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Does Creatine Monohydrate Expire
If you are a person who is very serious about working out, and weightlifting, chances are you already aware of Creatine Monohydrate. These are supplements that are used to improve the workout experience of people that are extremely serious about strength and muscle-based exercises. Now, you may have been taking these supplements, and are maybe interested in them, and might be wondering, does creatine monohydrate expire? That is what we will be discussing below.
Now, keep in mind that taking any supplements should be first discussed with a professional first. We recommend that you talk it out with your trainer first or an expert before actually considering this. If you are someone that generally wants to stay fit, and does workout to keep in shape, then chances are, you probably don’t ever need to take these supplements. These are for people that are taking this very seriously, and might even be professional bodybuilders.
Does Creatine Monohydrate Expire? – Yes and no!
So, first off, everything has an expiration date. Whether you are talking about medicines, supplements, canned items, or food items that are in certain packets. Anything that a person has to ingest or inject into themselves, has a deadline, after which it goes bad. However, contrary to what the official written expiration date is, in most cases, things don’t go bad as soon as those are advertised. This is usually in the case of medicines, which sometimes don’t go bad after months, or at times years of the written expiration date. So, you may be wondering, does Creatine Monohydrate expire? Well, yes, as we mentioned, everything does technically have an expiration date. However, it may not go bad as quickly as you’d expect.
First off, the written expiration date on the box usually mentions anywhere from 1 to 3 years. Now, if you are someone that doesn’t take care of what you are storing, or taking later, then it may last only that long. However, based on multiple types of research, it is found that the expiration date is actually at least 1 to 2 years after the written one. This means, that if you keep the Creatine Monohydrate in a cool and dry place, then it can easily last you anywhere from 4 to 5 years.
This is extra helpful if you are given this by someone else, and if you are unsure about the expiration date. This is an expensive supplement, and throwing away, what is practically perfectly usable Creatine Monohydrate can be pretty wasteful in the long run.
What does creatine do? – Explained!
If you are wondering what exactly does creatine do, then it isn’t very complicated to understand. This is a supplement that serious workout enthusiasts and bodybuilders take to improve their workout experience. It improves strength, increases the muscle mass of a person, and helps in the fast recovery of muscles after they have been put through some serious workout.
Now, there have been many studies conducted on the supplement over the years, and it is found that it doesn’t always work with everyone, and unlike harmful drugs that allow athletes to essentially cheat their way through sports, creatine is fairly harmless. This can provide shorts bursts of energy and can be used without much worry if taken in proper amounts, with the guidance and prescription of a professional, who deals with creatine.
How to tell if creatine has gone bad? – The major signs
Now, say that you have some creatine lying around, and you are thinking about using it. Apart from the expiration date, how to tell if creatine has gone bad<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>? Well, there are a few things you can physically notice. First off, if there are any clumps in the material, then fret not, that is normal, and not an indication that the creatine has gone bad. However, if notice that the color of the material has changed, or if it has a strong odor that wasn’t present before, then it is best to stop taking it because there is a high chance it has gone bad.
Changes like this to the material are very rare, and only occur if you had left the material at room temperature, out of the box, or in an area where there is moisture. This doesn’t just affect creatine specifically, but any medicine and even canned goods will go bad if they aren’t stored in a cool and dry place. Moisture is the biggest enemy, and can easily cause the growth of bacteria, which can ultimately lead to the destruction of the material.
If you notice any changes, then please, stop taking the creatine, and for next time, make sure you store your medicines, supplements, and even food items in a cold and dry place. Some medicines even require to be refrigerated, and can easily go bad, no matter where you put them beside an actual refrigerator. Creatine isn’t one of these items, but it is still important to know this and be careful with anything you purchase. Usually, there is an instruction on the box itself as to what temperature, and the environment is best for the medicine, or supplement itself.
Does Creatine Monohydrate Expire Conclusion
So, does creatine monohydrate expire? Well, yes, it does, but not as quickly as you would imagine. For the most part, if you have kept the supplement safe, and in a cool and dry environment, the creatine can easily last you more for at least 1 to 2 years more than the date mentioned on the box.
The usage of creatine should be explained and guided by a professional, and for the most part, most average gym users will never have to use it. If you are into extreme workouts and are a professional bodybuilder, then sure, it is something you can discuss with your trainer and start taking. This will provide you with strength, improve your muscle mass, and even help you in carrying heavier equipment.
The most obvious signs of creatine going bad are when there is a change in the odor, flavor, or color. It is advised not to take it if you see any of these changes, which are normally caused by keeping the creatine at room temperature.
