{"id":11477,"date":"2023-03-14T09:13:01","date_gmt":"2023-03-14T10:13:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/?p=11477"},"modified":"2023-03-14T11:00:17","modified_gmt":"2023-03-14T11:00:17","slug":"an-overview-on-taking-creatine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/everything-else\/an-overview-on-taking-creatine\/","title":{"rendered":"An Overview on Taking Creatine"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post is sponsored by my friends at NOW Foods<\/a> and they have so many amazing products, including my fave creatine<\/a>, on their site. Use FITNESSISTA for 20% off. Also this is a friendly reminder that this post is not medical information and not intended to prevent, treat, cure, or diagnose any illness. Always talk with your doctor before adding new supplements into your rotation.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Hi friends! How\u2019s the day treating you so far? I hope you\u2019re having a wonderful morning. For today\u2019s post, I\u2019m chatting about a huge reader\u2019s request topic and one of my favorite supplements<\/a>: creatine!<\/p>\n

Creatine is often taken by athletes and bodybuilders to improve their performance, but it is also consumed by older adults and vegetarians for health purposes. Not everyone knows the right way to take creatine, how it works, or what needs to be considered before adding it into a supplement routine.<\/p>\n

In today’s post, I’m sharing a guide that can provide some education and help with informed choices when it comes to taking creatine, depending on the purpose that it\u2019s intended to be used. Friendly reminder that your doctor will help you decide if adding creatine is a good choice.<\/em><\/p>\n

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An Overview on Taking Creatine<\/h2>\n

Creatine is a supplement that can be taken as powder or liquid, before or after a workout. I prefer to take it as a post-workout, but the thing with creatine is that you need to take it consistently to see and feel a difference.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

What Is Creatine<\/h3>\n

Creatine is an amino acid that is stored predominantly in muscle cells, with a small percentage in our brain, kidneys, and liver. You can get creatine in your diet from animal-based products, such as seafood and meat. This is why vegetarians and vegans will likely have lower creatine stores than omnivores and can often benefit from supplementation. Since creatine can be used for energy production for heavy lifting workouts and high-intensity training, it\u2019s often used for performance enhancement.<\/a>*\u00a0Your body naturally produces 1-2g of creatine per day in the liver and pancreas.<\/p>\n

Creatine is widely studied, easy to find, and inexpensive. My favorite creatine can be found here!<\/a><\/p>\n

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Creatine Types<\/h4>\n

Creatine monohydrate is the most widely-studied<\/a> and is inexpensive. The other common types of creatine (including creatine ethyl ester, phosphate, liquid, and\u00a0creatine magnesium chelate) do not have as much research behind them.<\/p>\n

What Does Creatine Do For Women<\/h3>\n

There are a lot of benefits of taking creatine, but here are the top two that I think are important for women:<\/p>\n

Building lean muscle*<\/h4>\n

Creatine can be especially beneficial for women as we age, as estrogen levels drop and muscle mass becomes more difficult to build and maintain. I\u2019m a big believer that ALL women should strength train, and it becomes even more critical over time. Having muscle on your frame encourages a strong metabolism and also protects your bones. Being able to move functionally in all planes of motion can also help to maintain balance and strength over time for everyday activities and preventing falls. I think creatine can be an incredible addition to a solid strength training routine.<\/p>\n

Supporting cognitive function and mood*<\/h4>\n

I\u2019m all for anything that helps me feel a little less foggy mentally and will also help balance moods throughout the day. Our brain also utilizes ATP, and the increase in stored creatine can help support a positive mood<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Creatine Pros And Cons<\/h3>\n

Pros Of Creatine<\/h4>\n