Creatine supplements

Creatine is an organic acid found in our muscle cells that plays a crucial role in energy production during high-intensity exercises and heavy lifting.

Creatine works as a go-to source for quick bursts of energy during intense physical activities and provides the extra strength required to push through those demanding sets and reps.

Although it is present in our body, the demand for creatine increases during heavy workouts and activity, which can be obtained through creatine supplements.

And it’s not just the extra energy from creatine, but the benefits of creatine supplements extend beyond just powerlifting as they can also boost cognitive function and increase body mass.

Types of Creatine Supplement

Creatine supplements are available in many types, giving you the option to choose from the best creatine supplement based on your preferences.

1. Creatine Monohydrate

Creatine monohydrate comes under the top creatine supplements because of its extensive research amongst any other type of creatine supplement. It acts quickly in short duration, making it a preferable creatine powder for high-intensity activities and improved muscle performance for weightlifters, sprinters, and cyclists.

Creatine monohydrate is further processed in two different ways:

a. Creatine Anhydrous: Creatine anhydrous is made by removing the water molecule, resulting in creatine anhydrous. It is the purest form of creatine, providing the highest concentration of creatine in creatine supplements. This can be an excellent choice for those who want pure, unadulterated creatine.

b. Micronized Creatine: Micronized creatine is formulated by mechanically processing creatine monohydrate to enhance water solubility. This will ensure that creatine gets easily dissolved and ready to drink.

2. Creatine Hydrochloride

Creatine hydrochloride is a form of creatine that has impressive water solubility. Due to this feature of creatine hydrochloride, the consumer is allowed to take lower doses, which will also reduce the common side effects like upset stomach.

3. Creatine Ethyl Ester

Another form of creatine supplement is creatine ethyl ester which is made by binding it with ester salts for better absorption in the body. 

4. Liquid Creatine

Another famous form of creatine supplement is liquid creatine. It is preferred for its ready-to-drink convenience, however, it might be less effective than creatine powder.

Other than the types of creatine supplements we discussed, there are different forms available, such as powders, tablets, capsules, liquids, energy bars, and pre-workout formulas. 

Types of Creatine Supplements for Muscle Gain & Recovery

Alpha Mortal - MAXIMA Pre-workout

This pre-workout formula from Alpha Mortal combines the power of creatine HCl beta-alanine, and L-citrulline. This is best taken as a pre-workout routine with the potential to provide strength, mental focus, endurance, and energy support. So if you are looking for the best creatine for muscle growth, this MAXIMA Pre workout can be a game changer for you.

BTN Micronized Creatine

BTN Sports is one of the leading brands in the sports industry, and they have formulated this creatine powder for muscle gain in a micronized form, making it easy to mix and consume. So, if you are looking for an easy-to-mix and ready-to-go drink for your high-intensity activities then this one could be your best choice. It will support your muscle gain and provide you with instant recovery from muscle strains. 

GNC Pro Performance Creatine Monohydrate

GNC is another big brand in the sports nutrition industry. This supplement carries the creatine monohydrate formula in micronized powder form to provide the purest creatine. You can easily mix this supplement in cold water and consume it before or after gym sessions to boost athletic performance and muscle growth. If consumed before the heavy workouts, this creatine powder can increase exercise capacity, enhance muscle recovery, and maintain optimal energy levels during heavy workouts.

MuscleBlaze - Creatine Monohydrate

Choosing the creatine monohydrate from Muscleblaze ensures the most intensified performance and workouts for athletes, bodybuilders, or fitness enthusiasts. This Muscleblaze creatine monohydrate supplement will mainly help fitness enthusiasts to perform better and recover faster after intense workouts. 

Steadfast Nutrition - Stead Creatine

Steadfast Nutrition has launched a unique and successful creatine supplement idea which is in the form of effervescent tablets in pink lemonade flavor. The main ingredients in these effervescent tablets are creatine monohydrate, and maltodextrin to promote muscle recovery and energy. This blend is designed to help you reach your fitness goals with greater ease providing you with sustained energy, it can be a valuable addition to your workout routine.

Top Benefits of Using Creatine Supplements

Besides offering a boost in strength and stamina, top creatine supplements offer various other benefits, such as:

Strength to work out more: Consuming creatine supplements gives the strength to do more work during a single training session, for long-term muscle growth.

Improved Cell Signaling: Creatine supplements improve cell signaling, which aids muscle repair and growth.

Improves cell Hydration: Creatine powders can increase the water-holding capacity in muscle cells, promoting the volume of the cell and aiding muscle growth.

Reduces Protein Breakdown in muscles: Creatine helps in reducing muscle breakdown and hence helps increase total muscle mass.

Prevents muscle injuries: Consumption of creatine supplements also reduces the severity of muscle strains and muscle tightness.

When and How to Consume Creatine Powder or Tablets

Consuming creatine requires following extra precautions and instructions if you want to harness the full potential of creatine supplements.

Generally speaking, if you are an experienced fitness enthusiast, taking creatine about 30 minutes to an hour before your workout is best to maximize its effectiveness. 

Alternatively, it’s best to split your dose between different phases of your workout, like below:

Loading phase: If you are a beginner, start taking 20 grams of creatine per day for 5–7 days, divided into four 5-gram servings. This loading phase will help you increase the muscle creatine stores. 

Maintenance phase: After the loading phase comes the maintenance phase where a dose of 3–5 grams per day is recommended to sustain high creatine levels within your muscles. No cycling is necessary, so you can stick with this dose for an extended period.

