Creatine Information

What Is Creatine?

Creatine Information

What is Creatine?

Creatine has stormed onto the scene to become one of the most popular sports supplements of all time.

But creatine is not just for athletes and bodybuilders; studies are showing it to be a potent supplement that may help with several health conditions, and is being touted as an excellent anti-aging nutrient.

So, what is creatine anyhow?

Here is the essential creatine information you should know: it is a compound comprised of several amino acids, namely glycine, arginine, and methionine. Although it's only been in recent years that creatine has been used in supplement form, it was actually first discovered and isolated as a compound in 1835.

Creatine is present naturally in red meat (the source most of us get it from). Our bodies, however, also manufacture creatine in certain organs like the kidney, liver, and pancreas. The nutrient is then transported and storedin our muscles.

What is Creatine: Creatine Information

Creatine Side Effects

It seems that whenever any supplement becomes wildly popular, controversybegins to surround it.

Creatine is no exception.

So, what are the possible creatine side effects?

The most cited alleged dangers of creatine are muscle cramps, dehydration and, kidney damage. But one of the world's foremost and trusted Supplements Expert (who has no financial ties to any supplement manufacturer), Will Brink, author of the best selling (and highly recommended) Musclebuildingnutrition states:

"...several short and long term studies have found creatine supplements have no ill effects on the kidney function of healthy people." After studying the facts and ignoring the hysteria and emotionalism, Will asserts: "The fact is, creatine may be the most extensively researched performance-enhancing supplement of all time, with a somewhat astounding safety record."

Regardless, to avoid any possible creatine side effects, we here at Nutritional-Supplement-Info believe that those people with any form of kidney ailment avoid creatine supplementation.

The editors here at Nutritional-Supplement-Info personally use Creatine ourselves, and have achieved excellent results while noticing no discernible side effects.

Creatine Information

Now that we've covered what is creatine and a few other issues, let's concisely discuss its benefits and functions in the body.

First, creatine is a proven and effective supplement in its ability to increase lean muscle mass, strength, and reduce fat -- which is why it is widely used by athletes.

But, as far as we can tell, it's not just athletes who want to add lean muscle and lose fat. After all, let's face it: everyone, not just athletes, want to look better, be healthier, and have more vitality.

Creatine Information: Benefits you probably didn't know

As alluded to above, creatine has shown itself in recent years to have a broad range of benefits.

For example, it may help Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, fibromyalgia, help reduce cholesterol levels, improve heart function, boost energy, promote clear thinking, and help stave off brain disorders. A pretty incredible nutrient, in short!

How does Creatine work in the body? Well, describing this in detail would get pretty dry and scientific-jargon sounding...so, we'll try to keep it as simple as possible

Creatine helps to generate energy in the body...it does this by helping us create ATP more quickly. Anyone who has covered College Biology should be familiar with ATP. Simply put, ATP molecules are what allow our bodies to do work -- they are what give us energy, and creatine enables us to manufacture ATP more rapidly.

ATP energy is exactly what the body uses up when performing short term, intensively physical exertion, such as weight lifting and sprints.

Creatine Information: Our Recommendation

If you want more creatine information, from what kind you should take, more benefits of this amazing compound, how to take it, etc., you should definitely grab a copy of Will Brink's excellent MuscleBuildingNutrition.

Another Supplement of Note

We would feel remiss if we didn't talk about another exciting supplement for athletes that still hasn't caught on in the Western world yet.

We feel it would be especially pertinent to a creatine information page because people take creatine often for the same reasons.

What kind of athletes take this supplement we are talking about?

Well, Hamish Carter for one. Carter is the number 1 ranked triathlete in the world. He believes this dietary supplement adds to his demanding training by helping with strength and endurance, and faster recovery time.

Just what is this supplement?

It's Deer Antler Velvet.

"Since taking New Zealand deer velvet I have found that my recovery from training, competition and even travel has been greatly enhanced" Hamish states.

It's not just Hamish who believes in Deer Antler Velet Supplements.

"In fact we have seven athletes at the Sydney Olympics who are taking New Zealand deer velvet," says MJ Loza, General Manager Marketing at the New Zealand Game Industry Board.

Men training for muscle also swear by it:

Former Mr. New Zealand Justin Rys had this to say about it:

"Deer velvet gave me the extra edge." "I introduced it as part of my training program to win the International Federation of Body Builders, Mr New Zealand title."

Click here to read our page on deer antler velvet supplements.


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