|
 |
|
|
|
Ask weight lifters and bodybuilders about some of the supplements they take, and creatine will probably be among the top ten preferred. There are several reasons that these super athletes choose a creatine supplement as part of their diet plan, not the least of which is because it is one of the natural supplements that can actually help increase strength.
This is usually administered in the form of creatine monohydrate because a creatine supplement in this form is the most pure and an easy to process form of the organic material. Creatine monohydrate is typically found in the form of a pill, though it can be taken as a powder as well. |
|
The Benefits of Supplementing Creatine Intake.
Creatine, by definition, is a nitrogenous organic acid that is found naturally in vertebrates. It is used to help supply energy to the cells in the muscles, thereby increasing energy levels and strength. The word is derived from the Greek word Kreas, meaning flesh. In layman’s terms, the supplement “pumps” the muscle. It draws water into the fibers of the muscle, making it bigger and infusing it with a higher level of strength for a period of time, allowing the muscle to function at a higher level of energy. These effects of creatine give body builders the opportunity to push more weight and use this “artificial” strength to build up the muscle and gain the strength naturally.
In humans, creatine is mainly synthesized in the liver into three separate amino acids which are stored mostly in skeletal muscles but also in the brain, heart, and testicles (in males). While the human body actually produces some creatine, about half of the amount stored comes from meat and fish – other vertebrates that humans eat. Because it creates amino acids to feed to various muscles of the body, vegetarians who wish to supplement their natural levels can do so with processed amino acids from vegetables and plant life.
In studying the effects of creatine on bodybuilders, it has now become an experimental treatment for muscular, neurological, and neuromuscular diseases, in hopes that some conditions can be cured or reversed in their tracks. Some such disorders include congestive heart failure, arthritis, mitochondrial diseases, muscular dystrophy, muscular atrophy, and more. In such conditions, the muscle functions are impaired or weakened, and the possibility of the effects of creatine increasing the strength and capacity of the muscle to function could by an alternative therapy for such patients.
Doctors have also learned to use levels of the natural supplement to assess kidney function and diagnose failure. Because it is eliminated through the kidneys as creatinine, the levels of the latter in a person’s system will rise due to the failure of the kidneys to dispose of it.
The effects of creatine are mostly beneficial. However, some side effects can include a feeling of lethargy or thirst. This is caused by dehydration, as the organic compound will pull water from other areas of the body to feed the muscles it strengthens. If you are taking creatine as a supplement, you must be sure to drink lots of fluids and stay hydrated to prevent damage to bodily organs.
|
|
