What makes Creapure® different from other brands of creatine?
Creapure® is the most widely studied form of creatine and is proven to be safe and effective. According to one study/analysis (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9761713/) — "The type of creatine primarily used in research to establish its safety and efficacy has traditionally been a micronized creatine monohydrate (CM) made by AlzChem in Germany under the brand name Creapure®; this brand of CM has been reported to produce CM that is 99.9% pure. Thus, it is typically considered the gold standard. CM may also come from sources produced in China that have different starting materials such as sarcosinates and S-alkylisothiourea (as opposed to sodium sarcosinate, acetic acid, and cyanamide) and have been reported to produce more contaminants due to the methods used to manufacture it.”
Do I need to do a loading phase with Hammer Creatine Boost?
You can but it isn’t an absolute necessity. Some research suggests creatine loading–4 x 5-gram servings daily for 5 to 7 days–may help boost muscle stores of creatine by up 40%. However, other studies have found that lower doses of creatine taken once daily can be equally effective at maximizing your stores of creatine, though it may take up to 3 weeks. One serving (5 grams) of Hammer Creatine Boost once daily is our suggested dose.
Do I need to “cycle” off Hammer Creatine Boost for a period of time before using it again?
Using creatine in a cycle of 3 weeks “on” and 1 week “off” was the recommendation years ago, and some suggest that it may be beneficial to follow this protocol. However, there is no need to take any time off using creatine (i.e., it does not need to be cycled). Because creatine does not act upon any receptors and there is no known “sensitivity” (i.e., build-up tolerance issues), there is no need to take a break from using Hammer Creatine Boost on a daily basis.
Does creatine cause kidney damage/renal dysfunction?
A portion from the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition: “Questions and concerns involving creatine supplementation and kidney damage/renal dysfunction are common. In terms of pervasive misinformation in the sport nutrition arena, the notion that creatine supplementation leads to kidney damage/renal dysfunction is perhaps second only to the myth that protein supplementation and high habitual protein intake causes kidney damage. Today, after > 20 years of research which demonstrates no adverse effects from recommended dosages of creatine supplements on kidney health, unfortunately, this concern persists. While the origin is unknown, the connection between creatine supplementation and kidney damage/renal dysfunction could be traced back to two things: a poor understanding of creatine and creatinine metabolism and a case study published in 1998. In skeletal muscle, both creatine and PCr (phosphocreatine) are degraded non-enzymatically to creatinine, which is exported to the blood and excreted in the urine. Healthy kidneys filter creatinine, which would otherwise increase in the blood.”
“It is prudent to be cautious when ingesting any dietary supplement or medication. Survey data indicates that creatine supplementation usage ranges between 8-74% in athletes and other exercising individuals (reviewed in Rawson et al.). Even with a low estimate of 8% of exercising individuals using creatine supplements, this indicates thousands of exposures across several decades. If the link between creatine supplementation and kidney health was valid, there would be an expected increase in kidney damage/renal dysfunction in low risk (i.e. young, physically fit, healthy) individuals since 1992 after Harris et al. published their seminal work. After nearly 30 years of post-marketing surveillance, thousands of exposures, and multiple clinical trials, no such evidence exists.”
Can I mix Hammer Creatine Boost in with Recoverite to enhance recovery?
A resounding “YES!” Given creatine’s antioxidant properties, along with its ability to help reduce muscle soreness, adding 1 serving (5g) of Hammer Creatine Boost to a 2-scoop serving of Recoverite (or Vegan Recoverite) will definitely enhance recovery.
