I’m sure you’ve heard some good things about the results it can produce. But you may also have read a few bad things which have made you apprehensive about making it part of your routine.

So to stop the confusion, I want to give you a few Q’s and A’s about this supplement.

Q: What is Creatine?
A: Creatine is a substance that is produced naturally in your body by your kidneys, and is done so by combining several amino acids. It can also be found in the foods you eat such as red meat.

Q: How does it work?
A: Creatine acts as an energy source for muscle contraction, and by supplementing your natural creatine production, more explosive energy is made more available to your muscles.

Q: What are the side effects of Creatine?
A: Creatine is a natural substance. Steroids are synthetic versions of testosterone and therefore are two completely different things! The side effects associated with steroids will never occur through creatine supplementation.

Q: Since Creatine makes you gain weight, should I take when trying to loose fat?
A: Creatine makes your muscles retain water. Unlike fat which is stored BETWEEN your muscles and skin layers creating that bloated look, the water is held WITHIN your muscles. Thefore, the answer is yes.

Q: Can I take Creatine and Protein at the same time?
A: Of course. Protein is made from whey (or soya in some cases) and this is basically just like consuming food but in liquid form.

Q: I seem to get more spots while on creatine, are they related?
A: No, creatine does not affect your hormones and therefore are totally unrelated to out breaks.

Q: Do undesirable effects ever occuor through creatine supplementation for women?
A: Creatine will assist you in your workout, but it’s only the calories you consume that will make you grow. You will never find yourself growing too big due to this supplement.

Q: Is there a way to make creatine more effective?
A: Creatine relies heavily on you consuming enough water to hydrate your muscles. Being properly hydrated has general health benefits, but this will also improve your workouts and creatine effectiveness.

Consuming a meal post workout which contains simple carbohydrates can also create a burst of insulin to drive creatine and nutrients into your muscles, aiding recovery.

Q: How much do I need to consume?
A: Many manufacturers will lead you to believe that you need to go through a “loading” and “maintenance” phase when supplementing with creatine. However, I feel this is unnecessary and is just one of the ways they try to get you to use their product. Results can be just as good by consuming just 3 teaspoons before and after a workout, mixed with 500ml of water.

Q: Do I need to Cycle Creatine?
A: There are many different cycling theories, but personally I like to supplement with creatine for 2 months, then have a week off from it before starting over again.

Richard Howe is the founder of Basement Bodybuilding and has been helping others to build a better body from home for over 3 years. Visit his website for your free report revealing how to build your own home gym in 7 days at http://www.basementbodybuilding.com

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