5 Benefits of Creatine Supplements

If you've been taken an interest in health supplements for a while, you've probably heard of creatine. It is a common fitness supplement that is sold over the counter at sports and fitness stores around the world. But do you really know all of the great benefits that creatine can offer\? Read on if you're curious about how creatine can benefit you or your customers’ health.

Creatine is not an essential nutrient as it is a natural chemical compound that is produced in the human body (mainly the kidneys and liver) from the amino acids glycine and arginine. It travels through the blood to muscles and the brain where it is stored as creatine phosphate, an important chemical in the creation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP provides a store of energy for our muscles.

The Benefits of Creatine Supplements

1. More Energy and Better Performance: Because of its usefulness in supplying energy to muscles, creatine is used extensively as a supplement by athletes to improve their performance. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine found that creatine supplements can enhance athletic performance by up to 15 percent. When your muscles have more energy you're able to train harder, do more reps and develop stronger muscles. The half-life of creatine in the body is about 3 hours, so as a supplement it is taken about 30 minutes before exercise to achieve the best effect on muscle performance.

2. Improved Brain Function: Creatine isn't just for improving fitness, it's also great for improving brain activity. A study conducted in Australia in 2003 showed that creatine supplements improved neurological capacity in a test group. The sample that was given creatine processed information much quicker than the control group. They also showed signs of better memory retention. So, if you keep misplacing your keys and forgetting your friends' birthdays, then it may be time to pick up some creatine supplements at your nearest health store.

3. Testosterone Booster: This is especially helpful for men who are in their thirties and older. Testosterone levels begin to drop after the age of thirty but creatine may help to replace all of that lost testosterone. A study published in 2006 showed that men who had embarked on a ten week intensive strength training program, with the assistance of creatine supplements, saw their testosterone levels rise significantly higher than men who did not take the supplement.

4. Creatine and Depression: The same properties that make creatine great for fitness make it a great antidepressant. A South Korean study tested 50 women who had been diagnosed with major depression. Each woman received Lexapro, a common antidepressant drug. Some were given both the Lexapro and a regular dose of creatine. The other women received a placebo in place of the creatine. By week 2 of the study, the women who had been on the creatine reported very positive results. Their tests showed that they were no longer experiencing symptoms of clinical depression. Whilst the group that received the placebo did show some improvements, but tests showed that they were still clinically depressed. Why does creatine have a positive effect? Scientists believe that the compound may help to increase the production of ATP in the brain, which helps to mitigate the symptoms of clinical depression.

5. Creatine and Anti-Ageing: One of the most debilitating conditions that affects aging adults is sarcopenia, which is the loss of muscle mass. Lost muscle mass can affect a person's ability to be fully functional. Simple daily activities, like walking or getting up from a chair, can become increasingly difficult when muscle mass is lost. Can creatine turn back the clock? A study published in the European Journal of Physiology showed that women between the ages of 58 and 71 showed significant improvements in their muscles strength after 7 days of taking creatine.

The effects seem to only increase when resistance training is added to the equation. Canadian researchers tested men and women over the age of 65 who were on a strength training program. One group was given creatine and the other a placebo. By the end of the study, the group who had taken the creatine had twice the muscle mass of the group who had been given the placebo.

Creatine is a manufactured in to tablets and also produced in to capsules.

Creatine is a multifaceted nutritional supplement. Its benefits are not just limited to fitness. Your customers can massively benefit from taking it today.