Creatine

[ron]

A question for those who know. To maximise the effect of Creatine, should it be taken before or after a workout and I have been advised not to drink coffee at all while I am taking it as it neutralises the Creatine. Is this correct??

[knock knock]

I've heard that about coffee/cafeine, yet some supps with creatine are loaded with cafeine or stacked with cafeine high products? Interesting to hear peoples views on this? Seen contradicting info on the net. :shrug:

[psi_brg]

ive herd your allowed a limited amount of caffine, but they say if you want the best results stay away from it...im on my creatine buzz again after my break it will be interesting to see if my strength increases like last time.

i take 5g before a workout and 5g afterwards as that way its worked for me no loading just doing it this way

[rx7rotary]

I have had no issues with coffee / creatine.

I normally take 500mg of L-arginine, 2 pills of Purple-K creatine, and a short black single shot as a stimulant. 20 min after I feel like an animal :pfft:

MJ

[Lamborghinilova]

I have another question about the usage of creatine, as i have read in many different places to have it on an empty stomach?

Why is this, and will it matter if i have a meal straight before or after?

thanks

[Dragon]

The creatine and caffeine issue has been discussed pretty extensively in both the athletic and scientific communities. However, most people don't even know why such a debate exists. What exactly is the concern? Well let's talk a little history.

The creatine and caffeine debate started about four years ago when one single scientific study concluded that "caffeine counteracts the effects of a creatine loaded muscle" (1). This statement was shocking because the purpose of the study was to see if the two agents could work together to increase exercise performance, not to see if they would interfere with each other. Researchers and athletes have long known that caffeine and creatine independently improve performance so a combination would be the next logical step.

Creatine works on the phosphocreatine and ATP systems while possibly buffering exercise produced hydrogen protons (acid), while caffeine demonstrates a powerful stimulation for the release of epinephrine. So theoretically, one could take both to gain more of a performance edge. But this study showed that maybe they don't work together. Even further, it showed that maybe they interfere with each other. So if this is the case and caffeine does counteract the effect of a creatine loaded muscle then there is no debate. The answer is to avoid consuming beverages that contain caffeine if you want your money spent on creatine to work for you.

But as usually is the case, things are not so simple. Although some individuals avoid this combination like the plague, we don't think this is necessary. So while you're here, go ahead and grab a cup of coffee. Then add your desired amount of crystals - creatine, not sugar; if you haven't already had your dose for the day. Based on further scientific data and scrutiny, you just might not have to give either one up.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/berardi5.htm

[ron]

Thank you Dragon

To summarize then......the jurys still out :nod: