I don't know what it is about creatine that has everybody so freaked out. There are so many people that say don't take creatine its bad for you or it changes your mood, etc. Well I'm going to try and set things straight and provide some helpful information for those new to taking supplements.
What exactly is creatine?
Creatine is an organic acid found naturally in the body and aids in energy production, or acts as an energy source. (I will go into detail of energy systems in another post)
As creatine is an organic acid, unlike steroids, creatine does not affect the mind in anyway, so that slashes all the myths about it causing you to get angry or have mood swings.
Why take creatine?
Creatine aids in ATP energy production, Muscle volumeization and Muscle Repair.
ATP is a form of energy that is produced an-aerobically, meaning with out the use of oxygen. ATP is used as the first source of energy during a muscle contraction and lasts for up to 30 seconds before the energy stores are generally depleted and you then move on to other energy sources. This is primarily the source of energy that is used during the lifting of heavy weights, therefor taking creatine increases ATP, which increases the amount you can lift, resulting in bigger gains.
Creatine increases muscle volumeization because it reacts with water and causes your muscle cells to absorb more water. It is known that cells function better and increase growth in a more hydrated environment
Finally Creatine functions in dehydration reactions (the joining of two substances) and therefor the synthesis of many muscle repair compounds.
A few more things:
Its important that you maintain a high level of hydration when taking creatine, as its reaction with water and muscle volumization reduces the amount of water in the bloodstream. This can result in headaches and other symptoms of dehydration. Depending on your body size 8 to 10 glasses a day are recommended. Also maintain hydration before during and after your workout.
In my opinion I would recommend creatine to anyone looking to improve performance in sports or build a stronger physique. I see it as the second most important supplement over weight protein.
Feel free to comment, ill do my best to answer any questions you may have.
