What is Creatine?
Creatine, or creatine monohydrate is an amino
acid compound which is made by the body and is
used to supply energy to muscle
and nerve cells. It is a supplement
which is believed to help athletes boost their
performance. The simple answer to what is creatine
is that it is a compound involved in energy production
in the body. It is mostly stored in muscles.
You can obtain needed creatine from food sources
such as red meat and fish (high protein foods).
The problem here is that a large portion of the
amino acid is destroyed in the cooking process.
The good news is that our bodies create this naturally
from other forms of amino acids. Our bodies will
use what it needs then the remainder is discarded
through our urine. You can also obtain additional
creatine in the form of supplements, either in
capsule or powder form, easily found at health
food stores or online.
So why do people take creatine? Most of those
that are taking this as a supplement are athletes
in some way, shape or form. It is believed to
enhance athletic performance during high-intensity,
short duration activities that include, but are
not limited to weightlifting and sprinting. This
supplement may also play a role in decreasing
muscle fatigue as it is known to minimize lactic
acid production in the body. Research has not
shown any significant benefit from creatine in
aerobic or endurance type sports.
Creatine monohydrate has become widely popular
with athletes and bodybuilders. Some believe it
to have similar effects as anabolic steroids without
the dangerous side effects. It should be noted
that the scientific research on creatine is inconclusive
regarding its effectiveness. There is no guarantee
regarding how it will affect any one individual's
athletic performance.
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