Question: I don’t know when the best time to take creatine is. Should it be before or after my workout?
Several years ago, it was commonly recommended for athletes to supplement creatine prior to exercising. The individuals that offered this advice believed that taking creatine before exercise optimized the use of energy by your muscles while you physically exert energy. This rationale only can make sense if your creatine levels are close to empty.
If you are already supplementing, however, this is not the case. In addition, taking creatine before exercising could possibily shift your body fluids. The power creatine monohydrate attracts other fluids from our bodies and pulls them into our muscles — this could possibly deprive other body tissues of necessary fluids.
Now, on the other hand, taking creatine after exercise has it’s advantages. After exercise, our muscles are at their most sensitive state to insuline-mediated injection of creatine. By taking creatine with glycemic carbs and protein, you’re increasing the release of insulin more than if you simply took carbs or protein by themselves in the same quantities. By taking creatine with carbs and proteins after a workout, you’re further promoting muscle growth.
