Advertisement
Supplementing With Creatine Can Strengthen Your Muscles & Memory*
For decades, creatine has stood as a cornerstone in the realm of sports supplements—with good reason.
Primarily residing within muscle tissues, this compound is utilized most when the body needs some quick energy, which, unsurprisingly, is often during intense exercise. And studies show that creatine supplements can enhance performance1.*
But creatine's benefits don't stop there. Small amounts of the compound are stored in the brain, an organ that requires a high amount of energy to carry out its many functions.
So, whether you're already taking a creatine supplement or deciding if one is right for you, let's dive into the research behind this somewhat unexpected benefit.
How does creatine work in the brain?
Your brain is always running. Even at rest, the brain consumes about 20-25% of the body's total glucose2 (blood sugar) although it only comprises 2% of the body's total weight.
While glucose is the main source of energy for the brain, it gets converted into ATP (adenosine triphosphate)3 before it can actually be used.
Creatine also supports energy generation because it's a precursor for a compound called phosphocreatine—which is needed for generating ATP. So, a higher availability of phosphocreatine supports ATP production.
And (somewhat) similarly to the muscles, the brain can be faced with situations where it needs to tap into creatine's energy potential.
Creatine may enhance your memory*
Researchers have been particularly interested in the role of creatine supplements on memory4.
Researchers of a 2023 review and pooled analysis of randomized controlled trials (specifically on the impact on creatine and memory for healthy adults) concluded that taking the supplement enhanced measures of memory performance5.* And those who were between the ages of 66 and 76 experienced the most benefits.
One potential reason for this is that the body's creatine stores decline with age—so taking steps (like through supplementation) may help counter those changes.*
People following a vegan or vegetarian diet also tend to have lower stores of this compound, as creatine is primarily found in red meat and seafood.
Studies show that vegetarians responded more favorably4 to memory tasks than meat eaters after creatine supplementation.*
How to get more creatine
You can increase the amount of creatine you get by eating animal proteins. The body can also make creatine if it has the right amino acid building blocks—arginine, glycine, and methionine.
So upping your protein intake in general (even from plant sources) can support creatine levels.
Creatine supplements are a convenient way to reach the quantities of the compound research shows to be beneficial for health, which is hard to reach through diet alone.
These powders are a dime a dozen. So, in a supplement landscape littered with iffy ingredients, you want to choose a clean, transparent formula like mindbodygreen's creatine+.
A fan-favorite
Each serving offers 5 grams of creatine—a research-backed dose for daily maintenance.* Some people choose to do a "loading dose" for a shorter period (and we dive into the differences between these two dosing options here).
We also added the amino acid taurine to the mix for additional exercise and cognitive support.* Taurine is one of the most abundant amino acids in humans, and it's especially present in the brain.
It acts as a neurotransmitter6, helps maintain the integrity of the nervous system and neurons, and regulates calcium transport.*
Research suggests higher doses of 10 grams of creatine is helpful for getting the brain health benefits7.*
It's versatile
The takeaway
Creatine is one of the most studied supplements, and you shouldn't sleep on its ability to support memory and cognition.*
This is absolutely a supplement that should be top of mind if you want to level up your physical performance and your mental game.
And pairing it with other cellular energy and strength-supporting ingredients like taurine can give you even more of an edge.*
7 Sources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8228369/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5959031/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553175/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6093191/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9999677/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2994408/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7998865/
Watch Next
Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes
Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes
What Is Meditation?
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins
Box Breathing
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar
What Breathwork Can Address
Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar
The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?
Yoga | Caley Alyssa
Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips
Yoga | Caley Alyssa
How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance
Nutrition | Rich Roll
What to Eat Before a Workout
Nutrition | Rich Roll
How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life
Nutrition | Sahara Rose
Messages About Love & Relationships
Love & Relationships | Esther Perel
Love Languages
Love & Relationships | Esther Perel
What Is Meditation?
Box Breathing
What Breathwork Can Address
The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?
Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips
How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance
What to Eat Before a Workout
How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life
Messages About Love & Relationships
Love Languages
Advertisement
The Sleep Routine That Helps Me Spend Up To 25% Of The Night In REM Sleep
Jill Carnahan, MD ABIHM, ABoIM, IFMCP
The Sleep Routine That Helps Me Spend Up To 25% Of The Night In REM Sleep
Jill Carnahan, MD ABIHM, ABoIM, IFMCP
The Sleep Routine That Helps Me Spend Up To 25% Of The Night In REM Sleep
Jill Carnahan, MD ABIHM, ABoIM, IFMCP
The Sleep Routine That Helps Me Spend Up To 25% Of The Night In REM Sleep
Jill Carnahan, MD ABIHM, ABoIM, IFMCP