Creatine Supplements

Creatine supplements are all the rage these days among weighlifters and bodybuilders. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody who has tried creatine. Put simply, creatine supplements work and they work well. One wouldn't be too out of line to question the validity of creatine. Most supplements that are sold in fitness stores and magazines amount to little more than snake oil. This is unfortunate because the health supplement industry generates billions of dollars each year and much of that money is made on false promises. Fortunately, creatine supplements are one of the few products out there that work as intended. Taken properly, creatine can increase not only your muscle mass but also your strength and endurance.

The average recommended dosage of creatine is five grams per day. Most creatine powders, tablets, and pills use this as a guideline. Some people, however, prefer to do what is referred to as "creatine loading". This is a process wherein a person takes around twenty grams of creatine a day for four or five days. Once this is accomplished, they taper off and take the recommended dosage until the following month, where the process is repeated. There are varying reports debating whether or not this process is more effective than simply taking five grams a day. Put simply, there is no definitive proof one way or the other, but individual results vary from person to person. Some people find that creatine loading works better for their muscle gain while others swear by the five grams a day rule. In the end, it comes down to personal preference.

Creatine can be found at any GNC health store, but there are so many different brands that sell creatine that it may be a bit of a headache to anybody wondering what is the best kind to purchase. In the end, it doesn't truly matter so long as what you buy is pure, unadulterated creatine monohydrate. Steer clear of some of the more expensive powders or pills that add useless things like protein synthesizers and such. These are generally worthless. Creatine monohydrate in its pure form is all that you need, and GNC even sells its own generic creatine. This is typically the least expensive creatine supplement that still offers just as much muscle and strength gains as any other brand of creatine. There are different flavors of creatine but the best advice is to simply buy the unflavored creatine. This should be perfect for most people, but you should not simply mix it with water. Instead, mix it with a fruit juice such as apple juice. Creatine works better when it is mixed with carbohydrates and sugars. It synthesizes into the muscles faster. In the end, you will certainly see impressive muscle and size growth if you take creatine properly.