When it comes to the various chemicals of the human body, some are more famous than others. Creatine has been drawing more attention in recent years, especially as it becomes one of the most prominent supplements to help you boost your performance. In fact, it’s currently the most popular of the performance-enhancing substances.
Creatine is naturally found in muscles as well as the brain, and it can travel through the blood. The body can create creatine itself from amino acids and obtain some from protein-rich food. This means it can’t be classified as an “essential” nutrient, but it’s still pretty important. When you’re in a particularly hard or heavy workout, it’s creatine that ensures your muscles have enough energy by helping produce another compound called ATP.
That means that creatine supplements can be particularly useful during exercise. It’s used to build muscle mass, increase strength, improve recovery times and generally enhance performance. It can even give your brain a boost, with research taking place into how it may benefit people with neurological conditions such as Huntingdon’s, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
It’s pretty easy to get your hands on creatine supplements, which you can buy over the counter without a prescription. You can choose from a variety of formats, including powders and tablets. It’s often available in special drinks. The most common type of creatine in supplements is creatine monohydrate.
Now, I’ve warned you before about the potential dangers of supplements, especially when you buy them from random strangers on the internet. One of the big worries is that some supplements are sold without any real evidence to back their use. That’s not the case with creatine, however. You still need to buy it from a reputable seller, but the research supporting creatine supplements is extensive and goes back decades. Not only is it mostly pretty effective, but it’s also pretty safe to take.
That’s true when you follow dosage instructions. Most people embarking on a plan for regular creatine supplementation will start with a so-called “loading phase” where they take a larger dose to build up levels. After about a week, you can reduce the dosage to enter what’s considered a “maintenance phase”. Make sure you stay hydrated when taking creatine.
One of the most popular supplements out there and generally considered both safe and effective, creatine may be a useful way to boost your daily performance.
