Combining a high calorie intake with heavy strength training are the two most important factors.
That being said, there are several other strategies to gain weight even faster.
For some people, gaining weight or adding muscle can be just as difficult as losing weight for others.
However, simply adding certain foods to your diet can make your weight gain efforts both healthy and more effective.
Here are 18 of the best foods to help you gain weight or add muscle, the healthy way.
Drinking homemade protein
smoothies can be a highly nutritious and quick way to gain weight.
Making your own smoothies is the best way since commercial versions are often full of sugar and lack nutrients. It also gives you full control over the flavor and nutrient content.
Here are just a few tasty variations you can try. You can combine each with 2 cups (470 ml) of milk or an alternative like almond milk.
like almond milk.
- Chocolate banana nut shake: Combine 1 banana, 1 scoop of chocolate whey protein and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of peanut or another nut butter.
- Vanilla berry shake: Combine 1 cup (237 ml) of fresh or frozen mixed berries, ice, 1 cup (237 ml) of high-protein natural yogurt and 1 scoop of vanilla whey protein.
- Chocolate hazelnut shake: Combine 15 ounces (444 ml) of chocolate milk with 1 scoop of chocolate whey protein, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of hazelnut butter and 1 avocado.
- Caramel apple shake: Combine 1 sliced apple, 1 cup (237 ml) of natural yogurt, 1 scoop of caramel- or vanilla-flavored whey protein and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of sugar-free caramel sauce or flavoring.
- Vanilla blueberry shake: Combine 1 cup (237 ml) of fresh or frozen blueberries, 1 scoop of vanilla whey protein, 1 cup (237 ml) of vanilla yogurt and sweetener if needed.
- Super green shake: Combine 1 cup (237 ml) of spinach, 1 avocado, 1 banana, 1 cup (237 ml) of pineapple and 1 scoop of unflavored or vanilla whey protein.
All of these smoothies provide around 400–600 calories, along with a high amount of protein and other important vitamins and minerals. ZIST
There are many delicious protein smoothie recipes. Avoid most commercial versions, which may contain added sugar and aren’t as nutritious.
Milk has been used as a weight gainer or muscle builder for decades .
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It provides a good balance of proteins, carbs and fats and is a good
source ofcalcium, as well as other vitamins and minerals .
For those trying to add more muscle, milk is an excellent protein source that provides both casein and whey proteins. Research has even shown it can help you add muscle when combined with weight lifting .
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Additionally, studies have found that milk, or whey and casein combined, can lead to greater mass gain than other protein sources .
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Try drinking around one or two glasses as a snack, with a meal, or before and after a workout if you are training.
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Drinking milk is a great way to add protein to your diet. It contains both casein and whey proteins.
Rice is a convenient, low-cost carb source to help you gain weight. Just 1 cup (165 grams) of cooked rice provides 190 calories, 43 grams of carbs and very little fat .
It is also fairly calori
-dense, meaning you can easily obtain a high amount of carbs and calories from a single serving. This helps you eat more food, especially if you have a poor appetite or get full quickly.
When you’re on the go or in a rush, two-minute packs of microwavable rice can be easily added to other protein sources and pre-made meals.
Another popular method is to prepare a large pot of rice for the week and combine it with some proteins and healthy fats.
However, extremely large amounts may not be wise due to their potential arsenic and phytic acid content. Arsenic can cause toxicity and phytic acid can reduce the absorption of zinc and iron .
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Rice is a great source of carbs that are easy to consume and digest. However, some types of rice are high in arsenic.
Nuts and nut butters are a perfect choice if you're looking to gain weight.
Just one small handful of almonds contains over 7 grams of protein and 18 grams of healthy fats .
Since they’re very calorie-dense, just two handfuls per day with a meal or as a snack can quickly add hundreds of calories.
Nut butters can also be added to a variety of snacks or dishes, such as smoothies, yogurts and much more.
However, make sure you pick 100% nut butters with no added sugar or extra oils.
