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5 Best Supplement Stacks for Building Muscle in 2023
Updated on
- Written by Blanca Garcia, RDN
Medically reviewed by
Kathy Shattler, MS, RDN
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CrazyBulk’s Bulking Stack
- May help boost the speed of muscle growth
- Alternative testosterone boosters
- Four products in the stack
Transparent Labs Muscle Building Essentials
- No artificial sweeteners or colorings
- Gluten-free, non genetically modified organisms (non-GMO)
- Sweetened with Stevia rebaudiana
Transparent Labs Stim-Free Muscle Building Essentials
- Pre-workout is stimulant-free
- No artificial sweeteners or colorings
- non-GMO
- Sweetened with Stevia rebaudiana
Have you ever heard of stacking supplements? It’s basically bundling several supplements that complement each other to achieve a goal. Having a healthy diet, good sleep, and enough rest between workouts help with athletic performance, but sometimes stacking supplements can also help. There are so many possibilities in the supplement industry that it can be confusing.
Supplement stacks are one of many options; these are products bundled together based on the claimed functions of their ingredients and how well they work together. They may help you obtain the result you are looking for if you are trying to burn fat, stimulate muscle growth, delay muscle fatigue, or improve muscle recovery- supplement stacks can help get you there.
The best muscle-building stacks are the ones that best fit you based on what you want your body to do.
Read on for the five best supplement stacks for building muscle in 2022
Best Supplement Stacks for Building Muscle on the market in (September. 2023)
- CrazyBulk’s Bulking Stack – Editor’s Choice
- Jacked Factory Fat Loss / Weight Loss Stack – Best Stack
- Transparent Labs Muscle Building Essentials – Best for Transparent Ingredients
- Transparent Labs Stim-Free Muscle Building Essentials – Best Natural Ingredients
- Transparent Labs Vegan Strength – Best Value
Is It Safe To Take Muscle Building Stacks?
It’s generally safe, as long as you choose products of natural ingredients, choose stacks that are pre-determined and work well together. Avoid stacking the supplements yourself, choose supplement stacks already pre-chosen by manufacturers, and follow instructions on dosages.
If you want to increase muscle mass, lose weight, or for muscle tissue repair in a healthy manner, it’s wise to consult with your physician. Especially if you have health or medical concerns, have a medical condition, or use medication, it is always wise to consult a physician before starting a new supplement.
Read on to see our top 5 picks for the best muscle-building stacks.
5 Best Muscle Building Stacks for Gaining Size 2023
CrazyBulk’s Bulking Stack
A natural source of ingredients that may stimulate testosterone production. It May help with fast muscle gains, increased strength, is not toxic to the kidneys, and does not raise blood pressure.
- May help boost the speed of muscle growth
- Alternative testosterone boosters
- Four products in the stack
- Stack totals 13 recommended capsules per day
CrazyBulk’s Bulking Stacks comes with four products, considered a group of safe and legal steroid alternatives. It’s a muscle-building supplement with natural testosterone production ingredients. The products are D-Bal, DecaDuro, Trenorol, and Testo-Max. These products are in capsule form and aim to boost muscle growth by increasing testosterone levels naturally.
Some of the ingredients like Ashwagandha[5] (Withania Somnifera), Tribulus terrestris[6], and Wild Yam (Dioscorea Opposita Thunb.) are used to stimulate testosterone and gain muscle.
The dosage for this stack is very specific; Testo-Max is four capsules to be taken before breakfast. Trenorol is three capsules, and DecaDuro is three capsules to be taken before a workout. D-Bal is three capsules to be taken after a workout, for 13 capsules per day. The manufacturer recommends being on an eight-week cycle and comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Jacked Factory Fat Loss / Weight Loss Stack
Jacked Factory’s supplement stack helps burn fat and preserve lean muscle mass. It also helps boost metabolism and serves as an appetite suppressant.
- No fillers or dyes
- Manufactured in the USA in a cGMP certified facility
- Combination of stimulant and stimulant-free
- Does not include protein supplement
Jacked Factory Stim & Stim-Free Fat burning stack is a basic stack that comes with two supplement products. One that has a stimulant and the other does not.
The Burn-XT is a thermogenic fat burner with caffeine as its stimulant. It is meant to burn fat, improve energy levels, preserve lean muscle mass, suppress appetite, and help with boosting metabolism. Burn-XT also contains Green tea extract, Bioperine, and Capsimax cayenne pepper.
The second dietary supplement is Lean-XT, a thermogenic supplement without stimulants. It also helps burn fat, preserve muscle, and control appetite like Burn-XT. In a small study[1], it was noted that the supplementation of Coleus Forskohlii, which is found in Lean-XT, did not show significant changes in body composition or appetite, but there was a decrease in the feeling of fullness, possibly related to less satisfaction from food that leads to eating less. Although a recent animal study[2] showed a decrease in body weight and fat cell size in animals fed Coleus Forskohlii. Lean-XT also contains Green tea extract, Bioperine, and acetyl-L-carnitine to support lean muscle growth.
