Creatine

Creatine gets a bad rap from much of the health community, and a lot of that negative press is unwarranted. There seems to be a school of thought in the fitness world that creatine is comparable to steroids in some way, or that it has the potential to unleash negative effects in the body in ways that haven't been researched yet. These statements are generally unfound and are largely the reason for an anti-creatine mindset that is prevalent throughout many communities.

Creatine is actually a naturally occurring substance in the human body. This fact is lost on many and it is an unfortunate fact that this is so. Creatine is actually found in most red meats, though in trace amounts. The body takes creatine and turns it into "creatinine" once it is in the body. This creatitine is used to fuel muscles and to keep the body healthy and strong. Of course, this amount of creatinine is very small. This is why creatine supplements are bought and used.

Most creatine users take about five milligrams of creatine a day. Any more than ten milligrams is usually not recommended, because creatine can dehydrate the body. This is because creatine uses water in the body to add a bulge to muscles. This is largely the appeal of creatine to many weightlifters and body builders. Using creatine helps them to look bigger and stronger than they actually are. The effects of creatine are not all cosmetic, however. Creatine does in fact help the body to become stronger by allowing it to heal faster after hard workouts. In a typical workout, the body needs about forty-eight hours to heal in order for it to be effective in another workout. Creatine allows the body to rebuild itself more quickly and become stronger with each subsequent workout.

Creatine is in no way like steroids, and it will only make a person stronger if they continue to work out harder and more frequently. In many ways, it is like protein. For this reason, creatine is often used in conjunction with protein in order to create sizeable gains in both strength and size. It should be noted that, though creatine is largely safe and has shown no evidence of detrimental effects on the body in any way, proper creatine use must be observed. Following the instructions on the supplement label is necessary in order to benefit from creatine. Too much creatine can damage the liver and dehydrate the body, but too much of anything is almost always harmful to the body.