Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Benefits of Creatine Ethyl Ester

We've mentioned the benefits of creatine supplements several times on this site. However, we haven't yet written out a post specifically dedicated to the benefits of creatine ethyl ester yet. So, without further ado, here is why you should be taking CEE supplements.

  1. Increased energy/endurance. Creatine supplementation has been proven to increase energy and muscle endurance. More energy and endurance means you can workout longer and/or more strenuously. The end result, of course, is more added muscle and strength.
  2. Faster recover time. Another proven benefit of taking creatine is faster muscle recovery time from workouts. This means you will not feel sore as longer, your muscles rebuild faster, and you can workout more often if you choose (of course, you should still be careful not to overtrain).
  3. Faster increases in strength and muscle mass. This one is the biggie, obviously. The very reason most people look to bodybuilding supplements in the first place is to increase muscle mass and strength and, ideally, do it fast. Creatine has been shown in study after study to yeild significant increases in both strength and muscle mass, and it does it fast. Most people see noticeable results after just a few weeks (3 to 4) of taking creatine, particularly those who are taking it for the first time or for the first time in a long time. If you are new to weightlifting, you will likely see pretty incredible results fast.
  4. No creatine bloat. One of the major drawbacks to creatine monohydrate was that, while seeing great results in muscle and strength gains, the increased water retention often led to a bloated feel and even appearance. Many people complained that, though their muscles did appear bigger, they had a somewhat "soft" aspect to them due to the increased water, at least while still taking the creatine. Since creatine ethyl ester is more easily absorbed in the body, the creatine bloat is not as significant. Many people have stated that they do not experience creatine bloat at all with creatine ethyl ester.

So there you have it, just a few of the many reasons to try creatine ethyl ester as part of your workout and weightlifting regimen. Remember to always drink plenty of water while on creatine, make sure you cycle on and off, and eat a proper diet (plenty of protein!) while taking creatine. And of course, remember to workout!

Creatine Monohydrate vs Creatine Ethyl Ester

Ok, so you have decided to take the plunge and begin taking creatine supplements. You've heard the benefits, and you want to take advantage of faster and increased gains in muscle mass, endurance, and faster recovery time. You want to get those muscles huge! You've also read about the side effects of creatine, and you've been assured that creatine supplements really work. Now, you just have one more question: creatine monohydrate or creatine ethyl ester?

Creatine monohydrate has been around for a really long time now. It has been shown to produce fantastic results in most people who are weight training and eating a proper diet (i.e. plenty of protein, etc.). However, creatine monohydrate is not very easily absorbed in the body. When taking creatine monohydrate, you basically have to inundate your body with a large amount of creatine so that your body will absorb as much as possible, leaving the excess, unabsorbed creatine to sit unabsorbed in intracellular water.

Creatine monohydrate has also been shown to produce some undesirable (though usually not serious) side effects in people. Cramping, diarrhea, dehydration, and bloating are some of the most common side effects associated with creatine intake. Cramping and especially "creatine bloating" seem to be the most common complaints.

Creatine ethyl ester, or CEE, is a newer form of creatine. While similar in benefits to creatine monohydrate, CEE was formulated to be absorbed by your body more easily. Due to this easier absorption, smaller doses of esterified creatine (CEE) are needed than with monohydrate.

With easier absorption and smaller dosages, creatine ethyl ester has the potential to produce greater benefits than the original creatine monohydrate form. What's more, CEE potentially results in lesser side effects. So you want those huge muscle gains without the "creatine bloat" look that gives your muscles a softer look? Well then you might want to give creatine ethyl ester a try.