You’ve been vegan for a while now and feel great about your choice for ethical and health reasons. But you’ve noticed that you’ve been losing some weight and are struggling to maintain your muscle mass. Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Many vegans need help to consume enough calories and protein to support weight gain and muscle building. The good news is there are vegan supplements designed specifically to help you pack on pounds and boost your performance. Keep reading to learn about the top vegan weight gainer supplements to fire up your metabolism and gain healthily.
Why You May Need Vegan Weight Gain Supplements
If you’re vegan, getting enough calories and protein can be challenging. Supplements are often necessary to gain weight healthily.
One reason is that plant-based diets tend to be less calorie-dense. You must eat more food to reach the same calorie goals as an omnivorous diet. Weight gainers and meal replacement powders provide an easy way to add calories without stuffing yourself.
Plant proteins also tend to be less complete, lacking certain amino acids. A vegan protein powder can help you get all the building blocks for muscle. Look for a blend of pea, rice, and hemp protein, which provide a complete amino acid profile.
Lastly, certain nutrients like creatine, carnitine, and branched-chain amino acids are mostly found in animal foods, so vegan supplements can help compensate for these potential deficiencies.
In summary, vegan weight gain supplements boost your calories, up your protein, and provide important nutrients that may otherwise be lacking. For the best results, use them to supplement a balanced diet with plenty of whole foods like nuts, seeds, beans, and grains. With the right plan, you can gain weight and get stronger as a vegan.
Top Vegan Supplements Food for Weight Gain
To gain weight as a vegan, you must increase your calories and protein. Some of the best supplements for this include:
- Plant-based protein powders: Add a scoop or two of pea protein, rice protein or hemp protein powder to your smoothies. They pack 20-30 grams of protein per scoop and 200-300 calories.
- Nut butter: Whether you prefer almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower seed butter, they’re all great options with healthy fats and protein. Two tablespoons contain 180-200 calories and 7-10 grams of protein. Spread it on bread or fruit, or eat it straight from the jar.
- Coconut oil: This saturated fat contains medium-chain triglycerides, easily digested and burned for energy. Adding a tablespoon of coconut oil to your smoothies, oatmeal, or salad dressings adds 120 calories and lots of healthy fats.
- Dried fruits: Raisins, dates, apricots, and figs are sweet, chewy and packed with nutrients. A one-cup serving can provide over 400 calories and natural sugars. Snack on them or add them to yoghurt, oatmeal and trail mixes.
- Plant-based meal replacement powders: For a quick 400+ calorie boost, blend a scoop of a meal replacement powder like Vega One or Garden of Life with plant-based milk and fruit. They balance carbs, protein, fats and micronutrients in one convenient shake.
You’ll gain weight and build muscle quickly with the right combination of these high-calorie, nutritious vegan supplements. Now isn’t that worth the effort?
A Plant-Based Powerhouse
Orgain Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder is a popular vegan protein supplement made from pea protein, brown rice protein, and chia seeds. This powder packs a nutritional punch with 21 grams of protein, 5 grams of fibre, and only 150 calories per scoop.
Unlike whey protein, plant-based protein powders are dairy-free, lactose-free, and suitable for vegans. Orgain contains no artificial sweeteners, colours or preservatives and is certified organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free. Mix one scoop with water, juice, nut milk or liquid for a quick protein-rich snack or post-workout recovery drink. The chocolate and vanilla flavours have a mild nutty taste from the brown rice protein and a hint of sweetness from organic coconut sugar and stevia leaf extract.
For muscle gain, aim for 20 to 30 grams of protein with each meal and snack throughout the day from various sources. Orgain can help boost your protein intake, especially when you struggle to meet your needs. Chia seeds’ fibre and healthy fats provide extra calories to support weight gain.
However, protein powder should supplement a balanced diet with plenty of nutritious whole foods, not replace it.