Both products are manufactured in the USA and are certified in the current Good Manufacturing Practices Program (cGMP). The recommended dosage for Burn-XT is to take two capsules per day; the dosage for Lean-XT is 1-2 times daily, 30 minutes before meals, and is recommended to be stacked with Burn-XT. Jacked Factory has a 90-day money-back guarantee on the first purchase.
Transparent Labs Muscle Building Essentials
With the muscle building essentials stack, you get a comprehensive stack with a variety of products that can help target different needs through whey protein isolate, a pre-workout powder, and other supplements to help you along the way.
- No artificial sweeteners or colorings
- Gluten-free, non genetically modified organisms (non-GMO)
- Sweetened with Stevia rebaudiana
- Not suitable for vegans
Transparent Labs’ Muscle Building Essentials includes four products that provide nutrients to help in muscle building. Grass-fed whey protein isolate, a pre-workout supplement, creatine supplement, and krill oil are all included in the essentials stack.
The whey protein helps with protein synthesis (muscle building) with 28 grams of protein. It can be a pre or post-workout supplement in a shake, smoothie, cooking, or baking recipe. Available in nine flavors, the recommended dose is one scoop with 6-8 fluid ounces of cold water.
This Bulk Pre-workout enhances strength, endurance, focus, and energy. Some of the featured ingredients are branched-chained amino acids (BCAAs), beta-alanine, and other amino acids.
Eight flavors are available; the recommended dosage is ½ scoop with 8-10 ounces of water 20-30 minutes before a workout to determine tolerance; once established, one scoop with 10-12 ounces of water.
The Creatine HMB (β-Hydroxy ꞵ-Methyl butyrate) features creatine monohydrate and other ingredients to help with enhancing strength, increasing endurance, lowering body fat, and preserving lean muscle mass. Available in seven flavors, the recommended dosage is one scoop 30 minutes post-workout; on non-workout days, one scoop in the morning for recovery. It can be taken with food.
Lastly, krill oil offers brain support and heart and joint health. Sourced from Antarctic krill Euphrasia Superba is a good source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Krill oil is better recognized by the body and absorbed better than fish oil[3].
Transparent Labs Stim-Free Muscle Building Essentials
A comprehensive stack that provides stimulant-free pre-workout for those that may be sensitive.
- Pre-workout is stimulant-free
- No artificial sweeteners or colorings
- Gluten-free, non genetically modified organisms (non-GMO)
- Sweetened with Stevia rebaudiana
- Not suitable for vegans
Transparent Labs’ Stimulant-Free Muscle Building Essentials Stack is one of the best supplement stacks. It includes four products that provide nutrients to help in muscle building without stimulants. It includes whey protein isolate, a stimulant-free pre-workout supplement, creatine HMB, and krill oil.
This supplement stack is an alternative to the previously mentioned Muscle Building Essentials; it differs in that the pre-workout is a stimulant-free version. It uses stimulant-free nootropics to help with focus during workouts; these nootropics are taurine, tyrosine, and huperzine-A. Research has shown[4] Huperzine-A to enhance muscle contractility and strength by stimulating brain neurotransmitter levels.
The dosage is ½ scoop with 8-10 ounces of water 20-30 minutes before a workout to determine tolerance. Once established, one scoop is added with 10-12 ounces of water.
This stack includes the same products as previously mentioned in the muscle-building essentials stack, the 100% grass-fed whey protein, Creatine HMB, and krill oil. A 60-day money-back guarantee requires the product to have been purchased directly with the company and must be returned in its original packaging and most of the product intact.
Transparent Labs Vegan Strength
Made vegans or those that have lactose intolerance or milk allergies, there is the option of Vegan Strength.
- Protein powder is vegan
- No artificial sweeteners or colorings
- Gluten-free, non-GMO
- Sweetened with Stevia rebaudiana
- Limited flavor option of protein powders
Vegan Strength Stack Supplement from Transparent Labs has four products, Organic vegan rice and pea protein, BCAA glutamine, Bulk pre-workout, BCAA glutamine, and Creatine HMB. This combination is suitable for people on a vegan diet or who can’t tolerate milk products.
The Organic Vegan protein powder comes with 24 grams of protein per serving and is available in two flavors. The serving size is one scoop, but the recommended dosage is not available online.
The BCAA glutamine supplement featured ingredients are branched-chain amino acids and help improve post-workout recovery, stimulate the making of muscle protein, and preserve muscle from breaking down.
