A mom emailed me upset: “My son tried creatine and got a horrible stomach ache, threw up, felt awful.”
I asked for details.
• 16 YO multi-sport athlete
• Breakfast: a doughnut protein bar
• Lunch: Cheetos half a sandwich
• Then: full scoop of random pre-workout (mystery proprietary blend from a buddy) a Celsius
• Barely any water
• Workout: conditioning 60-minute lift
My reply:
Ma’am, it’s not the creatine. Poor nutrition, severe dehydration, and a massive caffeine/pre-workout bomb on an empty stomach caused it. Creatine monohydrate is one of the most researched, safe, and effective supplements on the planet. Your son barely consumed any protein, carbs and adequate calories. Are you surprised he got sick? Here’s how to fuel… and gave access to fueling plans.
Parents: Stop scapegoating a proven supplement. Your 16-year-old athlete needs real food…3-4 balanced meals per day…not junk, energy drinks, or mystery scoops from the locker room (especially ones with zero third-party testing)- which I post about daily, in all of my resources and presentations.
Creatine isn’t the villain here. Creatine also isn’t a magic fix. If you want to build muscle and perform well you’ll need to prioritize real food, fluids, rest, recovery and consistency!