Creatine is not actually a drug, but instead is a natural substance that our bodies produce. Actually, it's a combination of three amino acids: glycine, arginine and methionine. We can also get creatine from our diets, mostly from animal products like meat or fish. Whatever creatine is stored is usually stored in our muscles.
It helps the body do so-called "explosive" high intensity and repetitive exercise. This means that you can get a better workout when you take creatine, and you'll feel better after your workout too, since your muscles can cover much more quickly from fatigue. It helps reduce the accumulation of lactic acid after your workout, which will help you avoid muscle soreness after your workout.
Even though you can get creatine from your diet, taking supplements of creatine will give you larger amounts of it; taken within reason, this can help you exercise longer with less fatigue and soreness, and with faster recovery times so that you'll recuperate for less time between workout sessions. This is especially helpful for bodybuilders or other athletes who wish to build muscle mass quickly or improve performance by working out longer and harder.
How does it do this? A substance called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP for short, simply sits in your muscles waiting for you to need it. When you need it, it is provided quickly and instantaneously, which accounts for the "explosive" benefit it gives muscles, in that you can do very intense workouts almost instantaneously.
Creatine works because once it's ingested, it becomes creatine phosphate. That creatine phosphate replenishes the ATP in the muscles by replacing the phosphate molecule that was used up by the muscles during the intensive phase of your workout. When that intensive physical activity happens, the ATP, adenosine triphosphate, becomes ADP, adenosine diphosphate. Basically, you need one phosphate molecule replenished so that the ADP can become ATP once again. This is what creatine does for you. It replenishes that lost the phosphate molecule so that you have a ready supply of ATP once again. Used correctly, creatine can increase your workout times and give you better muscle mass (assuming you have your nutritional house in order, too).
One caveat to taking creatine is that it makes you retain water in your muscles (thus making them look bulkier); this means that you have to drink a lot more water to compensate for the water you're storing in your muscles instead of other organs. In short, be sure you drink enough when you're taking creatine.
What are creatine's benefits? It can help you work out longer, harder and more frequently than you can without it, which can help you build muscle faster. It can also greatly reduce muscle soreness after workouts, which not only means you can work out sooner, but you'll also feel better.
However, it has some drawbacks, too. You will gain weight because you will be retaining water in your muscles. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but just be prepared for the higher number on the scale. In addition, if you're not careful, you can experience dehydration and related side effects like nausea, vomiting or even seizures. In addition, if you have kidney problems, you shouldn't take creatine; it can place greater stress on your kidneys.
Simply put, no matter the supplements you take, your body's not going to function right and your workouts aren't going to be as effective or as efficient if you don't eat right. You can take all the creatine in the world, for example, but if you sit there and eat junk food instead of concentrating on lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and plenty of fruits and vegetables, you're not going to be helping your workout. Your muscles have to have something to build themselves on (not to mention that your body needs efficient fuel to help it work its most effectively), and junk food is not the answer. So make your diet healthy by including plenty of lean proteins like lean meats and fish, complex carbohydrates, and fruits and vegetables. Limit or eliminate trans fats, simple sugars and carbohydrates, and junk food in general.
That said, though, with these guidelines in place, creatine can certainly help you improve your workouts and therefore your muscle mass as long as it's used properly.
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