So I was just reading through this huge discussion on Reddit about creatine, you know, that super common workout supplement. The whole thread was basically sparked by this really detailed article someone shared, breaking down all the science and lesser-known benefits. It’s funny, the conversation just sprawled out from there, touching on everything from its golden age in the 90s to people’s very personal worries.
A lot of folks were genuinely surprised it isn’t even *more* popular, given how much research backs it up. Someone who actually studies it for traumatic brain injury was like, “I’m always shocked it’s not mainstream,” and everyone seemed to agree—it’s cheap, effective, and the benefits go way beyond just getting a bit stronger at the gym. There was this nostalgic comment about how it was “insanely popular in the late 90s” because it was the first legal supplement that actually, undeniably worked, which put salespeople in the funny position of having to admit all their previous products were bullshit.
But of course, where people really got stuck was on the potential side effects. The hair loss question came up over and over. Some people were dead serious, saying stuff like, “the only reason I don’t fuck with it is hairloss. From my cold dead scalp.” Others shared personal anecdotes—one guy said he lost more hair in one summer on creatine than his whole life, while another said his receding hairline didn’t speed up at all after he started taking it. The general vibe from the more science-minded folks was that the one scary study about it raising DHT (a hormone linked to baldness) has probably been blown out of proportion, but they admitted the science isn’t totally settled. It led to this whole tangent about baldness acceptance and finasteride, with the classic advice: if you’re going bald, just shave it and get jacked.
Another huge point of discussion was the practical how-tos. The article mentioned that taking creatine with a lot of caffeine *might* blunt its effects, and that caused a minor panic. So many comments were like, “well damn, time to rethink my creatine-protein-coffee shake,” with people feeling like “complete goofballs” for mixing them. The author of the linked article even chimed in to say the science on that interaction is “far from settled,” but a lot of people figured, if it’s an easy change to separate them, why not?
Digestive issues were another big, and kinda hilarious, theme. People openly talked about the “creatine shits,” with descriptions of “asshole literally on fire” and being “stuck in the toilet.” There was a lot of troubleshooting—maybe it’s the type of creatine, maybe take it with food, maybe it’s actually the whey protein you’re mixing it with. It got pretty graphic, but in a way that felt like a shared, slightly painful, bonding experience.
What I found really cool were the discussions about the unexpected benefits. Several people brought up its potential for brain health, especially after concussions or for cognitive performance, with one person noting it’s talked about a lot in the nootropics community. The point about it being even more beneficial for vegetarians and vegans, since they get less from their diet, also got a lot of nods.
Then there were all the little myths and questions people wanted cleared up. “Does it cause dehydration?” (The consensus is no, it might actually help). “Is it bad for your kidneys?” (Probably not if you’re hydrated). “Do I need to do a loading phase?” (Nah, just taking a steady dose gets you to the same place, just a few weeks slower). “How do I know if I’m a non-responder?” (Try it and see if you gain a little water weight). There was even a random question about mixing it with alcohol, which the experts quickly shut down—not because they interact, but because alcohol is generally not great.
Underneath it all, the feeling was that creatine is this weirdly powerful, almost mundane “real-life power-up.” It’s dirt cheap, backed by tons of science, and for most people, the benefits far outweigh the risks. But the discussion showed that even with something so well-researched, personal anxieties—about hair, about digestion, about doing it “right”—are what really drive the conversation. It’s less about if it works, and more about navigating the very human worries that come with trying to optimize yourself.