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Red meats are probably one of the best muscle-building foods available.
For example, steak contains around 3 grams of leucine per 6 ounces (170 grams). Leucine is the key amino acid your body needs to stimulate muscle protein synthesis and add new muscle tissue .
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In addition to this, red meats are one of the best natural sources of dietary creatine, which is possibly the world's best muscle - building supplement.
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Consider choosing fattier cuts, which provide more calories than leaner meats, helping you take in extra calories and add weight.
In one study, 100 elderly women added 6 ounces (170 grams) of red meat to their diets and performed resistance training six days a week for six weeks.
The women gained mass, had an 18% increase in strength and an increase in the important muscle-building hormone IGF-1.
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Both lean and fatty meats are a great source of protein, though fatty meat provides more calories, which can help you gain weight.
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Red meat is an excellent source of protein that will help you gain muscle. It contains leucine, an amino acid that helps stimulate muscle protein synthesis. The fattier the meat, the more calories you will take in.
Potatoes and other starchy foods are a very easy and cost-effective way to add in extra calories.
Try to choose one of these healthy sources of starchy carbs:
- Quinoa
- Oats
- Corn
- Buckwheat
- Potatoes and sweet potatoes
- Squash
- Winter root vegetables
- beans and legumes
Not only do potatoes and other starches add carbs and calories to help you gain weight —
they also increase your muscle glycogen stores.
Many of these carb sources also provide important nutrients and fiber, as well as resistant starch, which can help nourish your gut bacteria .
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Healthy starches are a great way to get important nutrients and fiber, boost your calorie intake and increase your muscle glycogen stores.
Like red meat, salmon and oily fish are excellent sources of protein and important healthy fats.
Out of all the nutrients that salmon and oily fish provide, omega-3 fatty acids are among the most significant and well known.
They offer numerous benefits for your health and fight diseases .
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Just one 6-ounce (170-gram) fillet of salmon provides around 350 calories and 4 grams of omega-3 fats. The same serving packs 34 grams of high-quality protein, helping you build muscle or gain weight .
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Salmon and other oily fish are a great source of incredibly healthy omega-3 fats. They also provide high-quality protein to help you build muscle.
Taking protein
supplements is a common strategy for athletes and bodybuilders who want to gain weight.
Whey
protein supplements and mass gainers can be a very easy and cost-effective strategy to gain weight, especially when combined with strength training .
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Some people think whey protein is unhealthy or unnatural, but this isn't the case. Whey protein is made from dairy and has been shown to improve markers of health and reduce disease risk .
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It may be even more important if you're also training since your daily protein requirements increase.
You can use it before or after your workout and at any other point during the day.
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Protein supplements are a simple and affordable addition to your diet to help you increase your protein intake
Dried Fruit is a high-calorie snack that also provides antioxidants and micronutrients .
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You can get many different types of dried fruit.
However, they have a very high sugar content and are not ideal for weight loss diets.
On the other hand, this makes them great for gaining weight, especially since they’re convenient to eat and taste great.
While many people think fruits lose most of their nutrients when dried, this isn't the case. Dried fruits contain lots of fiber and most of their vitamins and minerals remain intact .
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Try combining some dried fruit with a protein source, such as cuts of meat or a whey protein shake. They also mix well with nuts and natural yogurt, providing a blend of healthy fats, protein and other key nutrients.
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Whole-grain breads are another good carb source to help you gain weight.
You can make some very simple, high-calorie and well-balanced meals by combining bread with protein sources such as eggs, meat and cheese.
When purchasing bread, aim for natural whole-grain and seeded breads. Healthy versions, such as Ezekiel
bread, are available in most grocery stores.
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Whole-grain breads can be effective to gain weight, especially when combined with a good protein source.
The secret behind gaining
weight is consistently eating more calories than you need.
Lifting weight is important too, so that the additional calories can be used to build muscle instead of just adding fat.
Incorporate the foods on this list into meals and meal
plans that you enjoy and can stick with over the long term.
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