Note: If you are consuming creatine supplements daily, make sure to increase your carb & protein intake to enhance absorption. Also, ensure to stay hydrated throughout the day since creatine draws water into your muscle cells.

How to Choose the Right Creatine Supplement Powder to Improve Athletic Performance

Selecting the right creatine supplement is important because it greatly impacts your workout performance. The first thing is to ensure that you buy the creatine monohydrate form because it is a well-studied, reliable, and cost-effective option. 

However, you can select from other different forms, depending on their unique advantages, convenience, lower quantity consumption, or no loading phases.

Other than that consider factors like price, absorption, potential side effects, and your specific needs when choosing the ideal creatine product. 

It’s also advised to choose the best creatine supplement from the top brands available in different forms like capsules, powder, chews (gummies), and pre-workout formulas. 

Potential Side Effects of Creatine Supplements

Creatine is generally considered safe, on a wide scale, however in rare cases some users might experience side effects like weight gain due to water retention, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive sweating. 

Note: Try adjusting your creatine dose to smaller and more frequent servings to minimize side effects.

It is advised to consult healthcare experts or your gym instructors before starting creatine supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, diabetic, or have kidney disease, liver disease, or bipolar disorder.

Creatine Supplement Flavours

Creatine supplements come in different flavors to make it more palatable, from Sour Candy to Strawberry Lemonade, Watermelon, Fruit Punch, and Unflavored options.

Why is GetSupp the Favourite Online Creatine Supplement Shop?

GetSupp is a one-stop online platform for all your health supplements. If you are in search of a top creatine supplement, at GetSupp you will find the right creatine supplement for your improved performance and muscle growth. 

Our platform offers a diverse range of creatine products, such as creatine powders, pre-workout creatine monohydrate supplements, as well as whey protein with creatine to cater to your specific preferences, needs, and goals. 

We have the best creatine for men as well as creatine for women to match your requirements. Additionally, you will get creatine supplements from all the top brands like BTN, GNC, MuscleBlaze, Optimum Nutrition, and many more at the most competitive price. 

FAQs

Are there different types of creatine powder, and if so, which is best?

Yes, there are several types of creatine available, including: 

Creatine Monohydrate

Creatine Anhydrous 

Micronized Creatine

Creatine Hydrochloride (Creatine HCl)

Creatine Ethyl Ester

Buffered Creatine

Creatine Magnesium Chelate

Liquid Creatine

Among all the different types of creatine supplements, creatine monohydrate is the purest, preferred, and widely recommended type of creatine. It's both safe and cost-effective.

Can creatine powder be used by vegetarians and vegans?

Yes, although creatine is the natural component found in animal products, creatine supplements are mainly vegan-friendly. Creatine is made in the lab using two key ingredients: sodium sarcosinate and cyanamide, and both these ingredients are extracted from vegan sources. Hence, vegetarians with low baseline muscle creatine levels, can benefit most from creatine supplements.

Are creatine supplements safe for long-term use?

Creatine supplement is generally safe, but it may cause weight gain. However, it’s best to choose a creatine product following proper manufacturing practices and third-party testing to guarantee quality and safety. Additionally, people with kidney issues must be cautious while taking creatine supplements and should consult with healthcare experts. 

Can women benefit from creatine supplements as much as men?

Yes, women can benefit from creatine supplements just as effectively as men. Creatine for women works to intensify the workout capacity, body strength, muscle strength, bone mass, and muscle recovery just like it does for men.

Are there any flavor options available for creatine powder?

Yes, creatine powder is available in different flavors such as: Lemon, Strawberry, Vanilla, Blueberry, Chocolate, Raspberry, Watermelon, Green Apple, Cafe Mocha, Fruit Punch, Mango, and unflavored.

Can I stack creatine powder with other supplements like protein or BCAAs?

Yes, creatine can be combined with other supplements such as protein powder, whey protein as well as BCAA. Combination of creatine powders with these supplements can provide a more dynamic energy for intensified workout and extra support for producing muscle mass as well as help in faster muscle recovery.  

Do creatine powder effectively contribute to muscle growth and muscle recovery?

Creatine supplements are designed to enhance the performance & strength for exercise and workout resulting in more muscle mass gain. Creatine powders can also aid in faster muscle recovery by healing the micro-tears in muscle fibers caused by exercise.

What's the price range for high-quality creatine powder, and are they worth it?

The price range for high quality creatine powder starts from 500 Rs and can go upto 7000 Rs. Generally, it is considered the more expensive options are purer and of better quality.

How do creatine tablets compare to creatine powder in terms of price and effectiveness for building muscle?

Creatine tablets and creatine powders both offer similar benefits. However, people prefer creatine powder more because it gets easily mixed with water and gets easily absorbed. Moreover, creatine powder is cost-effective and comes in different flavor so people can enjoy consuming it as a shake.

What are the potential side effects of creatine supplements?

Creatine supplement is considered safe for most people, however the overdose of creatine powder can lead to side effects such as weight gain, anxiety, digestive issues, and more. Additionally, people suffering from kidney or liver disease, diabetes, children under 18, pregnant or nursing women, or those on medications affecting blood sugar should consult healthcare experts before starting creatine supplements.

How should I dose creatine supplements for the best results?

A common protocol for creatine supplement starts with the loading phase, where you have to start with 20-30g per day for about 1-2 weeks and then take a break of 2-3 weeks and start with the maintenance phase of consuming 3-5g daily. You can also start by consuming 3-5g daily from the beginning itself but it will take slightly long time to maximize muscle creatine levels.