When your cells take in creatine, they also pull in sodium, which makes the inside of the cell saltier. To balance that, water rushes in, making the cell swell up a bit.

When creatine gets into muscle cells, it brings sodium with it, which pulls water into the cells and makes them swell up a bit — like a sponge soaking up water.

Your muscles use a special door called SLC6A8 to let creatine in, and this door only works when there’s more sodium outside the cell than inside — like a pump that needs salt to open.

Your muscles need sodium to pull in creatine, kind of like a battery-powered door — if the battery's dead or there's no sodium around, creatine can't get inside, even if you're drinking plenty of water.

When you take creatine with carbs, it helps your body hold onto more creatine because the carbs spike insulin, which helps shuttle creatine into your cells better.

Creatine pulls water into your cells, making them swell a bit, and that swelling is how it helps your body work better.