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In the mad, wild universe of nutritional warfare, a particular piece of scholarly artillery recently exploded in my peripheral vision—a deep dive into the murky waters of creatine supplements,..

..a battleground where many of you stand armed and ready. We’re slicing through the commercial crapstorm today, armed with nothing but cold, hard scientific data to guide us through the smoke.

Let’s break down this study (1) like we would a hotel room after a two-day bender in Vegas:

The lowdown on the showdown: Some brainy propeller-heads pored over 175 different creatine concoctions available on the great electronic bazaar known as Amazon, putting the pedal to the metal to test if these health jockeys and performance claims are anything more than hot air and marketing spitshine.

..And, baby, the findings are more revealing than a streaker in a bodysuit at a football game.

The brutal truth laid bare: A jaw-dropping 88% of these muscle-juice jugs can’t muster the evidence to back up their big talk about bioavailability, effectiveness, and being safer than a night in your own bed.

Only a measly 8% of these potions carry third-party badges of honor, meaning you can bet what’s on the sticker is what’s in the bottle, minus the nasties you didn’t sign up for.

The only ones worth your greenbacks?

The good ol’ creatine monohydrate (CM), especially those saluted by impartial judges.

These babies not only come clean but also cheap, compared to the souped-up versions that promise you the moon. Boring basics win again.

The scholarly scribblings wind up with some straight shooting:
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• The marketing baloney slung by fancier creatine types got a thorough dressing down.
• They chatter about cost—how these highfalutin’ versions will gouge your wallet harder than pure CM.
• The evidence—or glaring lack of it—behind the razzle-dazzle of alternative creatine products is laid out cold.
• And, they're crying out for more lab coats to jump into the fray to really figure out if these newfangled types are worth a damn.
• They even tossed in some chin-scratching about how different creatine mixes stack up in muscle meat.

Here’s what you do, bucko: Go for the Gold Standard as creatine monohydrate.

Most of these new-wave creatine jokers are all sizzle and no steak.

These fancy-pants creatine types in this study are picking your pocket by about 116% more than the tried-and-true CM. Despite the steep price, nearly 9 out of 10 of these high-priced hustlers are just shooting blanks when it comes to proven uptake, and a muscle boost.

Remember, my compadre, while creatine can beef up your strength and muscle heft like nothing else, it shines brightest when it’s part of a full-blown, guns-blazing fitness and grub strategy aimed at living long and looking good doing it.

For the best bang for your buck based on pure data, creatine monohydrate from a source that ain't lying through its teeth is your best bet.
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My top pick? Driven Nutrition—no bull, just bulk.

Check it out at www.miketnelsoncreatine.com and throw in the code drmike to save yourself a nifty 15%.

Much love and creatine monohydrate for the win!

Dr Mike

References: That dry but necessary bit where I show that I did not just make this all up.
1) Escalante G, Gonzalez AM, St Mart D, Torres M, Echols J, Islas M, Schoenfeld BJ. Analysis of the efficacy, safety, and cost of alternative forms of creatine available for purchase on Amazon.com: are label claims supported by science? Heliyon. 2022 Dec 6;8(12):e12113. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12113. PMID: 36544833; PMCID: PMC9761713.

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Mike T Nelson CISSN, CSCS, MSME, PhD
Associate Professor, Carrick Institute
Owner, Extreme Human Performance, LLC
Editorial Board Member, STRONG Fitness Mag

Mike T Nelson is a PhD and not a physician or registered dietitian. The contents of this email should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem - nor is it intended to replace the advice of a physician. Always consult your physician or qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health.

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