Despite some of the controversy and myths surrounding Creatine, this supplement is highly regarded by the bodybuilding community to be an effective way to maximize workout potential. Since its explosion in popularity in the early 90's Creatine has become the leading sports-nutrition supplement by generating $200 million annually. As a result every sports nutrition brand jumped on this opportunity by adding Creatine to their line of supplements and before long it became a household name. The problem here is that this gave consumers too much choice between brands, product type, price, quality and efficacy. Now we will put all the marketing aside to show you how to determine the best creatine for yourself.
First we will look at which type of creatine is most effective and then we will determine some worthwhile brands based on quality, price and efficacy. We will focus on creatine monohydrate, ethyl ester and effervescent as they are the most practical types and not just based on marketing.
Creatine monohydrate is the original and most highly regarded form of the supplement. It has the most scientific backing and the strongest support from its user-base. It provides the user with energy at the muscular level unlike caffeine which simply masks signs of fatigue for a short time. Creatine can be obtained naturally from fish, pork and beef however the quantities are simply not enough for a serious bodybuilder or athlete. By consuming creatine monohydrate you are able to saturate your muscles with energy producing compounds thus maximizing your workout potential.
Unfortunately monohydrate, like most things in this world, is not completely perfect. Common complaints include that it does not mix very well with water or milk and that it causes bloating. The benefits of creatine effervescent include include better solubility, less bloating and more carbohydrates which are essential for a good workout. The evidence to back this up is largely anecdotal and most experienced bodybuilders tend to favour monohydrate over effervescent.
Much like effervescent, creatine ethyl ester is designed to reduce bloating and increase solubility but it is also said to be absorbed faster and more efficiently. Anecdotal evidence suggests that a loading phase is not needed with ethyl ester and that it can be taken in smaller dosages. The real question here is if ethyl ester is any more potent than monohydrate when taken at the suggested dosages of 5g and 20-30g respectively. The general consensus here is that monohydrate is better as long as your stomach can take it.
When it comes to price you definitely want to look for the best deal. No use in paying double for a specific brand when another brand is much cheaper and likely passes the same quality guidelines. At the same time you want to look out for incredible sales. Creatine can go bad so you should try to avoid anything that's on clearance. As for quality the rule of thumb is to buy a trusted brand from a trusted source. A quick google search is all that is needed to verify the legitimacy of an online store or brand. If the search returns complains or warnings then stay away. Also if the brand seems almost non-existent due to lack of publicity and consumer buzz then it cannot be trusted. Follow these tips and you will have no problems with finding solid, trustworthy creatine product.
Author Resource:
Bob Briggs is a personal trainer and nutrition specialist with over 5 years of experience. He suggests that you check out the reviews on this website to get some outside opinions on the best creatine . Conversely you can browse through the various sports nutrition brands that have established themselves to be trustworthy.
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