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.