2 min read IF YOU RECENTLY started taking creatine again—maybe because you keep hearing about its exercise benefits or have recently heard about its supposed brain benefits —you might have one big question. That tub of creatine that’s been sitting in the back of your cabinet for a bit, is it still good to take? The great news is that researchers have actually studied this very thing—and the answer is relatively straightforward. But to understand how creatine can expire, we have to first dig into how creatine is actually made. How Creatine Is Made YOU BODY ACTUALLY produces creatine naturally—about 1 gram a day—and you’ll find it in animals proteins you eat, too. But we’re talking about creatine monohydrate , the synthetic form of creatine found in supplements. To make creatine monohydrate, supplement manufacturers combine two compounds: sodium sarcosinate , a foaming agent, and cyanamide , a combustable reactive. When these two compounds react under controlled heat and pressure they liquify.…