Creatine pre-workout supplements are very popular with men and women who want to get in the best shape of their lives. This blend of creatine with other ingredients has been around since the mid 90’s as a way to load more creatine into muscle cells. Early formulas used high doses of dextrose to increase insulin and use its action to force creatine into the muscle. More recently, different delivery systems have been introduced that help push more creatine into the cell. USP Laboratories Jacked, for example, uses a carbohydrate-free formula and instead relies on rapid passage through the stomach to increase creatine. Anadraulic State GT, another popular pre-workout creatine supplement, takes an approach of using amino acids and a small amount of dextrose along with cinnamon extract to force more creatine into muscle cells. Cinnamon is very interesting as it really has an effect that you can feel instantly. People are raving about the combination of cinnamon and creatine, and luckily, Anadraulic State GT masks the cinnamon flavor, giving you all the power. Extra things are often added to the creatine like waxy cornstarch, a form of carbohydrate that is supposed to draw more water into the cell along with the creatine. Jacked omits this ingredient and instead has arginine, feeling a no-carb formula is superior, while Anadraulic State contains some waxy corn to help boost the cinnamon and dextrose. Either method seems to make people have fun in the gym and gives them a really crazy drive and focus, so you can’t make a bad choice.
Creatine is a substance that occurs naturally in the body and is used in muscle cells to retain energy for intense physical activities such as sprinting or weight lifting. Although creatine occurs naturally in the body, it is also possible to take creatine supplements to give the body that extra boost. Many athletes take supplements to improve their stamina and strength and can also increase muscle size. In the elderly, creatine has been shown to help brain function, muscle mass, and might actually have some anti-cancer benefits.
Creatine can be found in some foods like red meat and fish, but this small amount is often destroyed during the cooking process. Creatine is not ideal for all athletes, it actually works best for those looking to improve a short burst of vigorous exercise, such as sprinters or weight lifters. There has been little to no research showing that the creation has any benefits for those athletes who engage in prolonged activities like marathon running, but the anecdotal information is certainly interesting in that regard.
Creatine works by recharging and replenishing ATP stores, which is one of nature’s primary ways of storing and using energy in the body. ATP is used during any type of exercise or physical exertion, but it is especially useful during periods of high energy. Creatine ensures that ATP stores are not depleted as they normally would during exercise so that an athlete can perform at a higher level for longer periods. Mixing creatine with dextrose used to be the best way to increase insulin levels, which pushes creatine into cells. These days, insulin mimetics like cinnamon, hydroxy-isoleucine, and bitter melon do much of that work for you, so there’s no need to take creatine with 75g of dextrose (sugar) or grape juice. as thought.
As with all supplements, it is important to know the pros and cons of the substance. The main purpose and advantage of creatine is that it is used by bodybuilders to build bigger muscles and is used by athletes to improve performance levels. However, there are other advantages to using a creatine supplement besides the obvious ones. One of them is that creatine helps deliver more testosterone to the cells of the body, leading to more muscle mass. Creatine supplements also work by drawing more fluid into the muscles, which can lead to a 3% to 10% increase in muscle mass. It is widely known that creatine supplements can help an athlete work out for longer periods of time, thereby increasing fitness levels. The supplements have also been attributed to decreasing muscle recovery time and making muscles capable of withstanding more intense workouts.
If you are looking to increase muscle mass, creatine is the supplement for you. Increasing the amount of creatine in your body can increase muscle power during aerobic exercise and has also been linked to increased muscle mass. It may be that you find it difficult to gain weight naturally, but with creatine the weight gain will be easier.
Creatine supplementation is a controversial topic, but it is not considered doping and is not prohibited by most sports bodies. Creatine is a substance that is naturally produced in the body, but the ethical implications of whether it is acceptable to enhance performance with supplements remains controversial. Still, the number of athletes who use creatine dwarfs the number of average people who use it to look good.
Creatine has some very interesting “side effects” in people young and old that one might want to consider. Creatine can increase satellite cell production and reduce myostatin, making it a very important part of any successful plan to increase muscle mass. The best form is really good old fashioned creatine monohydrate, but it’s fine to take more exotic forms like creatine magnesium chelate, creatine malate, and creatine orotate. These should work just as well as creatine monohydrate, just make sure you have some creatine monohydrate as it is the only form that has been shown to have satellite cell boosting effects. Some of the other effects are age dependent, but creatine has also been shown to increase the conversion of DHT, which is a hormone that is involved in all sorts of things from hair loss to penis enlargement. In young men, DHT can control penile size, height, and hairline by antagonizing the work of estrogen, which signals the penis to stop growing and growth plates to close. Therefore, it could be an advantage to take creatine in the growing age to help increase the size and height of the penis. In older men, DHT can lead to hair loss, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on how much hair you’re losing while taking a creatine supplement. DHT can also cause aggressive behavior, which can be a problem.
Creatine is certainly safe and effective when used as directed and in 8-12 week cycles. I personally believe creatine should be cycled 8-12 weeks on 4 weeks off for maximum benefits.