By: Abbey Susel, Student Nutritionist If you're into fitness, you've probably heard of creatine. But if you've never heard of it, it's a popular supplement for enhancing exercise performance. So what is this compound and does it actually work? Let's investigate... What is it?As mentioned, creatine is a supplement known for improving gym performance and muscle recovery. The compound is similar to amino acids, and can be produced naturally in the human body from the amino acids glycine and arginine. However, most of our creatine stores come from eating red meat and seafood. Once in the body, most creatine is stored in the form of phosphocreatine in the muscles, while a small percentage is stored in the brain. How Does it Work?
Because some creatine is stored in the brain, the compound can have beneficial impacts there as well. This includes short-term memory and general brain functioning. Research is currently being conducted on whether creatine can improve brain-related conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, epilepsy, and motor neuron diseases. But does it REALLY work?Creatine is the most widely researched supplement, and research indicates that yes, it works! Various studies have proven that creatine leads to significant increases in muscle fiber growth and strength compared to weight training alone. In fact, creatine has been voted as the most effective supplement for adding muscle mass. Why Supplements?
The Bottom LineResearch has proven that creatine is safe and effective, with little/no side effects or long-term health consequences. The supplement is fairly cheap and widely available, with the most common form being creatine monohydrate. Try it out and see what the hype is all about! Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-is-creatine#other-benefits https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-873/creatine
1 Comment
Neil
5/11/2023 11:34:56 am
What a great read!!!! There really are no downsides unless you don’t drink enough water but that isn’t too hard! I look forward to starting my creatine journey and sharing my results with you!
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