The dietary supplement industry continually evolves, introducing innovative ways to deliver vital nutrients and compounds to enhance athletic performance and general well-being. Among these innovations, creatine supplements have emerged as a cornerstone for athletes and fitness enthusiasts aiming to boost their energy levels, muscle mass, and overall physical performance.
However, not all creatine supplements are created equal. Recent analyses, including comprehensive testing by renowned quality assurance programs, have highlighted significant differences between creatine gummies and chews. This article delves into why chewable creatine tablets are not only a better choice but also why creatine gummies fall short due to manufacturing complexities and inherent limitations.
Here’s what we’ll be covering in this article:
- Importance and sources of creatine
- Shortcomings of creatine gummies
- Stability, reliability, and efficacy of creatine tablets
- Our final thoughts
What Is Creatine?
Creatine is a naturally occurring compound derived from amino acids. It’s predominantly found in our muscles, and, as such, plays an important role in muscle growth, strength, and recovery. [1] Oral creatine supplements can help increase performance, prevent injury, and provide noticeable cognitive improvements.
Creatine comes from three main sources:
- Our body’s natural production
- Amino acids from foods
- Creatine supplements
What is the best way to take creatine?
There’s no single “best way” to take creatine – they’re all important. But taking creatine supplements like tablets (chews) and gummies is important for athletes of all performance levels, as they provide additional available creatine your body needs to optimally repair, recover, and grow stronger after intense workouts.
The Underlying Issues with Creatine Gummies
- Water-Induced Creatine Degradation
Creatine monohydrate gummies face a fundamental challenge: their manufacturing process involves water, which significantly risks converting creatine into creatinine, diminishing the supplement's efficacy. This instability issue is less prevalent in creatine chews, which are designed to preserve the integrity of creatine through their production process.
- Dosage Discrepancies and Quality Control
The gummy form complicates the uniform distribution of creatine, leading to potential discrepancies in dosage. The reliance on water in their production and the difficulties in ensuring homogeneity mean that creatine gummies can vary in their creatine content, sometimes failing to meet the promised label claims. This contrasts sharply with the production of chewable creatine tablets, where advanced manufacturing techniques ensure consistent creatine distribution and dosage accuracy.
Advantages of Animal Creatine Chews
- Optimal Absorption for Enhanced Performance
Animal Creatine Chews are formulated with the patented AstraGin®. AstraGin® is a blend of two natural plant-based ingredients (Panaxnotoginseng and Astragalus membranaceaus) with high levels of flavonoids and other health-supporting compounds. AstraGin® is widely known to be safe for consumption, with an impressive list of benefits backed by both in vivo and animal research. [2]
AstraGin® improves anti-inflammation and immunomodulation response, as well as decreases fatigue, improves growth, and supports overall health. [3,4] When it comes to workout performance, AstraGin® proves highly beneficial for increasing L-arginine absorption, which is critical for creatine biosynthesis. [5] One ingredient study showed that AstraGin® can improve the absorption of creatine by 33% in vivo. Animal puts AstraGin® in our chewable creatine tablets to help your body use more of the creatine you consume. This makes your supplement intake more effective, giving you better results for the same amount.
- Superior Stability and Reliability
Without the need for water in production, Animal Creatine Chews offer a more stable and reliable way to take creatine. This avoids the risk of creatine degradation into creatinine, ensuring that athletes receive the full benefits of the supplement without the drawbacks of unnecessary waste products.
- Convenience Without Compromise
Creatine tablets also offer the ultimate convenience without compromising quality or efficacy. Their stable formulation ensures that they maintain their integrity and dosage accuracy, regardless of external conditions, making for arguably the best way to take creatine for athletes on the go. Unlike gummies, which can melt or degrade, chews remain consistent in form and function.
- A Leaner, More Focused Supplement
Designed with performance in mind, creatine chews often contain fewer additives and are focused on delivering creatine as efficiently as possible. This contrasts with gummies, which may include added sugars and other compounds to achieve their texture and flavor, potentially conflicting with the dietary goals of health-conscious consumers.
What Other Creatine Supplements Work Well?
While creatine tablets are an excellent way to increase available creatine, they’re not everyone’s preferred formula. For athletes seeking the efficacy of creatine tablets, without the pitfalls of creatine gummies, there are two viable alternatives: powders and pills.
Creatine Powder: One of the most common creatine supplements, creatine powder gives you a full dose of creatine along with water for hydration. Creatine powders are typically stirred into water, protein shakes, or pre- or post-workout shakes.
Great for:
- Flavor
- Efficacy
Creatine Pills: An excellent way to elevate your creatine intake without the flavor of chews or the need for water, creatine pills make for an easy, on-the-go form of creatine supplementation. Similar to all creatine supplements, you still want to ensure you consume enough water throughout the day.
Great for:
- Convenience
- Efficacy
Animal’s creatine pills and powders match the quality of our creatine chews, and are worth considering for those who aren’t fans of chewable tablets. However, for those looking for the creatine trifecta, we strongly encourage exploring Animal Creatine Chews.
Creatine tablets are great for:
- Flavor
- Convenience
- Efficacy
The Clear Winner: Creatine Chews
The evidence is clear: for those serious about maximizing their fitness results and ensuring they receive high-quality, effective supplementation, creatine chews are the superior choice over creatine gummies. Their optimal absorption, stability, dosage accuracy, and focused formulation make them one of the best creatine supplements for athletes aiming for peak performance. As the industry continues to innovate, it is paramount that the quality and efficacy of such supplements remain the top priority. Creatine chews stand out as a testament to what is possible when performance and purity converge in supplement form.
By spotlighting the inherent issues with creatine gummies and the unmatched benefits of creatine chews, this comprehensive analysis provides a clear guide for consumers navigating the vast landscape of dietary supplements.
