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Does creatine make you smarter?

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Re: Does creatine make you smarter?

#191

Post by grvdrm »

gtowey wrote: post #179
grvdrm wrote: post #158

I take 5g/day, through better part of last 9-12 months (don't remember when I started). No noticeable cognitive difference/improvement. And the more I've researched creatine the less convinced I am that there are reliable conclusions about cognitive impacts. Significant physical changes! But other than the pure aesthetics, it's hard to say that my strength increases are tied to creatine or instead a solid routine, pl…

It's my understanding that creatine doesn't directly make you stronger, instead it gives your muscles the ability to work a bit longer. This means you can do more strength training per session which is the part which makes you stronger.

[dead]

Re: Does creatine make you smarter?

#192

Post by dpark »

pvaldes wrote: post #154
abirch wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

mandatory XKCD https://xkcd.com/882/ "Jellybeans cause acne"

Just the green ones. If they found a link, they found a link I'm sure that the comic wants to be sarcastic but is missing the mark here. This is how science works. Trying and failing every color except green, does not mean that the green experiment has an invalid result. The author is not understanding that each experiment is independent . The correct cartoon should show researchers trying green jellybeans 100 times,…

> If they found a link, they found a link

You could have skipped the wall of text. They didn’t find a link. They found a random correlation.

The scientists here essentially engaged in P-hacking: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_dredging

Munroe didn’t misunderstand the independence of the experiments at all. He understands that misleading spurious results can arise from repeated experiments.

> And it needs further research. Not less, not more.

No it doesn’t. At least not anymore than the other colors. A positive result is no more deserving of further investigation than a negative result. What you are describing is bad science.

Re: Does creatine make you smarter?

#193

Post by jamal-kumar »

I switched from creatine to eating pickled herring or steak instead. It's WAY more expensive, but considering I don't live in a country with very great control over stuff like adulterants, I'll definitely elect for tasty and safe.

Each 2-ounce rollmop contains about a gram or two of creatine, sometimes more. Steak is about a gram per 8 ounces.

If you can afford it, it's way nicer than choking down that powder in water getting all crunchy in your teeth and stuff.

It's decent pre-workout food although not for everyone as mentioned elsewhere in the comments here (Something like 20% of people don't see any workout endurance benefits)

Re: Does creatine make you smarter?

#194

Post by jadbox »

tyjen wrote: post #171
block_dagger wrote: post #105

I have severe sleep apnea as well as insomnia. I may also be a multi-phasic sleeper. In any case my average sleep per night is ~3.5 hours with only ~1.5 hours of deep sleep. I use light therapy, CPAP, medications, etc but none of it solves my problems. I started taking creatine daily a couple of months ago. I've noticed a significant uptick in my cognitive abilities, despite being constantly sleep deprived. TFA doesn…

Last year, I was severely sleep deprived, but needed to focus. On a whim, I took 25 grams of micronized creatine and it removed the issue with the dampened cognitive abilities. It just worked. It's nothing I would recommend as a long-term solution to sleep problems, but as a possible solution in a pinch, it could work.

Just a word of caution, 25g has a very strong chance of causing intense bloating. I'm part of multiple athletic teams, and the general consensus is that more than 10g is generally "uncomfortable" for its bloat pressure effects.

Re: Does creatine make you smarter?

#195

Post by asdfman123 »

rubyfruit wrote: post #185
olooney wrote: post #11

Good discussion, but this conclusion: > I don’t know. Maybe a little. is not the right way to interpret the null result (insufficient evidence to reject null hypothesis that it has no effect) because the prior for supplements that people are trying to sell you is so low. In the absence of clear, strong evidence, you should assume the the whole thing is just an example of motivated reasoning. People want nootropics to…

People have no idea how successful big pharma’s info campaign has been since what I’m increasingly calling the real Web 3.0 (post-influencer social media and arrival of big corporate narratives). According to Reddit, Epsom salt has no effect (doesn’t absorb) - you’re wasting your time by using it. They’ll cite all sorts of real, funded studies that agree and yet always the comment section is filled with anecdotal evi…

Lots of state actors criticizing the US too. Bots everywhere.

Re: Does creatine make you smarter?

#196

Post by rubyfruit »

John23832 wrote: post #22

Most people taking creatine just need to drink water. They drink more water using creatine. In reality, the water/hydration is doing the heaviest lift, not the creatine.

The people who deny that Epsom salt has any effect say the same thing. They say it’s only the hot water relaxing your muscles not the Epsom salt.

But they fail to account for ice baths with Epsom.

Similarly you fail to account for anyone who takes creatine with any other food or beverage.

So I don’t love such theories.

Re: Does creatine make you smarter?

#197

Post by grvdrm »

icegreentea2 wrote: post #176
0xmattf wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Because the moment you stop taking, wouldn’t you notice a big drop? No. They're not steroids.

Well, for caffeine you might... at least in the short term. But to be more specific: * Protein supplements make it easier for your body to get the protein required for whatever demand you're putting on it. You need higher protein intake to growth than to sustain muscle. If you were on protein supplementation during a growth phase, and then transitioned to a maintain, and stopped supplementing, while making sure your…

I am experimenting with less caffeine - not a total cut. Nothing conclusive to report but my goal is to cut somewhat to understand how much caffeine is driving anxious behaviors.

Re: Does creatine make you smarter?

#199

Post by pawelduda »

SkyPuncher wrote: post #144
pawelduda wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you take monohydrate or HCL?

Monihydrate causes me terrible GI issues and insomnia. I’ve found HCL to me much easier on my body.

It's just so annoyingly sour but it dissolves very well so you can drink it like shot of vodka. And the body absorbs it so much faster

Re: Does creatine make you smarter?

#200

Post by rubyfruit »

nemomarx wrote: post #190
rubyfruit wrote: post #185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People have no idea how successful big pharma’s info campaign has been since what I’m increasingly calling the real Web 3.0 (post-influencer social media and arrival of big corporate narratives). According to Reddit, Epsom salt has no effect (doesn’t absorb) - you’re wasting your time by using it. They’ll cite all sorts of real, funded studies that agree and yet always the comment section is filled with anecdotal evi…

if there's a strong measurable effect to any of these supplements, why can't it be studied? there are companies on both sides, so someone who sells creatine could fund one if they like.

Magnesium? Its widely known that magnesium is used by the body lol

What they “doubt” is that it can be absorbed through the skin.

But anyone who takes magnesium tablets can tell you the effect is the same.

And it is studied btw - problem is there are countless on both sides.

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