When to Take Creatine For Maximum Effects
By John Decker A

Ok now you have decided to take creatine as a supplement as part of your muscle building regime.

Great but when do I take creatine? What’s the best time to take it?

This is a “classic” question raised frequently by both existing and potential consumer of creatine. So lets address this question here in this article.

There are a few conflicting opinions on this. Some may tell you to take it before your workout. Some however say that it would be best taken immediately after a workout. And there is also a group of people who would swear that taking it before and after a workout would give you the optimal benefits.

So which is the best way to take creatine?

Lets dig into the rational behind these different schools of thoughts.

Take creatine before a workout

Those supporting this approach rationalized that by taking creatine before exercise would means that it would be readily available during your training. This initially makes sense. But looking at it logically, this argument just simply does not hold. Why? Because it would takes time for the supplement to enter into the muscle cells whereby it can then serve its purpose of enhancing performance. You can’t simply expect to take a serving of the creatine just before starting your training and expect it to work right away.

Another potential problem with taking creatine before workout is that of dehydration. Creatine, as we know, pulls fluids into the muscles and this may result in depriving other body tissues of the much-needed fluids. Working out with a dehydrated body is by no means appropriate.

Lastly, some of these products do contain sugars and when taken before exercise would create what we call a sugar rush. In a sugar rush, blood flow would increase in the intestines where the absorption of the sugar would take place. Less blood flow will occur in the muscles and the temporary blood flow depletion is not appropriate for carrying out heavy exercises.

Take Creatine after a workout

Going by the above argument, if it’s advisable not to take creatine before workout, then it’s only obvious that you should take it post workout.

The logic behind this is actually very simple: workouts will deplete your creatine and so taking the supplement post workout will replenish it back!

One additional advantage is that your muscles tend to be more receptive to the effects of insulin after a workout. By creating an insulin spike through taking in sugars, creatine intake by the muscles would correspondingly increase.

So the bottom Line is: We have no scientific data to support pre-workout creatine use, but also none to suggest it’s harmful. On the contrary, there are numerous studies that supported the post-workouts consumption of creatine. For me, I’d rather stick with the tried and true method until evidence to the contrary arrives.

Do you want to know how to get the most out of your creatine supplement? Knowing when to take creatine alone wouldn’t give you the best results. Do you know how you should take creatine, how much to take and which brand is best? Find out all these from Creatine Facts – How to Take Creatine

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Creatine Side Effects

Bodybuilding With Creatine Supplements
By Dondu Linkan

It is often remarked that the human body is a treasure of resources and mystery. The basis for all discoveries and innovations of medical science can be ideally traced back to the human body and its functions or secretions.

Protein supplements are a popular and common usage among sports professionals as well as those who are conscious about their health and physical development.

There is a growing popularity among people nowadays to enhance a muscular development of their body and trim in a way that would also reduce fat accumulation. This has made gymnasiums and health clubs popular coupled with the consumption of supplements of various kinds.

Purpose of Dietary Supplements

You may often wonder about the need of such dietary supplements when we can easily derive the same results from food.

The nature of dietary supplements are such in which these are concentrated forms that mostly come in a powdered preparation or even capsules and caplets.

Consumption would mean a complete food value that may be in some ways hampered in a meal however substantial that might be. Moreover it may also be noted here that in the process of food preparations there are spices and oils that are used which are not there in supplements.

Creatine Monohydrate

The formation of creatine is a natural procedure that is found in all species of human and animal life. This is a secretion that supplies energy to muscles and is primarily produced by amino acids that are secreted by the liver and the kidney.

This creatine is a natural ingredient for the development of muscles and is transported all over the body through blood circulation.

A natural source of creatine from food source is from meat protein consumption. Creatine protein is not found in vegetarian food sources.

Creatine Protein Supplements

Protein powder supplements are the most commonly used and popular forms of dietary supplements. And among protein powder Creatine supplements are extremely effective and useful for their purpose.

Modern day sports professionals and athletes as well as a large number of individuals are conscious about their muscle power development along with a development of strength in their bodies.

They follow regular exercise routines along with the maintenances of a strict diet. However there is always a greater need for direct protein consumptions for mass building of muscles in the body. Hence the consumptions of protein powder supplements or capsules like that of creatine.

Supplements are generally taken before or after exercise routines and practice sessions when it is deemed necessary.

There is no doubt that supplements have proved to be effective and useful for all those who need such heavy consumption of protein for muscle and body development. However an excessive consumption or even an unrestricted consumption can be harmful at times as has been stated by medical professionals.

It is therefore advisable to consult a professional trainer or a medical practitioner about the usefulness and effectiveness about such protein supplements.

A thorough medical checkup may also be necessary as a precautionary step against any adverse effects of such consumption on a particular individual.

For more information on creatine, check out the info available online; these will help you learn to find the creatine monohydrate!

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Creatine Side Effects

Creatine Powder – Side Effects
By Mark W Martinez

Are these so called Creatine Powder side effects worth a second thought?

Weight lifting and muscle toning is a very tough task to engage in and for some of us, we want to maximize our results.

Supplements such as creatine powder are frowned upon and regarded with no small measure of scrutiny and even hostility from the novice body builder because there is a tendency to succumb to the fallacy that supplements are the same as physique enhancement drugs such as steroids which are harmful as well as illegal.

Whereas steroids artificially manipulate the body in order to achieve results, creatine powder works in perfect harmony with your body in order to produce results that you can be proud of.

Is taking this supplement cheating, or a form of shortcut, used by lazy trainers who do not wish to put in the requisite amount of hard work necessary to achieve in the body building industry?

No. Why?

Because for creatine to work (whether it is liquid creatine or just powder form) you need to actually exercise and push your body to the limit. Otherwise, drinking galleons of the stuff will not make the blindest bit of difference to your physique.

A common question that people who have never taken this supplement before is:

“Are there any side effects or dangers associated with the ingestion of this supplement and if so, what are they, what are the risk factors involved, and how serious could these side effects be to my overall health?”

First off, any substance that is ingested will affect the body in some way and creatine (irrespective of the form in which it is ingested in) is no exception to this rule.

A common complaint cited in relation to ingesting it is that it can cause intestinal cramping, which itself is due to water depletion from the digestive tract of the person who has ingested the creatine monohydrate powder.

Uncomfortable and unpleasant, this particular side effect is thankfully very mild and short lived as well and therefore by itself, should not be any cause for alarm.

Some users have also reported an increase in urination, meaning that they have to empty their bladders on a more regular basis although this seems to be purely anecdotal and there is little in the way of scientific fact to validate, support or otherwise refute such claims.

This means you can buy creatine monohydrate with impunity.

The best way to avoid the potential side effects commonly associated with creatine powder is to ensure that you follow the directions for consumption to the absolute letter, without any deviation.

Ensuring that you only use a pure creatine supplement with no additives should keep you right.

Mark Mar­tinez,
Want to get big fast? Do you know why there’s very little pure creatine left to get to your muscle cells? And What’s Missing in 277 Scientific Studies about this super supplement? See inside the hypergain effect report.

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