Most of us have heard the warnings about consuming too much sugar: that it can increase your risk of diabetes, that it can damage your teeth, that it’s bad for your heart. There are a number of other effects associated with sugar intake, perhaps the most familiar of which is that sugar can make you gain weight. While most people view this as a downside, there are others who have reason to embrace this result, especially those who are underweight. However, you might be wondering if it’s possible to put on some pounds without relying on this potentially harmful substance, such as through the use of products like meal replacement shakes. Assuming that it is possible (spoiler alert: it is), how do meal replacement shakes cause weight gain with a low sugar amount? To find out, keep reading as the experts at ENU explain.

Can You Cause Weight Gain with a High Amount of Sugar?

To those who want to gain weight, sugar may seem like a great option. After all, there’s plenty of research out there confirming that a significant rate of sugar intake leads to weight gain, so if that’s the result you’re after, it’s understandable to think that sugar may offer a quick (and tasty) way to accomplish your goal. However, even if you need to gain weight to improve your health, doing so with a high sugar amount will probably hurt you more than help you.

That’s partly because the weight gained from sugar leads to the accumulation of visceral fat, the kind that collects around your belly. This type of body fat has been associated with serious health conditions, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes, so it’s best avoided. In addition, gaining weight with a high sugar amount may provide some quick returns, but that weight is likely to be lost again just as quickly, once you switch back to a healthier diet.

However, the main reason why you should stick to a low sugar amount when trying to gain weight is that excessive sugar consumption has been linked to some very harmful diseases and health risks, including the following:

• Increased risk of cardiovascular diseases
• Greater risk of developing diabetes
• Higher risk of certain types of cancer
• Development of fatty liver disease
• Faster aging of the skin and cells
• Greater risk of depression
• Higher prevalence of acne

If you want to gain weight, there are some better ways to do it than turning to sugary, processed foods and snacks, including through the use of meal replacement shakes. Continue reading to find out more.

How Meal Replacement Shakes Help You Gain Weight with a Low Sugar Amount

Generally speaking, the process of gaining weight in a healthy way – as in, with a low sugar amount – requires observing three specific rules: eat more protein, increase your calorie intake, and limit your rate of weight gain. Meal replacement shakes can help with all of these points when utilized properly; we’ll discuss how meal replacement shakes can cause weight gain with a low sugar amount below.

By Providing Plenty of Protein

Nutritionists typically recommend that anyone trying to gain weight should seek to balance their fat gain with an increase in muscle mass. For one thing, muscle is denser than fat, so a small amount of muscle can go a long way toward raising the number on your scale. An increase in muscle mass has also been associated with benefits such as improved skin integrity, immune system functions, and overall strength.

To gain this mass, however, you need to exercise and provide your body with the resources it needs to create new muscle tissue – that’s where the protein comes in. Meal replacement shakes that are high in protein, such as those from ENU (which contain 20 grams of protein per carton), can help you boost your intake; try having one of these shakes after a meal to avoid diminishing your appetite.

By Increasing Calorie Intake

The simplest way to look at weight gain is to view it as an equation, one in which the number of calories your body has used is subtracted from the number you’ve consumed that day. If the result is positive, then you have excess calories that will be converted into body weight. As a general rule, aim to end each day with a 500-calorie surplus; over the course of a week, that adds up to 3,500 calories, which is the number in a single pound of body fat.

It doesn’t really matter where these calories come from, though you should look for nutritious sources with low sugar amounts. ENU meal replacement shakes offer 400 calories per serving from real food ingredients, and our Pro3+ nutritional powder can add calories (and protein) to food or drinks without changing the texture or volume much, helping you gain weight with a low sugar amount in your diet.

By Helping to Manage the Rate of Weight Gain

You might be tempted to try and gain weight as fast as you can, but most nutritionists agree that weight gained fast is often lost just as quickly. Instead of rushing the process, try to gain no more than 1-2 pounds per week, which will help ensure that you’re gaining the right kind of weight and that the pounds stay on. Because meal replacement shakes plainly show the amount of calories, protein, fats, and carbs they contain, they make it easier to monitor your intake of each and manage the rate of your weight gain.

Balanced Meal Replacement Shakes and Nutritional Powders for Weight Gain

By providing a healthy blend of key vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients, ENU meal replacement shakes can help you gain weight effectively, and they contain only 9 grams of sugar. To learn more about the benefits of these products, visit ENU online or call us today at (855) 266-6733.