Creatine Use

Creatine is one of the many hot new supplements that are choking up the shelves of your local GNC. Well, perhaps it is a bit misleading to refer to creatine as "new". Creatine has in fact been in vogue for over a decade and, that being said, researchers are still discovering new information about creatine and how it affects the body. In general, creatine has a leg up on the competition as far as nutritional workout supplements are concerned. While many of the supplements that are sold don't work as well as advertised, creatine has proven its usefulness and effectiveness in countless studies. In addition, creatine use has shown little to no side effects in the people who use it regularly and according to instructions. It is entirely possible to make sizeable gains in both strength and size with proper creatine use.

The average daily dose of creatine is about five grams. This is considered the perfect daily amount for someone trying to increase their strength and bulk. While this is seen as the typical creatine use, many people will in fact do what is called "creatine loading". When loading, a person will take up to twenty grams of creatine a day, usually in four hour increments, and continue to do so for about four or five days. After this period of time, they will taper off and do the usual five grams a day until the month is completed, usually repeating the process. The idea of creatine loading compared to daily creatine intake has raised quite a ruckus in the workout community. Some people swear that a loading phase is the only way to achieve peak creatine gains while others consider it a whole lot of hubbub about nothing. Many people think that the idea of creatine loading is a farce invented by the companies that sell supplements so that they can sell more products. In the end, your creatine use will have to depend on your personal preferences. Creatine loading seems to work well for some while others say that daily creatine intake in average amounts is the only way to go. One thing to be sure of is that you are not overdoing your creatine intake. Too much creatine can damage your liver, in addition to other vital organs. If you feel pain in your stomach or back, or if it hurts when you urinate, decrease your creatine intake. Safety should be the number one priority.