Creatine is a performance enhancer used by many of the top athletes. It is also used by many normal gym-goes, which shows it works very well, but is also very affordable. If you are serious about increasing your muscle mass and have been working out for a few weeks or months, Creatine could be a good option for you. In this article I will look at the legality of Creatine, it’s effects, sides effects and dosage.
Creatine is a naturally occurring compound in our body, which is used to supply energy to our muscles. It is produced in the kidneys, liver, and pancreas, and is then transported to the body’s muscles through the bloodstream (one reason why good having blood flow is important for workouts). Once the creatine reaches the muscles it is converted into phosphocreatine, or creatine phosphate. This is used to ‘top-up’ the muscles’ energy source, ATP.
In the US and UK creatine is a legal supplement which is accepted in all major sporting circles (football, rugby etc.). Most shops will not sell creatine products to under 18 year-olds however, as it thought it may effect the grorth of teenagers (more on this below).
A lot of articles on the web make out creatine has little, if no side effects. This is purely because they are trying to sell the product, or are being sponsored by companies who sell the product. They are obviously going to say creatine has no short or long term effects.
These are some reported Short term effects of 2 – 5 months on constant use of creatine. Only some if any of these may be present in users, as this is a general compiled list:
This is is the worst case scenario, but if you want to take creatine, you must know the possible risks before you take it.
Again, this is a worst case scenario, read below to see how likely this is to occur.
If you take equal to or less than the stated dosage, it is highly unlikely the above effects will occur. Drinking 6 – 8 tall glasses of water is vital in reducing the chances of Kidney failure. This is because when you use creatine, your muscles receive a lot more water, and this water comes from the kidneys. If you don’t maintain high levels of water in your body, your kidneys can crystallize which will lead to kidney stones or kidney failure.
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