What To Know Before Hopping on the Creatine Craze
Creatine may be the most widely researched, safest, most effective dietary supplement on the market, and can make the biggest difference in how you feel throughout your day. Whether you’re hitting the gym, building muscle, or looking to improve your brain power, boosting your creatine intake with creatine supplements increases the reserves of energy your body can draw on, leaving you with more energy, stamina, clarity, focus, and makes it easier for your body to get more done.
If the incredible health benefits of creatine have piqued your interest and you’re thinking about taking creatine monohydrate supplements yourself, here’s what you need to know.
What is Creatine?
Creatine is a naturally-occurring compound that your body stores in your brain and muscles primarily as phosphocreatine, and uses as an energy source to fuel short bursts of power during high intensity activity and exercise.
How Does Creatine Work?
Creatine works by increasing the body’s stores of phosphocreatine, a compound that helps to produce energy when you perform activities that require short bursts of energy like high-intensity exercise. This reservoir of phosphocreatine replenishes your muscle’s stores of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the basic energy currency powering your cells, leaving you with more energy to draw on.
Increasing your creatine levels boosts the amount of energy your muscles and your brain have at their disposal. Your body produces creatine on its own, generating roughly 1 gram of creatine per day in your liver, kidneys, and pancreas. Eating meat, especially fish and red meat, boosts your creatine intake further. Creatine monohydrate supplements are also widely available and have become a popular choice for those seeking to benefit from the extra energy creatine provides or other creatine benefits like increasing muscle mass, improving athletic performance, and even boosting brain function.
What are the Health Benefits of Creatine?
Supplementation with creatine has also been shown to have a number of health benefits, including increased muscle strength and endurance, improved cognitive function, and reduced risk of injury, improved bone health, improved cardiovascular health, and anti-aging effects.
Creatine Benefits for Muscle Strength
One of the most well-known benefits of creatine is its ability to increase muscle strength, lean muscle mass, and endurance. When creatine is taken as a supplement, it is stored in the muscles, where it can be used as a source of energy during high-intensity exercise. This can lead to increased muscle strength and endurance, allowing you to lift heavier weights and perform more reps.
Creatine Brain Benefits
In addition to its effects on muscle strength and endurance, creatine has also been shown to improve cognitive function and enhance memory. Studies have found that creatine supplementation can improve memory, attention, and overall cognitive function. This is thought to be due to the fact that creatine is involved in the production of energy in the brain, and that increasing the levels of creatine in the brain can help to improve brain function.
Creatine has also been found to have a protective effect on the brain. Studies have suggested that creatine supplementation may help to reduce the risk of injury to the brain, particularly in cases of traumatic brain injuries. This is thought to be due to the fact that creatine helps to protect the brain by reducing the amount of damage caused by free radicals, which are molecules that can damage cells in the brain.
Creatine Benefits For Your Bones
Creatine has also been found to have beneficial effects on bone health. Studies have suggested that creatine supplementation may help to improve bone density, which can reduce the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. This is thought to be due to the fact that creatine helps to increase muscle mass, which in turn puts more stress on the bones and helps to stimulate bone growth.
Creatine Benefits for Heart Health
Another benefit of creatine is its ability to improve cardiovascular health. Studies have found that creatine supplementation can help to lower blood pressure and improve heart function. This is thought to be due to the fact that creatine helps to improve the efficiency of the heart, which can reduce the strain on the heart and improve overall cardiovascular health.
Creatine Benefits For Staying Young
Finally, creatine has been found to have anti-aging effects. Studies have suggested that creatine supplementation may help to reduce the effects of aging by slowing down the process of cell damage. This is thought to be due to the fact that creatine helps to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, which can lead to aging.
Talk to Your Doctor Before Taking Creatine Supplements
If you’re looking to improve your overall health and fitness, creatine may be a great supplement to consider. However, it’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.
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