Skip to main content

How much water should you drink with creatine?

Make the most of your creatine supplements

creatine powder
Aleksander Saks / Unsplash

In the world of fitness, creatine is a star supplement. It offers a quick burst of energy to fuel workouts, improve recovery, and help increase strength and performance. Popular among recreational athletes and professionals, creatine is a compound made of three different amino acids: L-arginine, glycine, and L-methionine. While creatine is found naturally in the body, this supplement is taken in exogenous powder form to help boost levels in the body.

If you’re planning on taking creatine, it’s important to understand the relationship between creatine and water. Creatine requires ample amounts of water to work properly. Before you dive into adding this supplement to your fitness routine, it’s first important to consider how much water to drink with creatine for optimal results.

Recommended Videos

How creatine works

sports powder
Unsplash / Unsplash

Understanding how much water to drink while taking a creatine supplement starts with an understanding of how it works. When you take a creatine supplement, your body converts it to an active form known as phosphocreatine. From here, it is circulated throughout the blood and into your body’s muscles.

Creatine attracts water molecules into the muscle, which is why you might retain more water when taking a creatine supplement. This water retention could be anywhere from two to five pounds for beginners. As you taper down your levels of creatine over time, your body will adjust to the water retention. The increase of water drawn into the muscles can make them look larger and fuller in size, but can also leave you with minor bloating throughout the body.

How much water to drink with creatine

Since creatine draws water into the cells, hydration is important while taking this supplement. After taking a creatine supplement, your body will pull water from the bloodstream and into the muscles. If there’s not enough water circulating throughout your body (due to dehydration), creatine will not be able to work as effectively. So, how much water should you be drinking?

The amount of water you should consume depends on your activity level, body weight, and dosage of creatine consumed. However, a general rule of thumb is to consume at least 12 to 16 cups of water daily (equal to about one gallon). If you notice signs of dehydration (excessive thirst, tiredness, dry mouth), you likely need to consume more water. Consuming water with added electrolytes is a great way to make your water taste great and help fuel your performance even more.

While drinking enough water while taking creatine is important, remember that overhydration is equally as dangerous as dehydration. Consuming upwards of 2 gallons of water per day can lead to overhydration, impairing creatine’s effectiveness. Keeping a water log or journal or using a food/water tracking app can help you stay on top of how much water you consume daily.

Emily Caldwell
Emily is a freelance journalist with a focus on food, travel, health, and fitness content. She loves to travel to new…
How to stop muscle cramps fast: Tips for quick relief
Is it true what they say about pickle juice? Let's look at the best methods to diminish those pesky muscle cramps
A man has ankle pain during outdoor exercise. knee Injuries.

Muscle cramps put a damper on any post-workout glow or the runner’s high. Painful muscle tightening and involuntary muscle contractions can happen suddenly, and we find ourselves looking for some relief. Not all cramps emerge after a workout. Recently, I was sitting on my one leg on the couch for a while, and when I got up, I had serious muscle cramps in my ankle and lower leg. In this case, I just waited it out and massaged my ankle and calf until it started to feel better, but other times, cramps can be more painful and linger longer. 

The most common are muscle cramps in the legs and feet. Let's look at the best ways to stop muscle cramps fast so you can get relief as soon as possible. 
What are muscle cramps?

Read more
Will protein give you energy? Tips for fueling for your workouts
Is a protein shake best pre-workout?
man drinking protein shake in gym

Will protein give you energy? Protein is a key nutrient, the source of the amino acids your body uses to build every part of you. As a personal trainer and nutritionist, I am always strongly encouraging my clients to follow high-protein diets to lose weight, build muscle, and balance cholesterol levels. But how much energy does protein actually provide?

In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about protein and energy, including how protein works, when and how it can provide energy, and what you should eat before a workout for max energy and power. Let’s get started!

Read more
Is the 5:2 diet right for you? Pros, cons, and tips
Is this intermittent fasting method actually effective?
Man in kitchen cutting healthy food vegetables

Intermittent fasting is quite popular, as many people claim that it has helped them lose weight, feel more energized, and more. As a trainer and nutritionist, I have also worked with some clients who loved how they felt when intermittent fasting, and it allowed them to have more control over their eating habits.

One version of intermittent fasting is the 5:2 diet. Keep reading to learn more about what it entails, as well as the pros and cons, to see if you should give it a try!

Read more