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You might have heard some people say that mass gainers contain steroids. So… Do mass gainers really have steroids in their formula? The answer is a resounding NO! Mass gainers are simply food supplements that are meant to give you added calories, protein, and carbs for gaining weight faster.
Back in the day, I also had second thoughts in buying my very first mass gainer. There were people who discouraged me from using a weight gain shake, telling me that those drinks contained harmful steroids. After reading this post, you will have a better understanding of what a typical mass gainer is made of and if it is safe to be consumed every day.
What Exactly are Steroids?
Steroids are synthetic derivatives of the male sex hormone, testosterone. Some athletes and bodybuilders take steroids to help boost their strength, increase muscle mass, and burn off fat much faster than usual.
Steroids block the activity of cortisol, the hormone involved in your body’s stress levels. By reducing feelings of stress, steroids lower your level of fatigue and boost the strength of your muscles – allowing you to push yourself harder during exercise.
Steroids also supplement you with testosterone, which leads to faster workout recovery, increased aggression during exercise, and greater muscle power.
If Steroids Help You Hit Your Fitness Goals, Why Is It Unsafe to Consume Them?
To start off, oral steroids are highly toxic to your liver. Taking steroids has also been linked to a variety of unwanted side effects, such as hair loss, acne breakouts, increased cholesterol levels, unwanted weight gain, sleeplessness, mood swings, or stomach issues – just to mention a few.
What’s worse is that any side effects that you experienced by taking steroids are irreversible.
Do Mass Gainers Contain Steroids?
Weight gain shakes can also make your muscles larger and stronger – does that mean that they also contain steroids? The answer is NO. Mass gain supplements are designed to supply your body with nutrients to help you gain weight in less time.
Typically, a mass gain shake provides you with high amounts of calories, protein, and carbohydrates. Some weight gain supplements may feature added creatine monohydrate, amino acids, digestive enzymes, vitamins, minerals, or healthy fatty acids – all of which are safe to be consumed daily.
Most mass gainers also have labels indicating that they do not contain any banned substances in their formula.
What To Do Next?
Building lean muscle the natural way is always the safer path. Find out how long it takes for you to see results from your mass gain shake by checking out this post.