Why Take Creatine?
Availability and cost? Due to the increasing evidence supporting the benefits of creatine for the body, creatine has become ubiquitous at health stores , being almost as common as vitamin C supplements. If you are looking for the best bang for your buck, creatine should probably be purchased at online health stores, where a month’s supply is less than $10.
What is Creatine? In short, creatine (or creatine monohydrate) is a molecule that is naturally made in the body from 3 amino acids. Creatine works by increases the amount of ATP produced by the body. As you might remember from any physiology class, ATP is the body's main energy source. Although both creatine and ATP are produced naturally in the body, there has been much controversy regarding adding creatine to one's diet to help increase fitness (in combination with exercise) and overall health.
What are
the benefits of creatine?
1. Some studies have shown that supplementing with creatine increases power output of the muscles and allows a person to perform work longer. Theoretically, this would allow a body builder, for example, to experience greater muscle gains from his/her workout than not supplementing with creatine. This aforementioned benefit is by far the most common reason why people supplement with creatine.
2. Creatine has been shown to aid in neurological function by protecting brain cells. With this being the case, creatine may help stave off the ill effects of neurological disorders that involve degradation of the nerve cells.
3. Better sleep has been reported by some people who supplement with creatine. On a personal level. I seem to get a better night's sleep if I supplement with creatine, but only if I take creatine at least 6 hours before bed. Working out and supplementing with creatine right before bedtime is likely not a very good idea, especially for those suffering from insomnia.
4. Some new studies have shown the creatine may help increase firmness of the skin. It is thought that by adding creatine to your favorite skin cream, it will help increase collagen production of the skin. Some skin cream companies are already adding creatine to their formulations.
5. It has been shown that creatine will can help a person recover faster after a hard workout. The faster a person recovers, the more often he/she will be able to workout, which means greater muscular gains in the long-run. It should be noted, however, that taking large amounts of creatine does not mean you will recover faster. It is popularly believed that a person should probably not take more than 6 grams of creatine in a 24-hour period.
Cost: Creatine can typically be purchased at online at stores like iHerb.com or Vitacost.com for even less than retail, especially if you use this iHerb coupon. Supplementing with 6 grams of creatine per day will generally run you about $10/month for a high quality brand such as Jarrow Formulas. Remember, if you decide that you would like to add creatine to your diet, talking with a health care professional before doing so is highly recommended.
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