If you feel bloated when you take creatine, you’re not alone.

Some studies have found that, among the side effects people say they experienced while taking creatine, water retention and bloating can top the list. These experiences commonly pop up during the loading phase—a brief period when you consume a large amount of creatine—when your muscles absorb the supplement with water.

Bloating from creatine is usually not the same as the feeling of gassiness in your gut; it feels more like your body tissues are taking up the water.

If you think creatine is giving you GI discomfort , here are five tips that might help:

Go slow : To start, try taking smaller doses throughout the day instead of a loading dose all at once, which may help your system adjust.

Experiment with timing : You ca

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