What's the difference between Creatine + Hydration Mix and the standalone Creatine Monohydrate?
Creatine + Hydration Mix is creatine + 1810mg electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium) per serving — calibrated for training-day support when you're also losing electrolytes through sweat. The standalone Creatine Monohydrate Unflavoured is just 3g creatine, no electrolytes. Choose this product if you train hard, sweat heavily, and want creatine and hydration in one product on training days. Choose standalone Creatine Monohydrate if you handle hydration separately with food, water, and salt — particularly relevant for adults on sodium-restricted diets.
Can I take this every day, including rest days?
You can — but the electrolyte content is more than you need on rest days when you're not sweating heavily. The cleaner pattern is: take this product on training days, when the electrolytes are useful; on rest days, take plain Creatine Monohydrate Unflavoured to maintain the 3g daily creatine intake without the unnecessary sodium load. If you want the simplicity of one product daily and the sodium load doesn't concern you, daily use of this product is appropriate — the electrolyte content is within safe daily limits for most adults.
Why is sodium so high in this product?
700mg sodium per serving replaces what athletes lose in a moderately hard training session through sweat. Sweat sodium concentration averages 800–1200mg per litre; an hour of moderate-intensity training produces 500ml–1 litre of sweat for most adults, losing 400–1200mg sodium. The 700mg replacement is calibrated to the middle of this range. For very long or very hot sessions, you may need additional sodium beyond what this product provides.
I have high blood pressure — should I avoid this?
Consult your physician. Adults with diagnosed hypertension need to manage total daily sodium intake carefully. The 700mg sodium in this product is 35% of the daily recommended limit — meaningful if your blood pressure is poorly controlled, less meaningful if it's well-controlled and your physician approves the product. For adults on sodium-restricted diets, choose plain Creatine Monohydrate Unflavoured instead.
Does the magnesium replace my standalone Magnesium Glycinate?
Partially — the 100mg magnesium (26% RDA) is a useful contribution, but not at the same dose or form as standalone Magnesium Glycinate Pure (87.75mg elemental from bisglycinate) or Buffered (143mg). If you take standalone magnesium for sleep, stress, or training recovery, continue that product alongside Creatine + Hydration Mix — they address different needs (this product is for training-day hydration; standalone magnesium for daily mineral status). If you're using this product on training days only, your standalone magnesium continues its daily role unaffected.
What does "micronised creatine" mean?
The creatine monohydrate has been ground to a smaller particle size during manufacturing. Benefits: dissolves better in water (less grit), slightly faster absorption, lower GI sensitivity for users prone to it. Same efficacy as standard creatine monohydrate at the absorbed level.
Do I need to do a "loading phase" with this product?
No. Loading phases (20g creatine/day for 5–7 days) reach muscle saturation in 1 week instead of 3–4 weeks — that's the only difference. The simpler protocol of 3g daily from day 1, taken indefinitely, reaches the same full saturation by week 4 without the loading-phase GI sensitivity some users experience. For most adults, the simpler protocol is the better choice.
Will creatine make me gain weight?
Yes, but it's the right kind of weight. Creatine pulls water into muscle cells — this is part of how it works (cellular hydration supports protein synthesis and ATP regeneration). The 1–2kg "weight gain" most users experience in the first 2–4 weeks is mostly intramuscular water, not fat. This is beneficial, not problematic.
Is this safe for endurance events like marathons or ultras?
Yes — and creatine + electrolytes is genuinely useful for endurance athletes, not just strength athletes. However, the electrolyte content is calibrated for daily training (60–90 minute sessions), not multi-hour endurance events. For ultra-distance events (>2 hours), you'll need additional electrolyte replacement beyond what this product provides — typically dedicated endurance hydration products with higher sodium and carbohydrate content. For marathon-distance training and racing, this product covers most needs alongside food.
Is this safe for WADA-tested athletes?
Yes. Creatine is not on the WADA prohibited substances list, and the electrolytes are standard sports nutrition ingredients. This product is third-party tested for banned-substance contamination on every batch. Athletes competing at elite level should still confirm individual product compliance with their team physician annually — federation rules vary and the WADA list updates yearly.