What is creatine monohydrate? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

What is creatine monohydrate?

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

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UPDATED: Aug 25, 2020

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  • Creatine is a common supplement taken by athletes and bodybuilders.
  • Creatine monohydrate is the most common form of the supplement and is thought to fuel the muscles, among other benefits.
  • Creatine monohydrate is considered safe to take, as long as it is taken according to proper dosage instructions.

Creatine monohydrate is a naturally occurring amino acid that is present in the human body and a few select foods. Because creatine monohydrate helps to improve muscle performance, some athletes take it in the form of supplements.

Since it is important to maintain healthy blood and urine creatine levels, all orally ingested creatine supplements should be taken in moderation.

When taken as a supplement, creatine monohydrate must be taken several times over the course of a single day in order to be effective.

This sometimes leads to negative side effects, as it must be taken on an empty stomach in order to be absorbed.

Creatine monohydrate is considered to be the most basic form of creatine that is currently being sold as a supplement.

More complex creatine formulations such as buffered creatine and tri-creatine malate are said to be more effective. However, scientific testing has largely been inconclusive.

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How Does Creatine Monohydrate Work?

All forms of creatine do two things. First, when creatine is processed in human muscle tissue, it causes creatinine to be formed. This waste product is then removed from the blood and eliminated throughout the course of the day.

The second thing that creatine does is give the muscles energy. When the muscle system is utilized, each individual muscle will contract and release.

Protein is responsible for rebuilding the tears found in muscles after strenuous exercise, but one of the main components — creatine — gives the muscle system fuel.

If you eat approximately the same amount of protein each day and exercise at regular intervals, your creatine levels will remain relatively unchanged.

Creatine monohydrate can be introduced to the body by way of supplements to cause an increase in both creatine levels and ATP production.

Here are ten reasons to take creatine monohydrate:

Is It Safe to Take Creatine Monohydrate Supplements?

Many creatine supplement manufacturers have produced literature stating there is no safety risk associated with creatine supplements.

However, because creatine is a derivative of protein, supplements containing high amounts of creatine can put a strain on the kidneys.

If you are on any type of medication that is filtered through the kidneys, you may not be able to safely take creatine monohydrate or any other creatine supplement.

Anyone under 18 years of age should be extremely cautious when taking creatine supplements.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information published a long-term medical study on the effects of creatine supplements.

Although few cases of permanent kidney damage were reported, most doctors feel that creatine supplements should only be taken when the patient is being monitored regularly.

Are There Any Negative Side Effects Associated With Creatine Monohydrate?

Taking too much creatine monohydrate can cause your kidneys to go into overdrive. Because creatine supplement makers instruct users to ingest creatine several times a day for better absorption rates, the kidneys will be forced to work much harder.

If you have any underlying kidney problems, creatine monohydrate supplements can exacerbate your symptoms.

Besides the potential long-term side effects of taking creatine monohydrate supplements, other unpleasant but mild side effects can occur. Diarrhea, upset stomach, and nausea have been reported by some creatine monohydrate users.

In order to combat these potential side effects, it is recommended you take a small amount of creatine monohydrate initially and slowly increase the dosage over time.

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What Happens If You Ingest Too Many Creatine Monohydrate Supplements?

Taking too high a dose of creatine monohydrate, or too many creatine supplements at the same time can lead to kidney failure. More often, severe dehydration occurs when users overdose on creatine monohydrate supplements.

You should drink plenty of water and exercise normally in order to absorb and burn off the additional creatine monohydrate supplements you take.

There are some major medical risks associated with creatine supplements, although serious complications rarely occur.

If you discuss your medical history with your doctor prior to taking creatine monohydrate, you should be able to avoid developing kidney disorders.

Where Can Creatine Monohydrate Be Purchased?

Creatine monohydrate is a fairly popular type of creatine, therefore it is easy to find this supplement in health food stores or online.

Although not available by prescription, you can buy creatine monohydrate directly from bulk distributors or from health supplement retailers.

It is important that you take a pure form of creatine monohydrate. You can read the list of ingredients of virtually any supplement prior to purchase, whether you buy them online or at a local store.

And don’t forget that taking any supplement is just one part of an overall healthy lifestyle. Check out our PRO plan today to see how we can help you stay fit and motivated all year!

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