most people think creatine makes them look puffy.
the truth is it’s not the creatine. it’s your sodium balance.
your muscles pull creatine inside through a sodium-dependent transporter called SLC6A8, also known as the creatine transporter. it needs sodium to do its job.
no sodium means poor transport and creatine stays outside the muscle cell holding water in the extracellular space. that’s where the “bloat” comes from.
when you take creatine with an electrolyte that contains sodium, it drives creatine into the muscle where it belongs. the result is fuller, harder muscles, not puffy ones.
if you’re dry scooping creatine without electrolytes, you’re cutting your gains in half.
hydration and creatine uptake go together. sodium is the key that unlocks the door.
that’s why i never take creatine without electrolytes. it’s the missing link between “puffy” and “performance.”
⚡️ optimal hydration = optimal creatine transport
⚡️ better pumps, better recovery, sharper focus
⚡️ less bloat, more strength