Side Effects of Creatine

Creatine has certainly garnered a lot of positive press in recent years. Many are claiming that creatine is the most exciting and useful weight training supplement to come along in decades. While much of this may be hype, there is certainly reason to believe that creatine might be the most useful supplement on the shelves of fitness stores like GNC. As opposed to some of the questionable products that are intended to increase size and strength, creatine actually has been proven to work.

Creatine is often mistakenly thought of as some synthetic creation that is harmful to the body. This couldn't be further from the truth. Creatine is actually a naturally-occuring substance in the human body, and it is found in many red meats. Granted, the trace amounts of creatine found in most meats is nothing compared to the amount found in the average dose of creatine monohydrate, but that is precisely the reason for why such a supplement exists. Many tests and studies have been conducted to find any possible side effects of creatine and fortunately, for those who take creatine regularly, there have been no links of any kind between creatine and anything harmful to the human body. This isn't to say that there are no side effects of creatine whatsoever; creatine can in fact dehydrate the body, but simply increasing water intake slightly can remedy the situation. The reason behind creatine's diuretic effect is the fact that the supplement carries water in the body into the muscles, allowing them to inflate and puff up more than what is typical. This allows the creatine user to look more muscular, although it is largely a cosmetic difference.

Perhaps the biggest hoopla about the side effects of creatine has to do with the fact that, when taken improperly, creatine can damage the liver. This is true, but too much of anything can cause some harm to the body. There have been a few cases reported of hospitalization due to excess creatine use and its effect on the liver, but nearly all of these cases were people who abused the substance or had preexisting liver problems. Anybody with liver difficulties should take caution when ingesting any kind of substance. Proper creatine use is not harmful and is in fact beneficial to anybody who wants to increase their strength and size in a natural way. The key, though, is to make sure that you follow the instructions on the label properly. That being said, you can begin to enjoy the benefits that creatine offers in just a few short days.