So far we’ve covered quite a few mass gainers in this blog and they include Pro Gainer, True Mass 1200 and more. Today we are going to talk about another popular gainer choice by MuscleTech which is Mass Tech. Packing up healthy mass can be quite challenging and bulking can go awkwardly wrong. Therefore in this post let us see how Mass Tech by MuscleTech stacks up against the other gainer giants in the industry.
As usual we will first have a comprehensive analysis of the nutrition facts and then move on to the benefits, side effects, how to use, an overall unbiased review and last but not least, the comparisons.
Mass Tech By MuscleTech Nutrition Facts
7g of Total Fat and 200mg of Cholesterol
We already spoke about the significance of healthy fats and cholesterol and the vital role they play in gaining some pure muscle mass. Let us tell you about a research conducted by Texas A&M University. A team from the said university discovered that lower cholesterol levels can actually reduce muscle gain with exercising. The team studied 55 men and women, aged between 60-69, who were healthy non-smokers and were able to perform exercise testing and training. They performed several exercises, including stretching, stationary bike riding and vigorous weight lifting.
At the conclusion of the study, In general, those with higher cholesterol intake also had the highest muscle strength gain. The reason behind this is because of cholesterol’s important role in the inflammation process. But what you should keep in mind is that the cholesterol we are talking about here is HDL or the good cholesterol. As for the fats, they are the alternatives for carbs. The monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats increase levels of HDL. Fat also absorbs and stores vitamins and minerals. Some examples for good fats include Avocados, Nuts, Peanut oil, Sunflower oil and Fatty Fish.
132g of Carbohydrates
Fuel for our workouts. Mass Tech utilizes a multi-phase carbohydrate complex (Glucose Polymers, ModCarb ,Isomaltulose). ModCarb consists of oat bran, quinoa, buckwheat, millet. What are glucose polymers though? We know that Mono means one and Poly means many. Therefore, they are simply extended chains of glucose also known as starch and cellulose. Glucose polymers are often used in famous sports energy drinks because they provide a considerable energy boost. In addition, glucose polymers are not as sucrose-containing(sweet) as regular glucose and they don’t remain in the system as long.
The fact that they are used more rapidly by the body means less likelihood of gastrointestinal discomforts during exercise. The ultimate reason for having glucose polymers is that they delay the onset of fatigue, thereby allowing for greater endurance during exercise. Also interestingly, Studies have shown that people taking supplements containing glucose polymers absorb calcium better from natural food sources than those not using glucose polymers.
63g of Protein
The other crucial factor after the carb content that determines the gaining effect of a mass gainer. Now when it comes to Mass Tech you get a multi-phase protein system. And they include whey protein concentrate, calcium caseinate, egg albumin, whey protein isolate 97%, hydrolyzed whey protein, whey protein isolate. This is quite impressive. Because if you have read our review on Serious Mass, then you know that it contains a similar complex but lacks in whey hydrolysate and isolate.
And the protein content is only 50g per serving. Again, we have written separate reviews for each of these protein powder variations. But to provide an overview, Casein digests way slower than Whey. Whey isolate is more refined and purified than whey concentrate. Whey hydrolysate is more purified and high in protein concentration than in isolate. So you can see the amino acid concentration delivered to the body through this.
14g BCAAs and 10g Creatine
I am sure that by now you are beginning to be convinced that this is more of a protein powder than a mass gainer right? Well, if not for the carbs it might as well be a protein supplement. Everyone knows about Creatine Monohydrate and BCAAs. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the most fundamental form of energy in your body’s cells. Creatine supplements increase your body’s accumulation of phosphocreatine, which is then used to produce ATP during high-intensity exercise. But that is the pre workout part of Creatine. In terms of a mass gainer, Creatine increases the water content of your muscles, it also increases IGF-1, a key hormone for muscle growth.
As for BCAA, the 14g comprises 6.5g of L-Leucine, 4.1g of L-Isoleucine and 3.4g of L-Valine. Now as you can notice, the Leucine levels are higher than the other two, which promotes increasing muscle mass and even better when put together with the whey protein.
