[bb-link url="http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/muscletech/creacore.html" text=' View on Bodybuild.com'] Whether your new to the supplement game or an old pro, odds are you have heard about creatine. Along with knowing what creatine...
Whether your new to the supplement game or an old pro, odds are you have heard about creatine. Along with knowing what creatine is and what it does, you've also probably heard rumors that it's bad for your health, can harm your kidneys or that it can do other horrible things to your body. This post will attempt to discuss a few common concerns about the safety of creatine.
Creatine Is Not A Steroid
Plain and simple, steroids are illegal in the US, thus if creatine were a steroid, you could not purchase it legally. Creatine is a legal dietary supplement and has been sold in retail stores for many years. It is presumed as safe for healthy adults. Creatine is known to increase strength, endurance and muscle volume - all of which are accomplished without altering the body's hormones.
Creatine Does Not Destroy Your Kidneys
One common apprehension to those considering creatine is that it will damage your kidneys. While this is a valid concern, for adults with healthy renal function, several studies have shown that consuming creatine has no adverse effects on the kidneys. Most reports of creatine and kidney-related illness are from people with unknown pre-existing renal conditions. However, to be on the safe-side, when supplementing with creatine, the rule of thumb is to drink at least a gallon of water per day.
Creatine Will Not Cause Cramps or Make Your Prone to Injury
The final concern people have about creatine is that it will increase their risk for cramps or injury. There have recently been some huge studies and the results were quite shocking. The participants taking creatine showed no evidence of increased cramping compared to the participants who did not take creatine, but actually it was the exact opposite! Participants taking creatine showed a statistically relevant lower occurance of cramping and injury. Most cramps and injiuries are the result of dehydration as compared to creatine supplementation.
In Conclusion
This post was largely in support of creatine supplementation and showing many of the reasons why it's safe. However, as with all supplements, you need to read labels, drink water and be cautious with anything you put in your body.
According to bodybuilding.com - "there have been over 600 studies conducted on creatine (Satterwhite), with the overwhelming majority showing it to be a safe (Schilling, et al) and effective supplement. Whether you're an athlete or simply a recreational lifter, and providing you're in good health, creatine definitely deserves a place in your supplement regimen."
