Hold your horses, girlies, there’s a new wellness trend that has entered the group chat. Which one, you ask? Creatine. Once strictly relegated to the world of bodybuilding and gym bros, this supplement is now going viral for all the right reasons. You may have seen it all over TikTok and Instagram: women scooping creatine into their smoothies, juices, and even coffee. This shift is part of a broader change in how women today are approaching fitness, with more focus on strength training, getting stronger, and building muscle for the long run.
So what exactly is creatine, and why does our body need it? “Creatine is a naturally occurring compound stored primarily in our muscles, with smaller amounts in the brain. Its main role is to help regenerate ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), which is the primary energy source used during short, high-intensity efforts such as lifting weights, sprinting, or repeated bursts of activity. This makes it particularly important for strength, power, and overall training capacity. We produce small amounts of creatine in the body from amino acids, and we also obtain it through foods like red meat and fish. However, typical dietary intake is relatively low, and it is difficult to consume enough through food alone to increase muscle creatine stores meaningfully,” explains Ellie Cheale, dietician at UFIT. The benefits include improved strength, power, and endurance, which in turn help aid in recovery, brain health, cognition, and overall energy stores.
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Curious? So are we. To learn more about this miraculous supplement and its actual effects on the body, we spoke to Cheale for everything there is to know about creatine, should you ever decide to embark on your own journey.
Creatine has long been associated with male bodybuilding. Why are we now seeing more women incorporate it?
The narrative has finally shifted. We’re moving away from the old idea that creatine is just for building huge muscles and realising it is a useful tool for performance and long-term health. Creatine is now recognised for its role in strength, high-intensity performance, and supporting training adaptations over time, rather than just muscle size. As more women engage in resistance training for health, bone density, and performance, there is also greater awareness of the importance of maintaining muscle mass across the lifespan. Within this context, creatine is being used as a well-supported nutritional strategy to help improve training capacity, support recovery, and enhance consistency, which are key drivers of long-term progress.
Women naturally have lower creatine levels than men. Why is that?
It mostly comes down to physiology. Women typically have lower total creatine stores, largely due to lower average muscle mass, as this is where the majority of creatine is stored. Dietary intake may also contribute, depending on habitual intake of creatine-rich foods such as red meat and fish. Some studies suggest this may allow for noticeable improvements with supplementation, particularly in high-intensity performance and fatigue resistance, as increasing stores may have a proportionally greater effect from a lower baseline. However, findings are mixed, and responses remain individual, so this should not be assumed across all women.
Many think creatine is only for building muscle. What are some of the lesser-known benefits?
The strongest evidence is for physical performance, but other areas are being explored:
- Improved recovery: Some evidence suggests creatine may help reduce muscle damage and support recovery following intense exercise, which may allow for better training consistency over time.
- Cognitive function: Creatine plays a role in brain energy metabolism. Emerging research indicates it may help reduce mental fatigue, particularly under conditions of stress, sleep deprivation, or high cognitive demand, although findings are not consistent across all groups.
- Cell hydration: Creatine increases water content within muscle cells, which supports muscle function and may contribute to improved training capacity during repeated efforts. There is also growing interest in its potential role in areas such as mood and neurological health, but this research is still in early stages.
Overall, while these additional benefits are promising, the evidence remains less established than for its effects on strength and performance, and findings are not yet consistent across all populations.
There’s a big fear it will cause “bulk” or weight gain. Is it true?
I’m asked this in clinic often. Creatine does not cause fat gain. Some individuals may notice a small increase in body weight initially, typically around 1 to 2 kg, due to water being stored within the muscle rather than under the skin. This is a normal physiological effect and reflects increased muscle creatine stores, not an increase in body fat or “bloating”. Over time, when combined with resistance training, creatine can support increases in strength and lean mass, but it does not lead to significant increases in muscle size without appropriate training and nutrition.
Are there particular life stages when it’s especially beneficial for women?
Research in female-specific life stages is still limited, and much of the existing evidence is either small in scale or extrapolated from mixed-sex studies. Some research suggests creatine may help support muscle strength and function during peri-menopause, which is relevant given the decline in oestrogen and its impact on muscle mass, bone health, and physical performance. There is also early evidence indicating it may help with fatigue across the menstrual cycle, particularly during the luteal phase, although findings are not consistent across all studies. At present, there is very little direct research in postpartum populations, so no clear recommendations can be made. Overall, while the early data is promising, findings remain inconclusive and more robust, long-term studies in women are required to draw conclusions on this.
How much should a beginner take, and are there any side effects to be aware of?
A daily dose of 3 to 5 grams of creatine monohydrate is considered the gold standard approach and is sufficient to gradually saturate muscle stores over time. A loading phase, for example taking around 20 grams per day for five to seven days, is not necessary for most people and can increase the likelihood of gut discomfort. Taking a smaller daily dose is more practical and better tolerated, while achieving the same end result over a slightly longer period. The key is taking it daily, including on rest days, to maintain elevated muscle creatine stores over time.
Creatine is one of the most well-researched and widely studied supplements available, with a strong safety profile in healthy individuals across both short- and long-term use. For most people, side effects are minimal. The most commonly reported issue is mild gut discomfort, which usually occurs when taking higher doses or consuming it on an empty stomach, and can be avoided by sticking to recommended doses and taking it with food.
