Through my many years of supplement use and research, I have come to the conclusion that Creatine truly is the best muscle building supplement. Having made that observation, however, it should be noted that my personal opinion is of little importance compared to the voluminous research indicating the innumerable Creatine benefits. Indeed, Brad Pilon conducted a review of several of those studies in How Much Protein, and found that Creatine produced a greater amount of muscle development than protein did. Using creating supplements, it is possible to gain strength, develop the ability to exercise at a higher level, and add muscle volume and mass.
The substance known as Creatine is a naturally occurring element of human skeletal musculature. The most common food sources of Creatine include fish and meat. Once it is ingested, Creatine travels to human muscles and raises their energy stores by making ATP more accessible. Elevated levels of ATP offer an additional surge of energy during hard physical exertion, therefore aiding the body in the creation of new muscle.
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Benefits of Creatine
Though it is true that Creatine does indeed aid in muscle fiber growth in that it enables greater and more frequent lifting of weights, its main feature is its ability to add to muscle volume. Water retention is the true reason for increased muscle volume. Muscles inundated with Creatine tend to accumulate and hold onto water, which makes muscles appear to have greater volume. Upon initial introduction of Creatine supplements, you will probably add between 5 and 10 pounds monthly, due solely to the retention of fluids. While such gains do not equate to actual additions of lean muscle, they do not indicate the acquisition of additional fat. Unfortunately, if you cease taking the Creatine supplements for a month or so, the visible volume gains will fade away. But, the gains you have made in muscle strength and fiber will be retained.
Side Effects
A desirable feature of Creatine is that it has been the subject of a great amount of research, yielding no substantial hazards or potentially harmful consequences. With that stated, however, you need to keep a few things in mind. It is possible that you will gain excess weight because of all of the fluid retention you will experience. Certain physically active individuals will find this to be a troubling consequence. Further, certain individuals may suffer from abdominal cramping, discomfort and nausea as a result of Creatine supplements. Certain individuals may also become dehydrated. All of the aforementioned issues can be effectively addressed by ingesting sufficient amounts of liquid while using Creatine supplements.
Kidney issues represent perhaps the most serious potential consequence of Creatine intake. Such a development can occur if too much Creatine is taken for an abnormally lengthy period of time. Lastly, I suggest that you consult with a physician if you regularly take additional drugs, in order to be certain that Creatine does not interfere with their function, particularly in the case of blood pressure medications.
Loading
The majority of Creatine supplements suggest a dosage of 20 grams during the initial 4 or 5 days. Such a dosage represents the concept of loading. The idea is to fully and quickly douse the muscle tissue with Creatine. But, by the end of the first month, you will not see an outcome that drastically differs from what you might observe after taking just the 5 gram daily maintenance dose. The only distinction is that if you engage in loading, you will notice bodily changes more rapidly. It is important to note that the potential gastrointestinal side effects are more likely to develop if you ingest a large amount of Creatine in a compressed period of time without ensuring adequate water intake.
Timing
Certain individuals believe that Creatine should be taken prior to exercise, due to its ability to aid in strength building. But, the majority of research indicates that Creatine works best when ingested following the completion of exercise. Another problem with ingesting your Creatine supplements prior to exercising is the fact that dehydration may result. The human body is most able to facilitate Creatine absorption in the aftermath of exercise. It is not uncommon for people to recommend ingesting Creatine along with a beverage high on the glycemic index, such as fruit juice, though my personal experience indicates that taking it with water is perfectly sufficient. Additional sugar intake is unnecessary, though it also does no harm if it is a regular part of your exercise routine. It is fine to ingest Creatine supplements at any point during a day when you have no plans to workout.
The Best Muscle Building Supplement
Anyone hoping to gain muscle size and strength ought to consider Creatine. The positive effects obtainable through Creatine supplementation are widely known and there are few, if any, potential side effects. My suggestion is to take 100 percent pure micronized Creatine monohydrate, such as can be found in Optimum Nutrition. Take the supplement either with a beverage with a high glycemic index number, or simply with water. No matter if you decide to load or not to load, in time you will experience the full complement of the benefits of Creatine. When properly employed, Creatine represents the best muscle building supplement around, and has the ability to assist you in gaining 5-10 pounds of muscle without adding extra fat.