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 progress, and based on a 2019 research, creatine might assist keep muscle mass and even play a job in fats loss. Contemplating these findings, for those who’re aiming to enhance your physique, including creatine to your day by day routine may very well be value a attempt. 

In your efforts to bulk up, it’s additionally good so as to add loads of protein to your food plan. This vital nutrient repairs the tiny tears train creates in your muscle tissue, constructing them again stronger and greater, facilitating muscle restoration and growth. 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 may marvel: can these dietary supplements be safely mixed, and are there any advantages from doing so? 

Proceed studying to find what it’s essential to 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 (yow will discover it in beef, pork, hen, salmon, tuna, and extra) and dietary supplements. Although the meals sources are all good choices, the quantities of creatine they create 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 in the marketplace.

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

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

What’s Protein Powder?

Protein powder provides a handy and concentrated dose of vitamins. Derived from sources comparable to whey, casein, soy, or peas, every scoop supplies upwards of 20 grams of protein. If you happen to’re unable to succeed in your day by day protein objectives with food plan alone, protein powder generally is a useful gizmo. Getting extra of this macronutrient helps muscle progress, restore, and restoration.

The beneficial dietary allowance (RDA) for protein for wholesome adults with minimal bodily exercise is 0.8 grams per kilogram (g/kg) of physique weight. Nonetheless, athletes and really energetic individuals usually want greater than this. Analysis has proven that anyplace 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 fanatics, mixing creatine and protein powder is completely superb. Scientific proof so far has not urged any adverse interactions between these two dietary supplements. You possibly can 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 potential that doing so might supply a slight synergistic impact. Some specialists have urged that taking the 2 in tandem might improve muscle progress, though the analysis is inconclusive.

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

Essential Issues

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

Particular person protein and creatine wants might fluctuate based mostly on elements comparable to exercise degree and physique weight. When you’ve got any questions concerning the supreme quantity in your physique sort and health objectives, discuss to your healthcare supplier or a registered dietitian with a specialty in sports activities vitamin.

Various Consumption Strategies

There is not a single finest option to devour creatine and protein powder. The secret’s 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 enhance.

Alternatively, smoothies aren’t your solely possibility, attempt stirring the powders into a favourite juice or electrolyte beverage and even simply plain water for those who don’t thoughts the style. If you happen to desire your dietary supplements in meals relatively than drinks, contemplate including them to yogurt or oatmeal.

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

Backside Line

Each creatine dietary supplements and protein powder can improve your vitamin routine, particularly for those who’re centered on constructing or sustaining muscle mass. Thankfully, they complement one another for well being outcomes and will be blended collectively simply in many various methods, together with in smoothies and oatmeal. Combining these two dietary supplements is each protected and handy, although non-compulsory. If you happen to’re not sure about their optimum use or dosage, contemplate consulting together 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 help 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. Adjustments 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.

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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 Operate 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 Getting older Muscle and Bone: Give attention to Falls Prevention and IrritationJournal of Medical 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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