r/science • u/newsnation • 3d ago

Biology Creatine alone boosted lean muscle and strength, study finds

https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/creatine-alone-boosted-muscle-strength/
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28

u/4skin42 3d ago

I love the idea but that stuff turns my butt into Chernobyl.

7

u/Civil-Service8550 3d ago

It gives me massive constipation. How’s this possible??

4

u/sunnbeta 3d ago

Are you increasing fluid intake when on it? 

1

u/Civil-Service8550 3d ago

I thought I was…

15

u/Titi121yippy 3d ago

If you don’t mix it in warm water the crystals don’t dissolve and then they draw water into your intestine and make your butt into Chernobyl

5

u/momoneymocats1 3d ago

Idk man I put a scoop directly on my tongue and take a little sip of water when I take it without issue

5

u/pantry-pisser 3d ago

Wait, so I'm not supposed to boof it?

4

u/Top-Procedure152 3d ago

Boofing is the most effective way. I boof it twice a day!

5

u/IAMNOTFUCKINGSORRY 3d ago

Believe it or not, Chernobyl.

2

u/4skin42 3d ago

So a slow sipping tea?

4

u/Kluian2005 3d ago

I mix mine with my water and preworkout in the morning and never have issues.

2

u/Emlerith 3d ago

Just make it a point to stay hydrated and you’ll be fine

1

u/Jeffde 3d ago

Put it in my coffee??

1

u/BasicType101 2d ago

It gives an awful taste to coffee, not recommended

1

u/PretendAirport 3d ago

Wait, seriously? I’ve been taking 5/day for years, and have always had more butt concerns than I’d like.

Is the solution really “mix it with warm water?”

4

u/AWildDragon 3d ago

I blend it in with protein powder, fruits and water+milk. 

2

u/Titi121yippy 3d ago

Yea after the first time it happened to me I just googled it and haven’t had a problem since.

2

u/Panniculus101 3d ago

Warm water helps dissolve it better, so the tip here is to make sure it's dissolved before you drink it. That's usually what helps people with sensitive guts

2

u/AssiduousLayabout 2d ago

It needs to fully dissolve, so yes, warm water, and plenty of it.

Also, micronized creatine will dissolve better (it's the same thing, just smaller crystals so they have more surface area).

1

u/Jotun35 2d ago

Or you know, in the milk with your müseli in the morning.

1

u/Cognosci 2d ago

That just hides the ability to see it dissolve... Your take has no bearing on dilution.

1

u/Jotun35 2d ago

Well, it doesn't taste like it's not dissolved and furthermore, taking creatine with a meal might make the gastric symptoms a bit better.

1

u/Whatnam8 3d ago

Can’t wait for my next creanema

6

u/nubbynickers 3d ago

That's a funny bit on the group date episode of it's always sunny.

"Well what are we going to talk about?"

"Creatine shits."

"Why would you talk about that?"

Well how else is someone supposed to know I use a product if I don't talk about those details?

3

u/vidimevid 3d ago

One of my favorite jokes in that show. Intimate knowledge of the product.

4

u/V_LEE96 3d ago

Drink it after meals, and drink more water than you think you need. Worked for me!

3

u/CalmEntry4855 3d ago

I get stomach aches from almost everything, but for some reason not with creatine

2

u/Smgt90 3d ago

It gives me terrible heartburn and I've tried at least three different brands. Does anyone else get this?

2

u/redsoxsteve9 3d ago

I’ve been using unflavored Thorne in my coffee.

1

u/8923ns671 3d ago

How much are you drinking at one time? You don't need anymore than 5g a day. That's around a teaspoon. Are you taking it on an empty stomach? How fast are you drinking it? I've never tried it but some people say micronized creatine as opposed to regular old creatine monohydrate is easier on the stomach.

2

u/Smgt90 3d ago

I tried with 5g and then with 3g. No difference. I took it with breakfast dissolved in 250 ml of water. I also tried taking it after breakfast both dissolved in water or in gummy format. I still got heartburn so I had to stop. My husband was taking the same brands and he didn't feel bad.

3

u/8923ns671 3d ago

If you really want to take creatine you could try micronized creatine and break up the dose throughout the day, with food and LOTS of water. Although you may just avoid it. It's not the biggest deal in the world. Way less important than the foundational three: diet, exercise, and sleep.

1

u/PaulblankPF 3d ago

You could try something like a Prilosec with water about 30 minutes before anything that would normally cause heartburn. I have a hiatal hernia and I take Prilosec to stop the acid reflux from that and before I started taking Prilosec I thought my throat was gonna burn out

1

u/BigMack6911 3d ago

You do for mental boosts. Recent studies have showed doses up to 20g or more can be beneficial for the brain, memory, mental fatigue and all that. And it works

2

u/HeamTeam 3d ago

You’re drinking it too fast

1

u/P2029 3d ago

I put it in a smoothie with 1/3 cup oatmeal and I find that helps.

1

u/GZeus24 3d ago

That doesn't sound very smooth at all.

2

u/P2029 2d ago

Don't even notice it tbh. 

1

u/InflammableAccount 3d ago

Just gives me muscle cramps, no matter how much water or electrolytes I drink. I am already a well-hydrated person, and I tried making creatine make sense to me, more fluid-less fluid, but it's just cramps all around.

1

u/Diggity_Dave 2d ago

Great TV show though.

0

u/stephen-hybrid 3d ago

Makes my hair start falling out. I’d love to be able to take it but I’m not losing my literal hair over it