The Genius Brand, as the name suggests, focuses more on nootropics than other supplement companies, meaning they specialize in substances that may improve cognitive function. They sell about a dozen different supplements, from branched chain amino acids and pre workouts to more traditional nootropics like mood boosters.
Their Genius Creatine offers a lot more than plain old creatine monohydrate. Let’s take a closer look.
Shop Genius Brand Creatine HERE.
Genius Creatine Ingredients
In one scoop there are 5 grams of creatine from three different sources: creatine monohydrate (from Creapure®), creatine hydrochloride, and creatine magnesium chelate (or MagnaPower®).
There’s also a 25mg dose of AstraGin® and 1.6 grams of beta alanine (as SR CarnoSyn®).
The “Other Ingredients” are mostly natural flavorings: organic stevia leaf extract, natural flavors, silica (an anti-caking agent), monk fruit extract, and avocado extract.
Genius Creatine Benefits & Effectiveness
It’s nice to see that the creatine monohydrate is Creapure®, a reputable source that tests the product for purity and banned substances at the German Olympic Training Center in Berlin.
It’s less clear where the creatine hydrochloride is sourced from, but the idea with creatine HCI is that it’s meant to dissolve more easily in fluid and it may digest a little more easily, since it’s meant to require less stomach acid to break down. These differences are probably insignificant for most people.
The MagnaPower® is a little more interesting. Regular creatine bonds with water, but creatine magnesium chelate bonds with magnesium, which theoretically means it absorbs more effectively and could improve power better than the standard kind. Studies are mixed; some do show better power gains, some show no difference at all — but there is some evidence that it’s more effective.
The AstraGin® is a mixture of the astragalus membranaceus herb and the ginseng root and while in larger amounts they’re often used to improve energy levels and immunity, this proprietary compound has some interesting studies supporting it as a means to improve absorption. There are some convincing rodent studies and in vitro studies that have shown this, partly by decreasing inflammation in the digestive tract.
Looking for creatine supplements? See our favorite creatine supplements we reviewed.
Finally, there’s the beta alanine, an ingredient that’s included in many reputable pre-workouts as a means to increase endurance. This particular kind of beta alanine, SR CarnoSyn®, releases more slowly than the standard kind, making it even more suitable for lengthy workouts.
Genius Creatine Price
You can pick up 25 servings for $30, so it’s $1.20 per serving or 24 cents per gram of creatine. That’s pretty expensive, since a lot of plain creatine monohydrate supplements are closer to 4 or 5 cents per gram. The obvious difference here is the quality of the monohydrate, the addition of other kinds of creatine, the extra ingredients for absorption and performance, and the natural flavorings, so the cost may be worth it for you.
Genius Creatine Taste
I was surprised to find that a scoop of Apple flavor tasted like a slightly creamy version of apple. Then I saw that there was avocado extract in the ingredients. So this is an unusual kind of apple flavoring that’s not as tart or citrus-y as you might expect. I enjoyed it, I was just surprised at how much blander it was than most apple-flavored supplements.
The Takeaway
I was very impressed by the quality of the ingredients in Genius Creatine. The Genius Brand clearly did their homework and sourced the most reputable forms of most of the ingredients that they could find — even the stevia is organic.
It’s expensive, yes, but another drawback that I noticed is the beta alanine. It’s great in a pre-workout, but it does make you want to work out and especially as it tends to produce a tingly feeling on the skin, it may not be the kind of creatine supplement you want to take during a workday or at night. I found it less versatile than other creatines in that regard.
If you’re not a fan of beta alanine, then I’d steer clear. But if you’re looking for a creatine that gives you a little energy and doubles in some respects as a pre-workout, then I’d highly recommend giving Genius Creatine a look.
Genius Brand Creatine
Per Serving: $1.20
Pros
- Creatine comes from Creapure®
- Astragin may improve absorption
- No artificial flavors or sweeteners
Cons
- Expensive
- Not an "any time" creatine
- Doesn't mix very well
