NOW Foods Sports Nutrition, Micronized Creatine Powder 500 g, Mass Building*/Energy Production*, 1.1-Pound

So hard to find kosher Creatine. Very high quality product. Tasteless which is great for my shake

I have been using this and have noticed a difference. First off, I gained about 4lbs in the 1st week. This is just water weight as this stuff is osmotically active and really sucks the H2O into your cells. I also notice a little better muscle energy, seem less fatigued, and feel a little better after exercise. I turned into the Hulk one day while in front of the mirror... kidding of course. Important points that may make creatine work differently for me than you. I have some medical issues and basically can't eat solid food so I have been tweaking my liquid diet to try and get as well rounded as possible as I am on month 4 of full liquids. Obviously, I don't (can't) eat meat and that is where we get creatine from. Since I don't get any in my diet, I did notice a difference quickly. If you are chowing down on steak and eggs, eating massive amounts of herring, or some other natural creatine source, you may not notice as big a change as quickly as someone such as myself. I make sure to take this with juice. I like bolthouse farms juices as it is thick and has tons of fruits in it. The thickness hides the slight grittiness of the creatine. If you don't take this with something sugary, you may not get an instant boost like I did either. Creatine needs an insulin boost to be absorbed by you muscles and that is why the directions say to drink with juice :) So overall this Now product seems pretty good (I also use Now "Carbo-Gain" and it is good too) and I would guess comparable to higher priced stuff. A test is when you mix it, then drink it, is there residue left in the bottom of the glass? If yes, it is cheap and has fillers, this does not so hopefully it also fully absorbs in my body too. Good price here and I will be buying in the future as I am planning to use this in my long term meal plans.

One of my daily staples.

I've been using creatine as a part of my stack for a couple months now, so when it came time to buy some more again, I decided to shop around for the best deal, value, etc. I came across this product, though in a bigger container at first (that was the best value for the $), I decided to buy this product in a smaller size, since it was still a good value, to give it a try out. I use other NOW brand supplements and as always, they never disappoint. I am now really sold on their brand, their brand is one I can trust..always good-high quality products for a good, cheap price. I split the daily amount I consume between two different times of day. This product is an essential part of my stack. It is what you would expect of any creatine, its not meant to break down completely in water but this product does a pretty good job trying. It's not clumpy like some others I've had, it does a fair job mixing, I usually mix with other stuff, like sometimes I put in with my protein powder, sometimes with some water/BCAA's, its nice that its unflavored, because I can mix it with whatever I'm needing/wanting to mix it with, without really changing the taste. Its not like some other supplements I take that completely change whatever it is i've mixed into something digusting (like unflavored BCAA's), so thats a plus. I plan on buying this product again, though in a bigger container to save a little more $. If you're looking for a good product to add to your stack, for a good value, this is it. If you're unsure, do what I did and get the smaller container, its still a good price..try it out, you have nothing to lose..all to gain!

Love the results. You do have drink a lot of water. No smell. No taste. I drink mine in orange juice in the AM.

Works well, no flavor, blends easily into my coffee

I had used several brands of creatine before, including the Now brand. All had been effective in general and relative to each other. After several months' break, I purchased this product again. As a previous user, I know about potential side effects and in particular the need to stay hydrated. When I took the first dose, I notice that the powder's consistency was different, like it didn't dissolve as well. Unlike other reviewers, I didn't notice an off flavor, perhaps because I drink it all in one shot with an extra cup of water afterwards. Not long after, I got a headache - much stronger than any previous headache I'd ever had with creatine, and increasing my fluid intake (with a balance of minerals in the water) did nothing. I purposely did not do the five dose per day loading - sticking two doses/day for the first five days - because of the severity of the symptoms. For the next several doses, I increased my fluid intake upfront, only to get more headaches, slightly less in severity but still there. I rarely get headaches at all, creatine or not, so this was quite unusual. As an aside, I also noticed absolutely none of the positive effects that creatine usually gives - from soreness recovery to a slight increase in endurance. If I had to guess, I'd say there was absolutely no active ingredient in this product at all. Remember, I had taken Now creatine before; in fact, the product I used most recently had been the Now brand. After these unusual symptoms and lack of benefit, I determined that this product was made in China whereas my previous container (which I still have) had been manufactured in the USA. I'm not dismissing the possibility of sheer coincidence, but two things are certain: (1) the container from China had a markedly different product that had no positive effects and caused distressing negative side effects, and (2) I will not put anything food or supplement into my body that comes from China if I can help it at all. Shame on Now, once a respectable brand, for manufacturing this product in China and delivering such a poor experience.

What can I say, it's creatine. I noted that, since I've started using this stuff, I have a lot more energy in the gym. I have broken through the plateau that I have been stuck at for months and my bench has gone up - haven't maxed lately since I work out alone and that can be risky, but my working rep sets have gone up by a good 20 lbs. And 45-50 minute sessions are now the norm - I could go longer, even, but I have a family so I can't spend hours upon hours at the gym. Overall, with the gains in strength and endurance, not bad for a suburban dad who works in an office all day and is rapidly approaching 35. It doesn't taste like anything, so that that for what you will. Some people like the artificially sweetened stuff, I have no need. Just give me the powder and a glass of water - I'm drinking it for what it is, not because I'm looking for a taste experience that will blow my mind and transcend understanding. I selected this product admittedly for the price, which seemed to be the best price-per-use by far. If you're looking for a good, solid product that is 100% creatine monohydrate, and has no filler, no colors, no flavoring, just a no-frills, all-business creatine supplement at a reasonable price, this is the product for you. I will probably buy a second tub when the first runs out.