When it comes to sports performance supplements, creatine is king. The naturally occurring compound boasts all sorts of benefits, from powered-up workouts and muscle gains, to bone health, to cognitive function and focus.
Most creatine devotees take no issue with their standard capsule or unflavored powder supplement, but sometimes, you just need to switch things up—right? And with so many new and innovative ways to get your creatine fix, it’s the perfect time to experiment.
Here are some of the latest and greatest creatine supplements, which deliver everything from fun flavor (yes, there are gummies involved) to better-than-ever formulations.
Zhou Nutrition Creatine Chews
When you think of “eating your creatine,” you might picture a steak or some other hunk of animal protein, but you can nosh your way to upping your stores of this performance-boosting nutrient without any meat at all. Zhou Nutrition’s Creatine Chews are a fun way to get your creatine in while satisfying any cravings for something sweet. These Pink Lemonade-flavored chews pack five grams of creatine monohydrate per three-chew serving. They also provide a solid dose of vitamin B12 to energize your workouts and are made with natural flavors and sweeteners (they contain zero grams of sugar per serving).
Force Factor Creatine Gummies
Force Factor’s Creatine Gummies are another fun and delicious way to get your fill. Every five-gummy helping serves up five grams of creatine monohydrate, plus AstraGin®, a patented combination of ginseng and astragalus that supports absorption. These gummies boast a simple ingredient list (tapioca syrup, cane sugar, water, pectin, citric acid, natural flavors, fruit juice (color), sunflower oil, and carnauba wax) and just so happen to be vegan, for all you plant-based muscleheads out there! The five grams of sugar per serving are well worth it.
Codeage Liposomal Creatine
For those who don’t mind popping capsules, Codeage’s Liposomal Creatine features micronized creatine monohydrate, creatine monohydrate that has undergone further processing to produce smaller particles that dissolve more easily in water. The other potential benefits of this particular type of creatine? It may be less likely to cause bloating and water retention. Codeage also ups the ante by using liposomal delivery, meaning the creatine is packaged up in little pockets of fat (in this case a sunflower oil-based blend) to support its absorption by the body. Each serving offers a potent 2,500 milligrams of more digestible, bioavailable creatine to power your training and recovery. (This one is also available in powdered form, if that’s more your style.)
BodyTech Elite Creatine Beadlets
BodyTech Elite’s Creatine Beadlets are on a mission to make your creatine routine more convenient and effective than ever. This next-generation formula provides 2,100 milligrams of creatine monohydrate packaged up in patented NovaQSpheres® technology. These beadlets offer a controlled release of creatine into your system to enhance absorption and efficacy, essentially keeping your muscles on a steady drip of performance-, recovery-, and muscle-boosting creatine. Because each serving offers such a potent dose of steadily available creatine, BodyTech Elite’s Creatine Beadlets boast that you can reap the rewards without having to bother with a loading phase. Talk about a streamlined experience!
Universal Animal Creatine Performance Chews
Universal is a legend among bodybuilders, and its Animal Creatine Performance Chews are no less impressive than the rest of the brand’s lineup of performance supplements. Available in Fruit Punch, Grape, and Lemon Ice, these chewable tablets contain five grams of creatine monohydrate, plus sea salt to support absorption (and a satisfying pump!) in each four-tablet serving. The tasty and convenient chews also include AstraGin® to ramp up absorption, so you can focus on killing it in the gym and building the strength, size, and endurance you’re after. While they’re formulated with plain-old sugar, each serving only costs you two grams of added sugar, so you can enjoy your routine without sweating over derailing your macros.