Essay, Research Paper: Sucess From Creatine

Success From Creatine
Many people in athletics avoid using creatine monohydrate because they do not
know much about it. They are convinced that something that can help athletes achieve
such great results cannot be good for the body. This is not true if the supplement is taken
correctly. Creatine is an excellent supplement. It is one of the only products on the
market that has been proven to significantly enhance athletic performance in the areas of
power, strength, and muscle mass. Creatine makes muscle cells retain water, then flushes
out acid buildup when the muscles are used. This hydration process increases the amount
of work individual cells can do and also aids in the recovery of muscle cells. Many
people believe creatine supplements should be treated the same as steroids and banned
from all sports. They assume creatine is not natural, harmful to the body and unfair in
athletic competition.
Often, it is said that creatine supplements are unnatural. Nothing could be further
from the truth. Most people do not realize the human body produces creatine. It is an
amino acid made in the liver and stored in muscles. It can also be obtained by certain
foods in the diet. Milk, steak, and fish are the best sources of creatine. The daily
recommended minimal dosage of this amino acid is about two grams. If dietary creatine
is increased, it will augment the amount of stored creatine which will help athletic
performance. Without the correct amount of any of the twenty amino acids, the body will
not function to its fullest potential.
Although scientists have known of creatine for over one hundred years, studies on
it have only been going on for the last decade. They have found it to be virtually
harmless with very few drawbacks in their research. The most significant being abuse of
the supplement. One example of this is to consume too much over a long period of time.
Some researchers fear that this could make the body stop producing creatine, then the
body would rely only on the supplement. This is why creatine supplements should be
taken in cycles. Another form of abuse is to ingest too much at one time. It is hard for
the body to breakdown the granular substance, but if plenty of water is consumed this
should not be a problem.
Many people believe that creatine supplements give athletes an unfair advantage
and compare them to steroids. These supplements are most definitely an advantage, but
not unfair. Even though the supplement may have similar results to steroids, it is only an
amino acid and part of a healthy diet. The results one gets from using creatine come from
long hard hours of training, not just taking the supplement.
Many people avoid using creatine for different reasons. If they would research the
facts or try it for themselves, they would come to the conclusion that it is an excellent
supplement. Not only will creatine supplements increase athletic performance, but they
will help muscles recover from strenuous workouts faster. No matter what kind of
training is being done, creatine supplements can help achieve better results.