Healthy Shopping: The purest creatine powders

Not all creatine powder is created equal. Joanna Evans shares how to choose the cleanest creatine and a selection of high-quality products to try

Not just for athletes and bodybuilders, creatine is a superstar supplement for almost everyone, especially if you want to protect your brain along with aging muscles and bones. But with countless creatine supplements out there, how do you choose one that’s safe and effective?

Here are some pointers on what to look for in a creatine supplement as well as a few standout brands to try. We’ve focused on creatine powder supplements, as these usually give you a better value for your money than tablets or capsules and are an easy way to get an effective dose (3–5 g) in one go.

What to look for

Creatine monohydrate. While many forms of creatine exist, creatine monohydrate is the most researched type, with numerous studies showing it to be safe, effective and bioavailable (readily absorbed by the body).¹ It’s also a cost-effective option.

Micronized creatine monohydrate. If a highly soluble powder supplement is a priority for you, go for micronized creatine monohydrate, which has been processed into smaller particles to make it easier to mix with water or other liquids. It also appears to be absorbed faster and is easier on the digestive system.²

Creapure®. This ultra-pure (reportedly 99.9 percent pure), micronized, trademarked form of creatine monohydrate is the creatine of choice for several brands. Produced by Alzchem Trostberg GmbH in Germany, Creapure is widely considered the gold standard supplemental creatine.

It’s rigorously tested for impurities and banned substances and is the form of creatine used most often in clinical trials to test creatine’s safety and effectiveness.³ “Creapure” on a label is a good sign of quality, but bear in mind the price may be higher.

Just one ingredient. Check the ingredients list to make sure the formula is free of fillers and unnecessary additives like sugar, sweeteners, or artificial colors and flavors. Ideally, you want a single ingredient on the label: creatine monohydrate. Go for unflavored rather than flavored versions.

Third-party testing. Is the product independently tested for potency and purity? In other words, does the label description match what’s actually inside, and is the product free of harmful contaminants like pesticides and heavy metals? If it’s not clear from the label or the company’s website, get in touch with them to check.

High manufacturing standards. Is the supplement compliant with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), regulations set by health authorities to ensure product quality and safety? Look for certifications from trusted bodies such as NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) International, the world’s authority on good manufacturing practices.

Products to try

Here’s a small selection of creatine powder supplements available in the US and UK. All contain just one ingredient—creatine monohydrate. There’s nothing else added whatsoever.

Momentous

Creatine, $39.95/£29.49 (15.8 oz / 450 g)
US: livemomentous.com; UK: healf.com

Momentous uses Creapure® from Germany, a micronized creatine renowned for its purity, and every batch is NSF Certified for Sport®, meaning it meets strict quality and safety standards.

Sports Research

Micronized Creatine Monohydrate, $17.95/£22.22 (10.58 oz / 300 g)
US: sportsresearch.com; UK: uk.iherb.com

This micronized form of creatine monohydrate is non-GMO verified, gluten-free, third-party tested, cGMP compliant and certified by Informed Sport, which means it’s been tested for banned substances and contaminants.

Vivo Life

Creatine, $29.99/£19.99 (8.89 oz / 252 g)
US: vivolife.com; UK: vivolife.co.uk

Like all Vivo Life products, this micronized creatine is certified vegan and cruelty-free. It’s also third-party tested for purity and safety, certified by Informed Sport and made in the UK.

Vilgain

Creatine Creapure, $26.18/£19.99 (10.58 oz / 300 g)
US: healf.com; UK: vilgain.co.uk

Another brand using Creapure creatine, Vilgain regularly tests all its products to ensure quality, safety and purity. You can view the latest lab test reports for this creatine on the website.

Other good options

US

Klean Athlete: kleanathlete.com

EarthNutri: earthnutri.com

UK

Bulk: bulk.com/uk

Myprotein: myprotein.com

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