Creatine Facts—Six Reasons
Why Creatine is Not Just For
Bodybuilding Diets
 Undoubtedly one of the most talked about sport
nutrition
supplements in recent years is creatine, or
creatine monohydrate.
As with other bodybuilding
supplements, getting your
creatine facts
straight before using creatine is a good idea.
The information available on the Internet about creatine
monohydrate is extensive--much of it provided by
manufacturers.
If you want to read up on this supplement,
download this
free Creatine Report by Will Brink. If you
want a summary, here is a list of six creatine facts that
offer up the basics about this much talked about
supplement.
#1:
Creatine is a nutrient produced in the body by your
liver and kidneys and stored in your muscles
The first of my creatine facts is a
definition. Simply put, creatine monohydrate is a non-vitamin nutrient
manufactured by the body in the liver and kidneys
and stored in muscle tissue. Creatine helps
replenish your cell's reserves of energy (these
reserves are called ATP--Adenosine Triphosphate).
With higher energy reserves, you are able to work
out longer and more intensely. Creatine
supplements help you maintain those high energy
reserves.
#2:
Synthetic creatine supplements are the easiest way to
boost your creatine levels
The second of my creatine facts is that although the body naturally produces creatine, the most
convenient way to boost your creatine levels is
from synthetic creatine supplements. Creatine
supplements come in three varieties:
- Creatine monohydrate—most
common and cost effective form
- Creatine phosphate—more
expensive than creatine monohydrate
- Creatine citrate—lowest
% of creatine per gram but the highest absorption
rate
#3: Some
sports are more suited to the benefits of creatine than others
Number three in my list of creatine facts is
that athletes in the following
sports may benefit the most from creatine
supplements:
- weight lifting
- sprinting
- rowing or swimming
- soccer or ice hockey
These sports are characterized by short bursts
of intense physical activity.
#4: Not
everyone benefits from creatine supplements
The fourth of six creatine facts is that not everyone benefits from creatine
supplements. If you have enough naturally
occurring creatine in your body, you may not
experience great improvements in your muscular
development by taking creatine monohydrate or
other creatine supplement.
Benefits of creatine include:
- More ATP production in muscle cells which
means more energy is available for muscular
contractions
- Reduced lactic acid buildup--reduced
fatigue--in the muscle
- Reduce muscle soreness
#5:
Creatine is not related to Androstenedione (Andro)
Creatine is a nutrient supplement. Andro is a
steroid that aids in testosterone production.
Andro affects hormone levels and can have serious
adverse side effects.
#6: You
need to work out for creatine to be effective
The last of my creatine facts is that because creatine provides your muscles with extra
reserves of short term energy, you must exercise
to use those reserves.
So, get off the couch and get to it!
|
