Creatine is literally everywhere you look. And, there’s a good reason for it. Not only does it work, but Creatine is cost-effective and completely legal in all professional and collegiate-level sports. Furthermore, it works just as well for women as it does for men. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the U.S. Creatine market alone has swelled past the $400 million mark…with no sign of slowing down anytime soon. Based on that one fact alone, I believe every gym in America should be selling this extremely high-demand product. If you aren’t, I guarantee you are letting thousands of dollars walk out of your door every day.
Now if you’re like most people, you probably don’t really know what makes one “type” of Creatine or product different from another. You certainly can’t tell by looking at all those crazy ads cramming the magazines each month. Each one sounds like it’s the latest “miracle.” Well, that’s what I’m here for…to help you find the facts hidden somewhere in this mess…to show you exactly what to look for so you can increase your profits.
Which Creatine is the best?
Is one “form” or “type” actually better, or more effective, than the original: Creatine Monohydrate? The answer is simple…No. Creatine Monohydrate is the only type of Creatine you need. Here’s why: Creatine Monohydrate always has been (and still is) the “gold standard” when it comes to Creatine. You see, it has no less than 200 studies backing it, of which 70 have been published in peer-reviewed journals. This fact alone makes it the single most studied sports supplement ever. In fact, don’t even bother trying to find another one that even comes close.
To fully grasp this, you first need to have a basic understanding of how Creatine Monohydrate is actually manufactured. To synthesize Creatine, you react two chemicals, called Sarcosine and Cyanimide, inside a large, glass-lined reactor filled with water at high temperatures. The key point you should remember is that the end result of this process is ALWAYS Creatine Monohydrate. In other words, Creatine Monohydrate is the ONLY form of Creatine that can be made from scratch. That’s also why it’s the most prevalent form of this awesome supplement.
Therefore, to make any “new” form of Creatine, you must react finished Creatine Monohydrate with the desired bonding compound in water to create the new version. However, this is precisely where the problems begin from a manufacturing standpoint. You see, traditional Creatine actually “falls apart” once it’s activated by a fluid, and it degrades into something called “Creatinine” – a mostly useless byproduct. (By the way, Creatinine is also what can cause side effects like bloating, diarrhea and cramping usually associated with Creatine). Similarly, Chemistry 101 also tells us that reacting Creatine with an acid actually destroys the Creatine molecule and converts it into Creatinine. So, that is why they can’t be bound together to make a “new” Creatine. And remember, even if you could bond an acid to Creatine, you must still use water or another fluid as a medium for the chemical reaction. Either way, you always get Creatinine. So anyway you look at it, there’s just no getting around all these problems.
What Are All These “New” Creatines On The Market?
At best, they are actually one of three things:
1. Ordinary Creatine Monohydrate labeled as something else
2. A simple mixture of Creatine Monohydrate and the compound it’s supposedly bonded with
3. A botched version created by a manufacturer who tried to “bond” Creatine Monohydrate to an acid without knowing the associated problems. Furthermore, terms such as, “Di” and “Tri,” as they relate to Creatine, are simply made up.
Now, I think it’s important to note that most supplement companies aren’t necessarily at fault here. They’ve simply bought into the idea of using some of these compounds with the sincere hope they’d be giving their customers a superior product. But, as I stated in the very beginning, most supplement companies don’t know what you do now – How Creatine is actually made.
So, which Creatine is the best?
Simple: It doesn’t get any better than the gold standard – Creatine Monohydrate. Based on the number of studies backing it, and the problems associated with reprocessing Creatine to make a “new” version, the answer to that question should be obvious by now.
In conclusion, let me offer you two last tips. First, when it comes to Creatine, stick to the basics and choose products that are backed by real, proven science… not advertising. Of course, that means it should have Creatine Monohydrate as its base. Second and moreover, always buy based on quality, not the lowest price. Believe me, you will get what you pay for. Ultimately, that’s what will keep your clients coming back for more.
By the way, if you would like to read my new book that explains all of this in much greater detail, you can download it for free from my website. Or send me an email and I’d be happy to mail you a printed copy.
Brian Andrews is President of All American EFX, a sports nutrition company. He can be contacted at 800.659.3406, or by email at bandrews@aaefx.com. You can download his new FREE book called “CREATINE: Industry Insider Secrets Revealed.” Or, simply contact him to have a printed copy mailed to you.