Orgain Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder is a clean, organic, vegan-friendly option for boosting your protein and calorie intake to gain weight and build muscle. A pea and brown rice protein blend provides an impressive nutrition profile without artificial additives. As part of a balanced muscle-building diet, Orgain can help vegans and carnivores achieve their fitness goals.
Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Protein Powder
Plant-Based Protein Powder
Sunwarrior Warrior Blend protein powder is a popular vegan choice. This blend of pea protein, hemp protein, and goji berries provides 18 grams of protein per scoop. It’s also high in iron and antioxidants, with no artificial sweeteners or colours.
The pea protein is sourced from yellow peas grown in Canada, and the U.S. Pea protein powder contains all nine essential amino acids our bodies need. The hemp protein comes from shelled hemp seeds and contains omega-3 fatty acids. Goji berries are considered a superfood, with antioxidants like carotenoids that give them an orange hue.
This powder blends well into smoothies, oatmeal, yoghurt or juice. The chocolate and vanilla flavours have a mild nutty, and earthy flavour from the plant proteins that many people enjoy. However, some find the taste too “green” or floral. If desired, you can also get the unflavored version and add cocoa powder, fruit, honey or stevia to boost the flavour.
Sunwarrior Warrior Blend is organic, non-GMO, gluten-free and suitable for vegans. It contains tree nuts (coconuts) and may be processed in a facility that handles dairy, eggs and soy. So check the label if you have any sensitivities.
For weight gain, aim for 2-3 scoops per day which provide 36-54 grams of protein and 220-330 calories. Mix into a smoothie with nut butter, avocado, and your favourite high-calorie extras like coconut milk or dried fruit. Two or three of these weight gain shakes daily, along with a balanced diet, can help you gain 1-2 pounds per week.
Vega Sport Protein Powder
One of the most popular vegan protein powders, Vega Sport, delivers 30 grams of plant-based protein per scoop from pea, pumpkin seed, and alfalfa protein. It’s also packed with branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) to boost muscle recovery after tough workouts.
Vega Sport has chocolate, vanilla, berry, and mocha flavours. Mix one scoop into water, non-dairy milk like almond or rice milk, or a smoothie for an easy muscle-building snack. The powder blends smoothly without any gritty texture. It does contain stevia and natural flavours, so if you prefer an unflavored powder, this may not be for you.
Vega Sport contains no artificial sweeteners, colours or preservatives and is Informed Choice certified, meaning it’s been tested for banned substances. The protein powder is also gluten-free; the company does not test it on animals. Vega Sport is affordable compared to many other vegan and non-vegan protein powders for the amount of protein per scoop.
Vega Sport protein powder can help boost your calories and macros to gain weight and increase muscle on a vegan diet. Mix 2-3 scoops into a smoothie for a muscle-building meal replacement. Add it to oatmeal, yoghurt, muffins and pancakes for extra protein. Use Vega Sport in addition to weight training, adequate calories, and a balanced vegan diet to gain weight healthily.
Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein Powder
Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein Powder is a great vegan supplement for weight gain. It’s made from raw hemp seeds that provide protein, healthy fats, and fibre.
- A 2-tablespoon serving contains 15 grams of protein and 8 grams of fibre, boosting your calorie and macro intake. The protein in hemp is a complete protein meaning it contains all 9 essential amino acids our bodies need.
- Hemp powder is also rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which provide energy and help your body absorb protein and nutrients.
- This powder has a mild nutty flavour and can be added to smoothies, oatmeal, yoghurt or baked goods. Start with 1 tablespoon and work up as your body gets used to the fibre. Be sure to drink plenty of water since the powder can be filling.
- Nutiva’s hemp protein is USDA-certified organic, non-GMO, gluten-free and vegan. They source sustainable hemp from Canadian farmers.
For anyone looking to gain weight on a plant-based diet, Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein Powder is a great option to boost your calories and build muscle in a healthy, whole-food way. Adding just a few tablespoons to your daily meals can make a big difference. Give this powder a try, and you’ll gain it soon!
