How Could Creatine Monohydrate Help You?

There are a large number of supplements that can help you in your quest for a stronger, leaner body. Discover how creatine monohydrate could help you.

Creatine is one of the most well-known and well used of all bodybuilding supplements as it is so effective at helping to improve muscle. Essentially it is a compound that is created within our liver, kidneys and pancreas as a way to reload our energy levels.

If taken in suitable and sensible levels it can be an effective sports supplement and there is much research to support these claims. It is however worth noting that as with many things, some people have reported to have not seen any great changes from taking this supplement.

What does it do?

The main uses of this supplement are all based around its ability to help replenish energy levels within our bodies via the formation of creatine phosphate.

Creatine may help to replenish a molecule known as ATP which when broken down will release energy to help our muscles contract. Research shows that the more creatine within the cells of our muscles, the more efficiently ATP is replenished; thereby increasing energy levels. Sources include meat and fish but our muscles are capable of storing more than we can obtain from food, so taking a creatine monohydrate supplement will mean the stores within our bodies are maximised. Overall this means greater energy levels to train harder and more effectively.

Research indicates that creatine could help to encourage muscles to grow by stimulating the synthesis of protein. As a result of this, if the muscles are then exercised in the correct way, muscle growth could be greatly enhanced.

It may also help to buffer the effects of lactic acid and therefore help to improve the way our bodies recover post workout and prevent muscles becoming fatigued so early during the workout itself.

In many cases it can help to increase a person’s body weight and in most cases this can be quite prominent. This generally occurs in the first month that the creatine supplement is first used and gains can be around the half stone mark. Research has indicated that those people who take this supplement will gain considerably more lean body mass then that gained by those who are not taking the supplement.


Creatine is available in a number of different forms but creatine monohydrate is the most popular form since it has little taste and will dissolve in water. There are many other forms including creatine phosphate, creatine pyruvate and creatine citrate but these are not thought to work quite as well.