Are you interested in using creatine, but aren’t familiar with the product? Here are a few points that all bodybuilders, advanced and novice, should consider before utilizing this very useful product.

Variants

There are several different types of creatine available on the market. The original, and still most popular, is the unflavored, pure micronized creatine monohydrate. It is effective when mixed with water, but most bodybuilders prefer to mix it with juice. The sugar in the combination allows it to be absorbed into the digestive system much more readily. Because of this, supplement companies have come out with a new product offering which pre-mixed creatine with sugar. This is then mixed with water and consumed. This product costs about double what you would pay for plain creatine powder. There are other compounds, including creatine mixed in liquid and in caplet form. For the most part, however, these are generally viewed as less effective than the main two formats.

Training

Many manufacturers recommend using creatine both before and after training. It’s commonly believed that the muscle cells of the body are very receptive to nutrients during and immediately after training. By taking creatine before your workout, you have it present in the bloodstream to be absorbed by the muscle cells during your workout. Then, by consuming it following your workout, you put the pieces in place for the creatine to be active in that ever-important post-training anabolic window. No matter how you cut it, creatine + training = a very good thing!

Warnings

Creatine is the most studied supplement of all time. It is safe for more people in most cases. As with any compound that changes the way the body works, however, there are times when it’s either not right for a person, or when misuse can cause issues. Some people are born with a predisposition for kidney damage. They should avoid the use of creatine. If you’ve had aunts or uncles with kidney disease, it’s probably best if you avoid it altogether. Some otherwise healthy users have had problems because they don’t’ drink enough water. Drink at least 1 gallon of water per day when using creatine.

Diet

The main effects of creatine involve cellular water retention. This allows the trainer to lift more weight, as well as appear to be larger. As a result of being able to complete more repetitions with a heavier weight, the muscles are forced to grow. As most bodybuilders already know, new growth cannot occur unless the nutrients are present for growth, including amino acids and additional calories. If you’re using creatine to gain weight, then you should

Potential disruptions

While creatine is a wildly popular supplement, it does have some side effects which should be noted. Stomach discomfort and other digestion issues frequently occur, as does some bloating of the face and body. You may lose a bit of your sharpness when using creatine, and your stomach may bug you – but you will be both bigger and stronger.

As long as you understand the usefulness and potential side effect, creatine can be very instrumental in helping you to reach your goals. Give creatine a shot – just remember to drink lots of water when using it!

If you like this article, click here to share: