This is a complicated question and I think context is important. One of the items to be aware of, is that increased methionine (especially by supplementation) is strongly associated with high levels of homocysteine. Betaine increases methionine by remethylating homocysteine and decreases homocysteine. I have to wonder how much of the adverse effects with increased methionine are actually due to increased homocysteine?

Overall, the only time I routinely recommend this agent is when I have someone with a high homocysteine despite providing adequate folate, B6 and B12; and if still high, then add folinic acid, and if still high, betaine.

It’s always a balancing act of where is the greatest good and least risk of harm, and this requires review of one’s physiology and risk factors.

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@Curious This is a great paper. Thank you.

After reading I wouldn’t conclude that there are any silver bullets for longevity here to bet my life on except for avoiding over eating calories. Perhaps I could conclude that supplementing BCAAs or eating carnivore (very high BCAA / methionine ) without a lifestyle that requires those nutrient volumes (body building?) would also be foolish. Plant based (but not only plants) seems sensible for lots of reasons, and perhaps the lower methionine and bcaas will prove helpful along with the fiber / phytonutrients, low calorie density benefits. But I can’t get close to thinking that living in a starvation like manner would be a good bet for adding years to my lifespan even though it might make a long life seem to last an eternity.

I will say again that I think a sensible approach is to eat the lowest protein possible that supports lifestyle and physical activity goals. Age, activity level, body size, amino acid ratios all come into play in establishing what works. I’m still figuring it out for myself.

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I know you all have been waiting with bated breath…. TADA… we have a winner!!!

@RPS, I mixed it with a little soy yogurt and then smashed in 3 raspberries ,. then I mixed that into a bigger bowl with more berries, and while I can detect something different, it was still good!!!

@Paul I haven’t tried micronized but maybe I try that when I use this up, now that I can.

And thanks for chiming in @DrFraser

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So creative seems like a sure bet. What about TMG or Glycine or both?

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All three are great. Creatine, Glycine, and TMG. However, Creatine will probably have the most pronounced and noticeable effects. Glycine helps sleep, reduces oxidant,s and promotes longevity. TMG helps with methylation and epigenetic clock age.

The taste is truly vile and I’m sitting on a biggish container since it won’t go down with anything. The one avenue that’s always open is to take it in pill form but then we’re talking 10 pills just for 5 g.

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Another thing you can try is adding it to healthy ice cream or yoghurt. Heck, anything with a strong taste should mask it. You can add it as a powder to any dish. What about chili or salsa?

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Mixing it with something spicy is kinda brilliant.

Doesn’t it degrade with heat? Otherwise I would try to sneak it in with savory foods.

Am I missing something? What brand of creatine are you buying? If you are not buying creatine monohydrate, the form bodybuilders use, you are buying the wrong kind.
Unless my taste buds are missing, the brands I buy are virtually tasteless, and I put it in my coffee, and it mixes instantly. Just to ensure I am not crazy, I just went to the kitchen and put a half teaspoon of creatine in my mouth. Again, it is virtually tasteless.
I buy Bulk Supplements or Nutricost. I have also bought other brands of creatine monohydrate, all of which were tasteless.

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I have always put it in my chocolate coffee smoothie. Never noticed anything unusual.

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If only. I got creatine monohydrate from Thorne. It tastes sour, and not a nice lemony sour but total :face_vomiting:. It has ruined all teas I tried to hide it in so far.

Maybe this is one of those “does asparagus taste like soap” questions that 23andme tells me there’s a genetic answer to.

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Waiiiiitttt a minute, have you ONLY been trying it in teas thus far???

Teas don’t hide jack! :slight_smile:

Incase you didn’t read all of this… my first experiment in my protein shake was a fail… then in my soy latte, fail… then i mixed it into chocolate hazelnut spread with some maple syrup (Omggggg!), and then I mixed it in a little yogurt with mashed raspberries before mixing that concoction in with more yogurt and berries (to avoid an unmixed mouthful) and that was just fine… have been having it every day.

There is hope for you… you just need to mix it into something much stronger tasting… Experiment and report back!!!

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As I already commented, something like this or you can join the club with @Bicep and me, those that perhaps just cannot taste It, perhaps like umami. Not all can taste it. It is like color blindness.

umami: One of the five basic tastes, the meaty or savory taste of glutamate proteins or other similar compounds

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Ok lady. I’ve got my marching orders. But not gonna lie, that sounds awfully high maintenance. My experience with teas has been in dissolving trehalose, inulin, glycine etc., but of course it works — those are sweet!

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Ha, well welcome to my high maintenance world :slight_smile:

The experimenting part will be definitely be a PIA and will generate some waste, but once you find the right mix, the high maintenance aspect of it will fade away.

Based on my tastebuds, perhaps try to mix it with Greek yogurt? I make my own soy yogurt, but I realize that is not for everyone! If you like heat, I also love DeStrider’s idea of heat. I’d try downing it in a tablespoon of hot sauce!, but that could kill someone else :slight_smile:

This morning, I ran out of yogurt, so and mixed it in with almond milk and berries and topped it with my nut mixture, and it was still fine. There is a chance I’m now simply more used to the taste, I dunno ? One day I’ll try adding it to a protein shake again, but I hate to have to dump that precious mixture, so I’ll wait a bit.

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I think Greek yogurt is an excellent idea as to me
Creatine tastes sour. That yogurt is sour anyway (though in a way that I love) so hopefully it will mask the flavor. Will try tomorrow!

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Will taking creatine increase the DHT content in the body? Because I have male hormone alopecia (The hairline moves upward, 35 years old), I have been taking finasteride, so I have never dared to take creatine.

I’m here to report that Greek yogurt did the trick! It made it ever slightly less delicious in a way I couldn’t quite pinpoint but totally fine. Now I’m all set going forward. Thank you @Beth! I might try it with Taurine too as that’s also pretty sour.

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Did anyone else hone in on this and I missed it? It stands to reason that creatine supplementation should ideally go hand in hand with glycine supplementation. Although few if any of us are probably taking 21g a day.

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