorbed.
- Casein. This is a source of slow protein that will be supplied to the athlete from the gastrointestinal tract throughout the day, providing the necessary amount of protein for muscle growth. This moment is especially important at night, days of rest.
- Soy. The protein in this type of protein is of plant origin and is often inferior in usefulness to whey. However, it is not bad, it is used by vegetarians and people who have intolerance to any elements from other protein options.
mass gainer
We can say that the gainer is the most important sports nutrition for gaining muscle mass. It has a lot of carbohydrates and the necessary amount of calories to achieve their excess in the diet. When choosing a gainer, carefully study the composition of the product, it should not contain too much sugar and carbohydrates per 1 serving. The best option would be with a slight predominance of them over proteins. For example, you can advise:
- BSN TrueMass;
- Dymatize Elite Mass Gainer.
Creatine
To gain mass, you need to work intensively in the gym, otherwise it will only increase the fat layer. To maintain the desired amount of strength, creatine is used, which hydrates muscle tissue, making it larger, stronger, and increases the amount of energy. An ideal synergy of creatine is obtained with beta-alanine, the former affects anaerobic strength, and the latter affects aerobic power.
Glutamine
This element belongs to the class of amino acids, which are abundant in muscle tissue. The human body is able to produce glutamine on its own, but when gaining mass, an additional intake will not be superfluous. This sports nutrition is best taken before bed, immediately after training, because it helps to recover. For those who want to quickly gain mass, glutamine is a must.
Vitamins and minerals
By themselves, these drugs do not affect weight gain, but are directly involved in maintaining the necessary processes to achieve the goal. According to athletes, sometimes the lack of one of the essential minerals or vitamins greatly inhibits the process of increasing muscle mass. The course of multivitamins has not harmed anyone yet, so drinking it will be useful for every athlete.
Other additives
In addition to the main supplements, you need to take a BCAA drug, which can reduce the negative impact of catabolism. He copes with this as efficiently as possible, the metabolism of amino acids will occur directly in the muscle tissue. As a rule, BCAAs are part of many proteins, so they should be taken separately only during training, in the morning after waking up.
How to choose the best sports nutrition for muscle growth
Novice athletes are often interested in what sports nutrition is the best for mass gain. For men and women, the set will be the same, the difference lies in the dosages, because the goal is different. The main task is to choose the right price / quality ratio for each item from the list of sports nutrition:
- Protein. The production of this type of sports nutrition is not difficult, so the inflated price is far from always justified. Look for an option in which the ratio will be as optimal as possible. You should not buy the isolate that has the highest cost. Study the composition, find how much pure protein is in the bank. The more of it, the better. Do not trust the inscriptions that say that natural berries and fruits were used in the production, this is impossible.
- Complex products, which allegedly absorbed all the elements from the list of sports nutrition, will not significantly affect the mass. The maximum benefit will be with the separate reception of all elements. You will not be able to accurately determine what is mixed in this jar with the complex, to calculate the amount of substances received.
- If you see unfamiliar ingredients in a product, don't take it. First, study in the guide what they mean, do you need them or are they just trying to extract extra money from you.
- Gainer. Some manufacturers are trying to save on production and add more sugar than necessary to the composition. This is not the element that is necessary for gaining muscle mass. Ideally, its amount per serving should not exceed 5% of the total weight. Be sure to read the ingredients.
How to take
With a normal physique, a beginner will need one protein when gaining mass. The amount of incoming protein in the body will increase, and the growth of muscle mass will begin. Whey protein is best at this stage, which is consumed before and after training. It will become the main material for building muscles. If growth is not fast enough, you can use the casein type of protein. It will provide protein throughout the night so that muscles do not break down after an intense workout. The protein intake for beginners is as follows:
For more experienced athletes, this diet may not be enough. For those who train regularly for more than a year, it makes sense to add another gainer to the protein. Depending on your starting point, you may also need BCAAs, creatine, and multivitamins. You need to calculate the dosage for a man or woman based on their current weight. Below are examples of different sports nutrition courses, depending on the need for substances. They are divided into initial, standard and complete. Choose the scheme that suits you:
Initial
Before class,
After class, Mr.
before bed, g
Whey
casein
Standard
Whey
casein
Whey
casein
Glutamine
All calculations for these schemes were taken for a man with an initial weight of 80 kg. For other parameters, the dosage will be different. You can adjust the serving volume with the help of a trainer or on your own, based on the results. Schemes for taking sports nutrition will become the basis for you to carry out your own calculations when drawing up a program for gaining muscle mass.
Nutrition program for gaining muscle mass
Sports nutrition is not cheap, they will not be able to eat only with a strong desire, and it is not necessary. Along with it, follow proper nutrition for gaining muscle mass. It is very difficult to call it dietary, because the goal is to consume a large number of calories, and this is easier to achieve than to reduce them. It is very important to eat tightly for breakfast, this will provide the stomach with work and start metabolic processes. You can't eat before bed. If there is a feeling of hunger, then you should have a snack with fruits and vegetables.
- 370 carbohydrates (1500 Kcal);
- 155 protein (600 kcal);
- 110 fats (1050 kcal).
If desired, homemade recipes can be used to prepare protein shakes, so you will gain the required amount of protein instead of sports nutrition. Here is a sample daily menu for gaining muscle mass (all values are in grams):
- 100 cottage cheese, preferably 9%;
- 100 yogurt;
- 50 oatmeal without sugar.
Lunch-dinner
- 300 chicken;
- any number of vegetables if desired;
- 3 art. l. vegetable oil in salads;
- 100 g dry buckwheat or 400 g boiled potatoes.
Before workout
- 50 oatmeal without sugar;
- jam 2 tbsp. l.;
- apple.
After training
- 5 pieces. eggs without yolk (scrambled eggs);
- bread (no more than 2 slices);
- apple;
- 50 almonds.
Where to buy and how much do sports supplements cost
Sports nutrition for gaining muscle mass is sold in specialized stores. You can also find everything you need on Internet sites, where the cost of products, as a rule, is somewhat lower. Pharmacies sell multivitamin complexes, but they are no different from those in sports stores. Try not to take the sports nutrition by weight, the seller does not always behave in good faith. Estimated price for sports nutrition in online stores:
- Amino acids - from 1500 rubles;
- Whey protein - from 1300 rubles;
- Casein protein - from 1300 rubles;
- Gainers - from 1000 rubles;
Video review: the best sports nutrition for beginners
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