Other Ingredients
We covered the crucial nutrition facts that determine the worth of a mass gainer. Now let’s get to know the rest of the ingredients that still account for some part of the gainer’s credibility. We have Iron, Calcium and Sodium for vitamins and minerals. Again we have published comprehensive articles on the impact of each on bodybuilding. There is also the enzyme digestion complex consisting of Papain and Amylase to make sure that all the essentials are well absorbed into your system. Next of course are the sugars and natural, artificial flavors.
How to use Mass Tech
The official recommendation by MuscleTech is 1 Serving with 16oz. Water Amount Per Serving. Many wonder about the MuscleTech mass gainer scoop size since the serving is 5 Scoops which is 230g. We will compare these aspects with the other major mass gainers later. The usual advice stands for Mass Tech as well. Which is, if you are a beginner it is always better to stick to about 2 scoops in the beginning and when everything else falls into place, i.e. diet, rest, you can increase the servings. The container has 14 servings in total. You can use the servings for the day as you want.
But it is best recommended to break it down throughout the day to keep that calorie clock ticking. Definitely save a scoop for post-workout which is when the calories are most demanded. Also it is good to have first thing in the morning and also between meals even as a pre workout because it contains creatine and BCAA. Needless to say that it won’t function the way you want it to unless you get in your macros right. Always remember that no supplement will replace the value of whole foods. Also it is best blended so that you won’t leave any lumps.
However the mixability of mass tech is surprisingly great for a mass gainer. It blends pretty easily. There are 5 different flavors; birthday cake, chocolate, cookies and cream, strawberry, and vanilla. Chocolate is the majority preference and the taste is quite ok according to most users.
Side Effects
Water retention is a probability as a result of creatine intake. If you are using creatine for the first then you are most likely to experience water retention. However the water retention in muscles result in more aesthetically appealing looks.
If you are lactose intolerant then this isn’t for you, As you can very well see from the protein content of whey. Finally, if you don’t workout hard and heavy there is a likelihood to gain fat over muscle just like in Serious Mass. So make sure that the scales are well balanced once you begin to use the gainer.
Mass Tech vs Mass Tech Extreme 2000 vs Serious Mass
Mass-Tech Extreme 2000 is literally the extreme version of Mass Tech. And Serious Mass is the global go to mass gainer by Optimum Nutrition. We will let the nutrition facts table speak a few words and for most that much would be enough.
Mass Tech | Mass Tech Extreme 2000 | Serious Mass | |
Calories per serving | 840 | 2050 | 1250 |
Protein | 63g | 60g | 50g |
Carbohydrates | 132g | 443g | 252g |
Fats and Cholesterol | 7g & 200mg | 3g & 95mg | 4.5g & 110mg |
Creatine | 10g | 10g | 3g |
Glutamine | 10.4g | 9.9g | 500mg |
So there you have it. It is as clear as the day that Mass Tech Extreme 2000 is the winner here. But not so fast. Let us take a quick thoughtful analysis. The protein content is almost the same for both the regular and the extreme which shouldn’t be. The only significance is the extreme carb count. Also the protein complex isn’t as strong and sophisticated as of the regular. There is no mention about whey isolate or hydrolysate. In fact we think that Serious Mass is a better gainer than the extreme for the nutrient profile is better balanced. That’s not to say that the Extreme 2000 is completely useless. It’s just that you are better off with the regular Mass Tech by MuscleTech.
Review and Summary
As a final review for Mass Tech By MuscleTech, we can certify that it is quite a well put together mass gainer for beginners, intermediates and pros alike. Resembles more of a protein supplement than a gainer, which is not that bad. At least you won’t be complaining about fat gain unlike in Serious Mass. It contains enough creatine and BCAAs to where you don’t need to buy extra pre workout supplements. Basically this supplement functions as a protein powder, a mass gainer and a pre workout.
So triple the usage. Most users feedback positively on the results before and after. Stating that the muscle gain was linear and controlled. However you should consider taking a break after about a year of usage. Mass Tech presents a carb to protein ratio of 3:1 which is well balanced between glycogen restoring and building new muscle tissue. Therefore you can be rest assured that the gains are on the way.