In their quest to run farther, jump higher, and simply outperform the competition, many athletes and regular joe’s use performance – enhancing drugs. Creatine, on the other hand, is not a drug at all but naturally occurring. In sports or the gym the longer you can train the better you will be. Creatine is a cheap and very safe method to do so, with over 300 studies to prove it.
Creatine is a nitrogenous organic acid that occurs naturally. This compound is used to help with energy supply to all cells throughout the body. With that being said creatine is vital to that of your muscle contraction and can be easily found in meat and fish.
Creatine is synthesized through the body but primarily in the liver and kidney’s from the amino acids known as arginine, glycine, and methionine. Now since muscles do not produce creatine they must take it in through the bloodstream.
When you take your creatine it enters the body and turns to creatine phosphate. From there creatine phosphate helps provide the body the means to make a beautiful substance called Adenosine Triphosphate or ATP. As confusing as that sounds it is what provides your muscles with the energy to perform the contractions you feel.
ATP is the primary energy source for short but intense bouts of exercise such as weight lifting or sprints. The only problem with ATP is it doesn’t last very long and depletes rapidly. Now this where creatine phosphate comes into play, as it is used to restore the amount of ATP that is available.
Plain and simple English, creatine increases the amount of energy your muscles have available.
Creatine will help increase the amount of work your muscles are capable of performing. This then, in turn, increases the intensity and volume to your workouts.
More reps = More weight = Bigger muscles
And no there are no negative side effects to taking creatine!
Big dawgs gotta eat.