The Optimal Blend: Unveiling the Best Things to Mix with Creatine
The Best Things to Mix with Creatine
Creatine is considered one of the best supplements of choice by athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike. There is no question about what kind of benefits it offers. Better muscle recovery, increased strength, and excellent overall performance are among some of them.
If you already have included creatine in your regular supplement lineup - here’s a guide for you. We’re going to dive into what might be the best thing to mix creatine with. We’ll offer a list of a few things that will go well together with it. We’ll dive into the list soon so you can try it out for yourself.
In the meantime, we’ll get into a bit of an overview for those who are new to creatine. So let’s get started with that before delving into the list itself.
What Is Creatine?
Creatine isn’t just an ordinary supplement. In fact, it’s something that your own body produces naturally. It can also be found in certain foods such as meat, poultry, and milk among others. The primary thing that creatine does is speed up the production of ATP, which will provide your cells with energy.
Here’s the thing: when this happens, it can be an excellent thing for those who perform high-intensity workout activities. If you’re a sprinter or a powerlifter, you can benefit quite nicely from creatine - especially if you take it as a supplement. While you get it from your diet, it’s nice to have a little extra to make your fitness goals easily attainable.
Most supplements that contain creatine will come in the form of creatine monohydrate. It is considered to be one of the most safe and consistently proven types on the market. If you’re on the fence about creatine, feel free to perform your due diligence on the best supplements. At the same time, it’s always a good idea to consult with your physician about certain supplements you’re considering using regularly.
Creatine and What? The Best Things to Mix With It
Now, we’re going to give into this list of optimal creating combinations. We encourage you to experiment with some of these to get some of the best possible benefits not just from the supplement itself, but also the benefits of the base mixture as well. So let’s waste no time and get started:
Creatine and water
Of course, we start with one of the most important base mixtures out there - creatine with water. Chris Bumstead and the Raw Nutrition team know how important hydration is to our overall fitness goals. Not to mention, it’s one of the most important fluids to have in our bodies period since we’re made up of about three-quarters of water (no kidding).
So what makes this combination the best? Creatine can bind with water molecules fairly quickly. When this happens, it will allow for better absorption and pave the way for maximized benefits. Not to mention, it’s easy to mix and consume - all without the sugars or additional calories.
Here’s a quick little hack that you should do with creatine - including Raw Nutrition’s own Creatine Monohydrate. Ready for it? Mix it with warm water. You’re probably wondering why this is such a great idea.
The water is warm so it’s more soluble. It will also ensure that the creatine particles are broken down much easier and become better absorbed in your body. Once you can stir it well enough, you must drink it immediately. Mixing creatine and water may be one of the more optimal creatine combinations - but we still have more to go over so keep reading.
Of course, you still need to drink plenty of water as is when it comes to regular hydration. When mixing creatine with water, you get more than just the usual benefits.
Creatine and pre-workout
Ah yes, mixing two different supplements might be something you can consider. Even if you have already used creatine as a standalone. Here’s something crazy you might not know about - you can find creatine already mixed with pre-workouts. So the heavy lifting (no..not the kind you need to do in the gym) is already done.
Not only will you get excellent benefits from creatine, but also your pre-workout of choice. If you choose a pre-workout that doesn’t include it like Raw Nutrition’s Pump Non-Stim Pre-Workout, you can mix it with the creatine supplement of your choice. You will get excellent benefits such as an energy boost and increased mental focus.
Talk about a win-win of a combination. You just add water, mix it with creatine, and pre-workout, and you have an elixir of awesome benefits just waiting to be unleashed. Increased focus, plenty of energy, the ability to maximize athletic performance, and that satisfying muscle pump that you can get to boost your confidence and motivation. If that isn’t an impressive list of benefits, we’re not sure what is.
So how many grams of creatine will be appropriate for pre-workout? Aim for at least 5 grams of creatine powder. If you're not ready for that, that's fine. You can still take creatine post-workout for better recovery.
Creatine and protein
Pairing creatine with a protein powder shake might be the best thing for fitness enthusiasts and athletes. Doing this can make muscle growth and recovery possible. Protein is obviously the nutrient you need to repair and build muscle. When paired with creatine, it’ll be a synergistic effect like no other.
Mix creatine with your post-workout shakes. It will increase its nutritional profile along with the increased delivery that will be essential for recovery and growth. If you truly want to try out this combination, creatine and whey protein might be the perfect mix.
Whey protein has the ability to rapidly absorb, making it easier to get the nutritional boost your body needs. If you are looking for what could be a match made in heaven, creatine and protein could be the best combination yet when it comes to smashing your fitness goals.
The benefits are obvious when it comes to protein. Lean muscle mass and increased muscle gain are the best. When mixed with a dose of creatine, it will increase athletic performance like no other.
Creatine and healthy fats
Yes, there is such a thing as healthy fats. They are found in avocados, olive oil, and nuts. What makes it excellent is that it can help increase testosterone in men. When it’s mixed with creatine - it’s a pretty potent combination.
For men, testosterone is one of the best building blocks to muscle development and strength. It amplifies with the addition of creatine. You can also add healthy fats like natural nut butter into a smoothie or shake. Even better, it makes the protein shake creamier and very tasty.
Creatine and carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are one of the best energy sources. If you combine it with creatine, it can help with optimal performance. As you consume carbohydrates, insulin that is produced naturally in your body is released. Post-exercise, you’ll experience what is known as insulin sensitivity. When this happens, that becomes your window of opportunity to consume creatine along with carbs themselves.
So what are some excellent carb-rich foods or drinks to mix creatine with? Fruit juice and sports drinks are a couple of excellent examples. You can increase creatine uptake if you mix it with something made from 100 percent fruit juice, like grape juice, or your favorite flavor of Gatorade.
Athletes who engage in high-intensity and endurance activities can beneficial from this combination of creatine and carbs. However, there’s a caveat attached to this. Pay attention to the sugar content that is found in the beverage that you choose. If possible, choose a natural source of carbohydrates.
Creatine and coffee
If you’re a coffee lover, mixing it with creatine just might be the perfect combo. Remember when we mentioned earlier to mix creatine with warm water? When mixed with coffee, the creatine will be easily soluble.
However, there’s also another additional reason why this is an excellent combination. Caffeine is one of the main ingredients in regular coffee. It is designed to boost energy and increase alertness. If a standalone cup of coffee doesn’t give you that regular boost, add creatine and you’ll feel the difference.
Another thing you’ll experience is a boost in both mental focus and physical performance. Be mindful of the idea of how much caffeine you take in. The reason is that excessive amounts can lead to side effects like increased heart rate and other negative interactions.
Creatine and electrolytes
Finally, let’s take a look at this combination. Electrolytes are responsible for the electrical impulses in your body. Of course, maintaining hydration is a must. Mixing it with creatine will be a great combination for those who typically aim for workout sessions that are long and intense.
Mixing creatine with electrolyte-rich beverages like sports drinks or coconut water might be something worth considering. Finally, creatine may also play a role in increasing water content in your muscle cells. One more good reason why you should take hydration seriously - especially when it comes to keeping up with your fitness goals.
Final Thoughts
We hope that you’ve found this guide to mixing and creating with other blends helpful. It may be a good idea to review the list multiple times to determine the best one for you. We encourage you to bookmark this so you can come back to it on a regular basis. Once you find a combination that suits you best, stick with it.
At Raw Nutrition, we’ve got creatine and all the other supplements you want. Choose one that will match your fitness goals and we’ll deliver the goods. Check out what we got in our store today.
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