Raw Meal
Raw meal replacement powders are made from raw plant-based ingredients like nuts, seeds, grains, and greens. They provide a blend of protein, fibre, healthy fats, and nutrients to boost your calorie intake in a natural, unprocessed form.
- Raw Organic Meal by Garden of Life is a popular, certified organic option. It contains sprouted grains, seeds, and greens for 20g of protein and 8g of fibre per scoop. Sweetened only with stevia, monk fruit, and coconut sugar, it has a mild nutty, chocolatey flavour that mixes well into smoothies.
- Vega One All-in-One Shake is another trusted brand. Ingredients like pea protein, hemp seeds, and sacha inchi provide 20g of protein per serving. It is naturally sweetened, flavoured and contains 50% of your daily vitamins and minerals.
Aim for 2-3 servings of a raw meal replacement powder daily in addition to your regular meals for the most effective weight gain. Mix a scoop into a smoothie, nut milk, or juice and consume within 30 minutes of blending for the best nutrition. Stay hydrated and continue strength or resistance training to build muscle.
Raw meal powders supply a healthy dose of plant-based protein and calories to complement an active lifestyle.
Massive Protein
To gain weight as a vegan, focus on protein-rich plant foods. ###Massive Protein
As a vegan, the easiest ways to get protein are:
- Legumes like beans, lentils, and peas. A single cup of chickpeas has 15 grams of protein. Lentils and black beans are also excellent options.
- Tofu can have up to 20 grams of protein per half cup. Look for extra-firm tofu to grill or bake in dishes.
- Nut butter contains 8 grams of protein per 2 tablespoon serving. Peanut, almond, and cashew butter are all great on bread, in smoothies, or by spoon.
- Seitan contains a whopping 30 grams of protein per 3-ounce serving. Made from wheat gluten, seitan can be cooked in many of the same ways as meat.
- Protein powders made from pea, rice, or hemp protein offer 20-30 grams per scoop. Add to smoothies, oatmeal, yoghurt or juice.
FFollowing a balanced diet with lots of whole plant foods and enough calories from sources like nuts, seeds, nut butter, coconut oil, avocados, and protein will help you gain weight steadily over time as a vegan. Be sure also to lift weights or do bodyweight exercises to build muscle. With consistency, you’ll start noticing changes on the scale and in the mirror.
Creatine Monohydrate
Creatine monohydrate is one of the most popular supplements for boosting muscle gain and strength.
Creatine is an amino acid found naturally in your muscles and brain. Supplementing with creatine monohydrate powder gives your muscles extra creatine to produce energy. This can help boost your workouts by allowing you to lift slightly heavier weights and do a few more reps. Over time, this can lead to increased muscle gain.
Taking 3-5 grams of creatine monohydrate powder per day is a typical dosage for most people. Mix it into a protein shake or just water and drink it daily. Creatine works best when taken consistently, so try to take it every day, even on rest days. You should start to notice the benefits of creatine, like increased strength and endurance during workouts, in 2-4 weeks. However, creatine can cause minor side effects like bloating or cramps in some people. Be sure to stay well hydrated while taking creatine to minimize side effects.
Creatine is safe for most people and vegans when taken as directed. It’s one of the most studied supplements and can absolutely help boost your gains. Adding creatine to a balanced diet with enough calories and protein is key to building muscle as a vegan. With exercise, creatine monohydrate powder may help you gain lean mass to achieve your fitness goals.
Conclusion
So there you have it, some of the best vegan weight gain supplements to help boost your calories and build muscle. Whether you choose a plant-based protein powder, nut butter, coconut oil, or meal replacement shakes, adding some of these options can help you gain weight healthily. The key is consuming more calories, especially from protein and carbs than you burn daily. Start slowly and build up the amount of extra calories over time as your body adapts. Gaining weight as a vegan may take some extra effort, but with the right diet and supplements, you can gain muscle and achieve your goals. Try some of these vegan weight gainer hacks and see your body transform. You’ve got this!
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