The recommended dosage is to add one scoop of Vegan Strengthwith 10-12 fl. oz. of cold water about 30-45 minutes before, during, or immediately after training. For best results, consume at least two servings of Vegan Strength per day. Do not exceed four servings per day. A 60-day money-back guarantee requires the product to have been purchased directly with the company and must be returned in its original packaging and most of the product intact.
How To Use Body Builder Supplement Stacks
The most important thing about building muscle and being fit is to provide the body with enough nutrients to repair tissue and grow muscle. Protein sources should always come from foods first to help the body receive the amino acids it needs to gain muscle and provide muscle recovery. Protein sources should contain combinations to make complete proteins for gaining muscle, while individual essential and non-essential amino acids may be used to enhance muscle gain and lean muscle growth.
Some supplement stacks do come with protein supplements, and others do not. Either way, supplements should be a secondary way to obtain the body’s necessary nutrients. Prioritizing eating food and managing an eating pattern is the best way to ensure you are at your healthiest.
Each supplement stack is unique; supplement stacks are pre-determined based on how well they can work together for the desired result. The stacks come in sets of two, three, or four products.
How to use a muscle-building stack will depend entirely on the configuration of the stack, its dosage recommendation, and its manufacturer’s instruction. Important to know is that most manufacturers recommend cycling off the supplements after about eight weeks.
Benefits of Taking Muscle Building Stacks
Variation
There are so many variations of stacks; you can find any combination that best suits your needs.
Results
You may increase lean muscle mass through a variation of pre-and post-workout supplements, sources of essential amino acids, and ingredients that may help burn fat. Some ingredients also help with recovery and immunity support, like branched-chained amino acids (BCAAs)[7].
How To Choose The Best Muscle Building Stacks
High-quality ingredients
Dietary supplements are not required by the Food and Drug Administration to be tested for quality or efficacy of ingredients, but then how do you know if a product has a high-quality ingredient? Some supplement companies do third-party testing through NSF International, U.S Pharmacopeia (USP), NSF Certified for Sport, or ConsumerLabs.com. or manufacture in FDA-approved facilities. Each company that has a certificate with an endorsing agency has a seal on the supplement and will often test for heavy metals, bacteria, or pesticides in their third-party testing protocol.
Transparency
It’s important to see a Supplement Label, that ingredients are listed and with their actual amounts. But equally important is to know what other ingredients are in the product. Knowing whether the product has additives, dyes, allergens, preservatives, sweeteners, non-GMO ingredients, or vegan qualities may be an important consideration for the consumer.
Reviews
It helps to read reviews on the use of the supplement stack through several websites to know if this product is a good fit.
Price
When buying supplements individually, the prices can creep up quite quickly; when purchasing stack supplements, there is the advantage of discounts and reduced shipping and handling fees as all products are typically shipped together.
Final Thought
Supplements stacks can be an option. It’s friendly to the wallet and takes away the guesswork of what works well together. Even if you choose healthy food options, have a meal pattern, drink water, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly, you may want extra support to build muscle, strength, and endurance during a long or difficult workout.
Although it may be tempting to buy a stack and feel this is all you need, remember that supplements should not replace food and natural sources of nutrients. You should work hard to eat healthy foods consistently and get enough sleep and rest.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on dosage and avoid using supplements from different brands as they may have duplicated ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions
If there are stimulants in the products, there is a possibility that you may encounter some jitteriness. It’s recommended you follow the dosage and instructions of the supplement.
Yes, as long as you are not taking more than the recommended dosage of the supplement. If you are using a stacked supplement, you will need to read the manufacturer’s recommendations, and some indicate what a good stack is and which ones to not use with a particular product.
The FDA does not have any requirements for dietary supplements, but they do regulate finished dietary supplements and dietary ingredients[8].
Everyone reacts differently, but the most common side effects are jitteriness, anxiety, upset stomach, and nausea.
Consult with your physician and report your side effects to the FDA’s website[9].
+ 9 sources
Health Canal avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic researches from medical associations and institutions. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Health Canal, you can read more about the editorial process here
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- Kaczka, P., Batra, A., Kubicka, K., Maciejczyk, M., Rzeszutko-Bełzowska, A., Pezdan-Śliż, I., Michałowska-Sawczyn, M., Przydział, M., Płonka, A., Cięszczyk, P., Humińska-Lisowska, K. and Zając, T. (2020). Effects of Pre-Workout Multi-Ingredient Supplement on Anaerobic Performance: Randomized Double-Blind Crossover Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, [online] 17(21), p.8262. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7664913/#:~:text=Huperzine%20was%20reported%20to%20significantly,brain%20neurotransmitters%20levels%20%5B26%5D.
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- Negro (2016). Branched-chain amino acid supplementation does not enhance athletic performance but affects muscle recovery and the immune system. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, [online] 48(3). Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18974721/
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Written by:
Blanca Garcia, RDN
Medically reviewed by:
Medically reviewed by:
