| Creatine supplements are very popular among | | | | of the water retention in the muscles and not because |
| athletes. Creatine supplies energy to muscle and nerve | | | | of additional muscle mass. Many companies that |
| cells, making this very beneficial to athletes who use | | | | market creatine will boast weight gain, but there are |
| bursts of energy to compete. Creatine is not very | | | | better supplements to take than creatine for gaining |
| beneficial to endurance athletes because they use a | | | | weight. |
| constant flow of energy instead of short bursts. | | | | Ever since creatine supplementation was brought into |
| Athletes who compete in weight lifting, sprinting, rowing, | | | | the spotlight at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, many |
| or any other similar sport benefit most from a creatine | | | | sports organizations called for a ban on the substance. |
| supplement. Before the supplement is explained further, | | | | It has not been banned in the United States, but |
| it's important to know how creatine functions in the | | | | recently the NCAA ruled that colleges could not supply |
| body. | | | | creatine to their athletes, but the athletes are allowed |
| Creatine is an organic acid found in amino acids in the | | | | to use creatine on their own. In some countries, the use |
| body. It is synthesized by the liver, pancreas, and | | | | of creatine has been banned because it is viewed as |
| kidneys and converted into phosphocreatine and | | | | "doping". |
| stored in skeletal muscles for later use. The amino | | | | Creatine use has been studied heavily, and short-term |
| acids that creatine is synthesized from are arginine, | | | | use of creatine is safe for virtually any age, weight, |
| glycine, and methionine. Once the phosphocreatine is | | | | and fitness level. Long-term use has not been studied, |
| stored in skeletal muscles, it remains temporarily until | | | | but due to the kidney, liver, and pancreas use, only |
| used. Once used, more is synthesized, but there can | | | | short-term doses are recommended. Most athletes will |
| be a lag in energy supply while more is being | | | | take a higher dose for a week and then low |
| synthesized. This is why many athletes supplement | | | | "maintenance" doses until their event. This has not |
| their diet with creatine, because it creates more of a | | | | shown any adverse effects to the body. |
| store of energy for use. | | | | Creatine is a simple organic acid with complex ways |
| Creatine increases muscle strength by stimulating cell | | | | of creation. Its benefits are simple - increased muscle |
| growth and will delay fatigue because of the added | | | | strength and delayed fatigue. These two benefits are |
| stores of energy. Creatine ingested can increase | | | | needed by any athlete that uses short burst of energy |
| phosphocreatine levels by up to 20%. Taking creatine | | | | to compete. Creatine supplements will improve and |
| can lead to dehydration due to the amount of water | | | | enhance performance while giving you added benefits |
| needed for the synthesizing process, so staying | | | | that have recently been discovered of improved |
| hydrated is very important. People with kidney | | | | mental performance and reduced mental fatigue so |
| problems should not take creatine supplements. | | | | you can achieve your peak performance both |
| Athletes sometimes take creatine in order to gain | | | | physically and mentally! |
| weight; however, the weight gain is most likely a result | | | | |
