Creatine Juice Mix?

Question

I've read a few things about creatine. Loading, unloading. All of that.

Anyways, suggestions are given such as 5 grams per day. But that's with straight up creatine powder.

What if you have the juice mix (added sugar and flavor to the creatine) where it says "Add 2 scoops (60 grams) to water." <-- That's obviously also with the juice mix.

So... How do I know how much I should be drinking. Especially if I want to do the "loading" stage?

Answer 1

Even the pre-mixed varieties should tell you how many grams of creatine you are getting per scoop. Most of the ones which I see give you 5 grams of creatine per scoop. The I use is a 44 gram scoop of which 5 grams is creatine, 33 grams is carbohydrates, etc.

How much you need to take depends upon your body weight. Obviously a 250 lb well trained body builder needs a different amount than a 250 lb coach potato who is overweight and just starting a fitness program. Likewise a skinny little 100 lb guy doesn't need as much.

I recommend reading this article for new ideas on loading
http://www.ast-ss.com/articles/article.asp?AID=243
A brief quote:
The traditional way of using creatine involves a 5 to 7 day loading phase of 20 to 25 grams a day followed by a daily maintenance dose of 2 to 5 grams of creatine per day. However, this basic “scatter-gun” approach might get the job done but probably destroys 70-80% of the potential gains that could be obtained.

Answer 2

Juice, the insulin boost that contains the sugar helps the uptake of creatine besides. the same old argument hostile to taking it with juice (or milk for that count) is that creatine breaks down into creatinine (a ineffective byproduct) contained in the presence of acid. maximum juices (really citrus ones) are mildly acidic (pH ~6.4-6.6 or so). The little component they have a tendency to ignore is that your abdomen, the position ALL ingested foodstuff is going earlier it could be absorbed, is *very* acidic (pH of two). Huh. there is not any way in heck the creatine will destroy down contained in the ten minutes it spends on your juice yet by some skill gained't contained in the acid pit it is your stomch. As accepted, there is extremely of reality to it: do not mixture the creatine in with juice and go away it sitting round for a group of hours. that could want to destroy it down. mixture it, drink it. mission solved.