Can You Combine Creatine with Protein Powder?


In relation to dietary supplements for bodily health and sports activities efficiency, creatine stands out as a complement that will actually ship on its guarantees amidst a sea of questionable choices. Backed by a number of research, creatine has been proven to supply evidence-based advantages. For instance, a 2022 research within the journal Vitamins discovered that creatine was an environment friendly complement for muscle development, and in accordance with a 2019 research, creatine might assist preserve muscle mass and even play a job in fats loss. Contemplating these findings, in the event you’re aiming to enhance your physique, including creatine to your every day routine may very well be value a attempt. 

In your efforts to bulk up, it’s additionally sensible so as to add loads of protein to your food plan. This mandatory nutrient repairs the tiny tears train creates in your muscular tissues, constructing them again stronger and larger, facilitating muscle restoration and improvement. Alongside a balanced food plan, many individuals add protein within the type of a powder to raised meet their dietary wants. However as you whip up a shake or different post-workout beverage, you would possibly marvel: can these dietary supplements be safely mixed, and are there any advantages from doing so? 

Proceed studying to find what you should learn about mixing creatine with protein powder.

What’s Creatine?

Creatine is a naturally occurring compound present in your muscle cells and is obtainable from each meals (you’ll find it in beef, pork, rooster, salmon, tuna, and extra) and dietary supplements. Although the meals sources are all good choices, the quantities of creatine they carry to your dinner plate don’t measure as much as what you’ll get from dietary supplements—therefore the multitude of powders, gummies, and different creatine-related merchandise available on the market.

Creatine is finest identified for offering power for brief bursts of muscle exercise, resembling weightlifting, sprinting, and biking. Not surprisingly, in accordance with older analysis, muscle beneficial properties and fats loss are primarily seen when it’s mixed with resistance coaching.

These might not be the one advantages of accelerating your creatine consumption. Some analysis signifies that this compound might promote mind well being and assist wholesome bones as you age.

What’s Protein Powder?

Protein powder provides a handy and concentrated dose of vitamins. Derived from sources resembling whey, casein, soy, or peas, every scoop supplies upwards of 20 grams of protein. In the event you’re unable to achieve your every day protein objectives with food plan alone, protein powder is usually a useful gizmo. Getting extra of this macronutrient helps muscle development, restore, and restoration.

The really helpful dietary allowance (RDA) for protein for wholesome adults with minimal bodily exercise is 0.8 grams per kilogram (g/kg) of physique weight. Nevertheless, athletes and really energetic individuals usually want greater than this. Analysis has proven that wherever from 1.3 to 2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of physique weight is probably going a greater goal for athletes.

Mixing Creatine and Protein Powder

Excellent news for health fans, mixing creatine and protein powder is completely wonderful. Scientific proof so far has not prompt any detrimental interactions between these two dietary supplements. You may confidently take them collectively with none issues.

Advantages of Combining Creatine and Protein Powder

Although combining creatine and protein powder doesn’t create any magical alchemy to spice up effectiveness, it’s attainable that doing so might provide a slight synergistic impact. Some consultants have prompt that taking the 2 in tandem might improve muscle development, though the analysis is inconclusive.

The extra possible advantage of taking creatine and protein powder collectively is solely that you simply’ll knock two dietary supplements out at one time. Mixing them collectively in a single shake might additionally provide a extra handy technique than consuming them individually. You could save time, effort, and whole energy by making a snack or mini-meal that options each.

Necessary Issues

As with all dietary complement, it’s necessary to stick to the really helpful dosages of each creatine and protein powder. Overdoing it on both might probably harm your kidneys. Some individuals additionally report bloating and abdomen discomfort from taking excessive doses of creatine.

Particular person protein and creatine wants might fluctuate primarily based on elements resembling exercise degree and physique weight. In case you have any questions in regards to the splendid quantity to your physique sort and health objectives, speak to your healthcare supplier or a registered dietitian with a specialty in sports activities diet.

Different Consumption Strategies

There is not a single finest technique to eat creatine and protein powder. The bottom line is discovering what works so that you can guarantee constant complement consumption. Combining the powers right into a drink like a smoothie or a smoothie bowl is a well-liked possibility. Improve it by including different wholesome substances like frozen fruit, greens, yogurt, milk, or juice for a handy nutrient increase.

Alternatively, smoothies aren’t your solely possibility, attempt stirring the powders into a favourite juice or electrolyte beverage and even simply plain water in the event you don’t thoughts the style. In the event you choose your dietary supplements in meals relatively than drinks, take into account including them to yogurt or oatmeal.

Nevertheless, there’s no crucial to eat your creatine and protein powder collectively. If taking them individually works higher for you, stick to that strategy.

Backside Line

Each creatine dietary supplements and protein powder can improve your diet routine, particularly in the event you’re centered on constructing or sustaining muscle mass. Fortuitously, they complement one another for well being outcomes and might be blended collectively simply in many alternative methods, together with in smoothies and oatmeal. Combining these two dietary supplements is each secure and handy, although optional. In the event you’re not sure about their optimum use or dosage, take into account consulting along with your healthcare supplier or a registered dietitian. They will provide the most customized recommendation round your creatine and protein consumption.

Verywell Match makes use of solely high-quality sources, together with peer-reviewed research, to assist the info inside our articles. Learn our editorial course of to be taught extra about how we fact-check and maintain our content material correct, dependable, and reliable.
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  2. Forbes SC, Candow DG, Krentz JR, Roberts MD, Younger KC. Modifications in Fats Mass Following Creatine Supplementation and Resistance Coaching in Adults ≥50 Years of Age: A Meta-Evaluation. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2019 Aug 23;4(3):62. doi: 10.3390/jfmk4030062.

  3. Creatine. Cleveland Clinic.

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  5. Forbes SC, Cordingley DM, Cornish SM, Gualano B, Roschel H, Ostojic SM, Rawson ES, Roy BD, Prokopidis Okay, Giannos P, Candow DG. Results of Creatine Supplementation on Mind Perform and Well being. Vitamins. 2022 Feb 22;14(5):921. doi: 10.3390/nu14050921.

  6. Candow DG, Forbes SC, Chilibeck PD, Cornish SM, Antonio J, Kreider RB. Effectiveness of Creatine Supplementation on Growing older Muscle and Bone: Give attention to Falls Prevention and IrritationJournal of Scientific Medication. 2019; 8(4):488. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8040488

  7. Wu G. Dietary protein consumption and human well being. Meals Funct. 2016;7(3):1251-1265.

  8. Phillips SM, Van Loon LJ. Dietary protein for athletes: from necessities to optimum adaptation. J Sports activities Sci. 2011;29 Suppl 1:S29-38. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2011.619204. 

Sarah Garone

By Sarah Garone, NDTR

Sarah Garone, NDTR, is a well being and wellness author who runs a meals weblog.

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