2018's 10 Best
Creatine Monohydrate Supplements

Creatine is one of the fundamental pillars to any bodybuilding or athletic regimen, and is primarily utilized to help build muscle mass, strength, and increase performance. Aside from building muscle, Creatine also provides a number of other health benefits such as protecting against neurological disease, boosting liver function, and more.

What Is Creatine Exactly?

Creatine is naturally occurring in meat and to a small extent dairy, and is a small peptide composed of the amino acids L-Arginine, Glycine, and Methionine. Creatine is stored in high amounts in skeletal muscle, and in lower levels in nearly all cells, in the form of Creatine phosphate (phosphocreatine).

The breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and ketones produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the fuel cells use for energy. When ATP is utilized it is converted into adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP). Creatine then donates a phosphate group to ADP, turning this molecule back into ATP to complete the cycle.

This allows for optimal energy output and cellular function, especially during bursts of high intensity exercise where ATP is rapidly used. See the #1 Creatine Monohydrate Supplement now

There are various forms of Creatine out of the market today, each with different ranges of solubility and effectiveness. These forms include Creatine Monohydrate, Micronized, Ethyl-Ester, Citrate, Kre-Alkalyn.

Different Forms Of Creatine

Creatine Monohydrate is the most popular and widely researched, along with being the most cost efficient. It is essentially Creatine attached to water molecule to ensure optimal absorption, providing 88% pure creatine per molecule. It is the most bought form of Creatine to date, even as newer forms and formulas continue to emerge. See the #1 Creatine Monohydrate Supplement now

Micronized Creatine is Creatine Monohydrate that has been micronized, meaning it is molecularly smaller to aid in better absorption. Creatine Monohydrate is gentler on the stomach, reducing the bloating that is associated with other forms of Creatine.

Creatine Ethyl Ester is a creatine molecule with an ester attached, allowing for even higher bio-availability. While this may make CEE a little more efficient in comparison to Creatine Monohydrate or Micronized Creatine, it is far more expensive and the powder form of CEE is reported to have an undesirable taste.

Creatine Citrate is bonded with citric acid to increase absorption. While Creatine Citrate is slightly more water-soluble and bio-available, it is much more pricey in comparison to Creatine Monohydrate.

Kre Alkalyn Creatine uses a patented molecular buffering process that creates a stable buffered creatine that is less likely to be converted into the waste product creatinine. Again, while effective, it comes with a hefty price tag.

I Eat A High Protein Diet, Do I Really Need More Creatine?

Since Creatine is only found in meat, if you eat a vegetarian or vegan diet your dietary intake of Creatine will be minimal at best. Even if you do consume meat, Creatine can be lost or destroyed during cooking if temperatures rise high enough. Approximately 30% of creatine can be lost in fluid during cooking or degrade into creatinine. See the #1 Creatine Monohydrate Supplement now

Additionally, several factors affect creatine stores aside from meat intake, including exercise, amount of muscle mass and levels of hormones including testosterone and IGF-1. So, who benefits the most from taking Creatine?

• Bodybuilders And Athletes
• Elderly Individuals
• Those With Neurodegenerative Conditions
• Vegetarians And Vegans

Effects Of Creatine On Muscle Gain And Performance

There are several ways in which Creatine helps enhance muscle growth. Creatine triggers cell volumization, since it causes water retention in muscle cells. This fluid retention creates additional volume to muscle and provides key hydration to skeletal muscle. The retention of fluid is responsible for the activation of stress response proteins which consequently lead to muscle protein synthesis for additional growth.

Creatine may also help you minimize muscle breakdown and retain muscle during exercise or a caloric deficit. Another long-term benefit of creatine is the ability to perform more exercises or repetitions and lift heavier weights per training session. Both of these help promote optimal muscle growth and performance. See the #1 Creatine Monohydrate Supplement now

Cognitive Effects Using Creatine

Within cells, energy is stored and transferred by reactions that make and break phosphate bonds. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) mentioned above, has two phosphate groups bound to it and is stable and low energy. When ADP is converted to ATP a third phosphate is attached, and becomes less stable and has higher energy. When that bond is broken, the released energy can be used within the cell to perform other cellular functions.

Neurons, or brain cells, heavily rely on this energy transfer for healthy neural function. It has been demonstrated that higher levels of creatine and phosphocreatine in the brain are associated with higher mental performance.

Are There Any Side Effects?

Creatine has been extensively studied and is considered a safe supplement. There is concern high doses could be associated with heart, liver and kidney dysfunction, however there is no evidence to substantiate these claims currently.

Users have noticed some other mild common side effects such as bloating, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, and muscle cramping. Even though Creatine can create water retention, it is still dehydrating and ample water intake is recommended.

Recommended Dosage

For athletic performance many different dosing regimens have been used, although the most popular method is to use a short-term loading dose, followed by a long-term maintenance dose. Loading doses are typically 10-35 grams daily for 4-10 days. Maintenance doses are generally 2-9 grams daily.

Our top 10 list of Creatine Monohydrate supplements is organized to reflect what you most value in your supplements. First and foremost is quality. All ten of or top ten supplements meet high standards of quality and come from brands with a proven record in excellence and purity. Another important factor in deciding the top ten was cost. You don’t have to pay through the nose to get a high quality supplement. In addition, all the companies represented on our top ten list have stellar records with customer service and prompt shipping to ensure that your supplement experience is enjoyable from the first click to your final pill.