Creatine is one of the few truly scientifically proven bodybuilding supplements. There have been a large number of studies conducted into the effects of creatine on size, speed, power and muscle growth. All studies have shown that creatine can have a whole array of positive effects on the body.
So what are the benefits of taking creatine? The list I have created below outline all the creatine benefits. If you have any questions about the benefits of creatine, or any general creatine questions, post in the comments at the bottom of the page and I’ll post the answers.
Benefits of creatine:
- Increased power during your workouts. Creatine gives you the extra power you need to bust out those extra few reps. This is the main benefit of creatine. Having increased levels of creatine in your muscles means more available for energy!
- Weight gain. New users will gain weight almost immediately when starting using creatine supplements. While this is known as “water weight”, it does make your muscle look bigger.
- You have less dependence on glycogen for energy. This basically means that you have less build up of lactic acid, leading to less muscle pain allowing you to train harder.
- Faster muscle growth. With more energy available, you can train harder and you’ll see results much faster when supplementing with creatine. Some studies have shown creatine monohydrate to increase lean muscle growth up up to 30%.
- More strength during your workouts. Going back to point number 1, creatine gives you more energy so you’ll feel much stronger during your workouts.
- Creatine is a 100% natural product, it’s not a drug or a steroid. (see creatine myths) It’s found in small quantities in red meat and oily fish. It is not practical to try and increase your creatine intake through diet because the amount of creatine contained in foods is minute. For example, you would need to eat 5lbs of raw red meat per day to get the same amount of creatine that’s in 1 teaspoon of creatine monohydrate!
- Creatine has also been used in treatments for serious diseases like heart disease or neuromuscular disorders. More studies are being conducted into the effects of creatine on a whole host of diseases.
Got any questions? Post the in the comments below and we’ll answer them for you!
