5 Reasons Why Creatine Monohydrate Is the Best

Medically Reviewed on 9/9/2022
Creatine Monohydrate
Evidence indicates that most people who take creatine benefit from it.

Creatine monohydrate is identical to natural creatine generated by the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. Creatine is a naturally occurring amino acid in your body that provides energy to the cells, particularly the muscle cells for contraction. This is accomplished by converting creatine phosphate to adenosine triphosphate, which your cells subsequently use as energy. 

Creatine is often obtained from fish or animal sources. However, many creatine supplements are vegan and widely available in many stores and online.

Creatine ethyl ester, creatine hydrochloride, and creatine magnesium chelate are other forms of creatine. However, creatine monohydrate is the most effective and researched type of creatine.

Creatine monohydrate is often taken orally as a tablet or powder combined with water. However, liquid creatine is also available.

Creatine supplementation in the diet may help with muscular wasting caused by cancer and other chronic conditions. Absorption is easier when you combine creatine supplements with carbs such as fruits, fruit juices, and starches.

How does creatine monohydrate work?

Creatine is one of the most extensively researched sports supplements, with over 2,000 studies conducted to date. Evidence indicates that most people who take creatine benefit from it.

  • It is not quite known how creatine monohydrate delivers these effects.
  • Researchers believe that because creatine increases strength gains, it helps athletes to move more muscle mass and produce greater mechanical strain.
  • Mechanical strain is one of the fundamental causes of muscle development. 

However, as creatine pulls water into muscle cells, it is possible that it adds to another type of muscular development—cellular swelling.

Muscular injury is the third primary process of muscle development. It is certainly possible that creatine can have a good influence on two, if not all three of those pathways.

5 reasons to take creatine monohydrate

Five reasons why creatine monohydrate is considered the best include:

  1. Safety track record:
    • Several studies have reported that humans may safely consume creatine monohydrate. 
    • Researchers have stated that there is neither long-term nor short-term evidence that using creatine monohydrate has any negative consequences. 
    • Research has stated that using creatine monohydrate is safe for two to five years and even at larger dosages. 
    • Creatine increases the water content of muscle cells, hence increasing muscular mass.
  2. Scientific backing:
    • The monohydrate form has been used in the majority of Creatine research. 
    • Ethyl ester, buffered, liquid, magnesium chelate, and many more forms of creatine are readily accessible. 
    • However, scientific studies have confirmed creatine monohydrate as the greatest form of creatine, offering various advantages such as improved exercise performance, increased muscle mass, and even cognitive benefits.
    • Research has stated that this supplement may increase strength gains from weight training by at least 5 to 10 percent.
  3. Easy availability:
    • Some of the most recent creatine formulations are only accessible as multi-ingredient preparations, such as pre-workout supplements. 
    • These extra substances are frequently unnecessary and lack scientific support, such as creatine monohydrate. 
    • In certain circumstances, other versions can only be purchased as individual ingredients, and their availability is relatively low.
    • Creatine monohydrate is readily accessible on the market.
  4. Affordable:
    • Creatine monohydrate is the least expensive and simplest to get as a single component due to several factors. 
    • Creatine monohydrate may be less expensive to produce because it has been accessible for a longer period than other creatine forms. 
    • In addition, numerous varieties of this supplement are produced, which help keep pricing competitive. 
    • In most circumstances, the same size-types of creatine may be more expensive to purchase. 
    • Other versions of creatine as single components are difficult to find. 
    • As a result, monohydrate is the most affordable form of creatine available today.
  5. Improved muscle mass and enhanced performance:
    • Creatine monohydrate promotes muscular growth and increases muscle water content, which aids in muscle development without the addition of fat. 
    • Cell volumization is the process of increasing muscle size by adding water content. 
    • Creatine monohydrate opens up new cellular pathways, which aid in fast muscular growth. 
    • It increases protein synthesis in the body, resulting in the formation of new muscle fiber
    • Studies have reported that creatine monohydrate inhibits the formation of myostatin, a molecule that inhibits muscle development, hence promoting muscle growth. 
    • Creatine monohydrate improves exercise performance by improving stamina and endurance, making people feel relaxed and active even after a vigorous workout and activity. 
    • It also aids in retaining attention and drive when working out.

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Medically Reviewed on 9/9/2022
References
Image Source: iStock images

Creatine and Creatine Supplements: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/17674-creatine-and-creatine-supplements

Chapter 1 - Creatine Monohydrate: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1871512509340017

Creatine: https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/creatine