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The most popular bodybuilding supplements often include protein powders, BCAA, and creatine. Ask any experienced bodybuilder and you'll find that they have used creatine at one point or another. Most times, they're still using it. The reason is simple. Our body is about seventy percent water, and this includes the muscles. Creatine reroutes most of our water to the muscles, making building mass a lot quicker.
As with every supplement or any old medicinal product, there are pros and there are cons. Here are a few related to creatine.
The Good
The good thing about creatine is the fact that it's backed up by science. This is in sharp contrast to other supplements, such as acai berry which has a reputation of a weight-loss scam product despite having a ton of benefits that may or may not have anything to do with weight-loss.
When taken as bodybuilding supplements, science shows no evidence of adverse effects. This, of course, comes with a fine print. For one, creatine intake is a two to three-step process, which you have to follow for the best results. One of these processes involve what's called "cycling off," meaning you have to stop taking creatine for a few days or weeks while you work on those muscles. Another "fine print" involves people with kidney problems, which should not take creatine under any circumstances.
Another good thing about creatine is that it gives a performance boost in the gym. When taking creatine, you will feel a lot stronger and endure a lot longer. By incorporating creatine in your bodybuilding plans, you get to work out more. This allows for quicker results.
The Bad
While creatine is proven effective, there are a lot of ground rules to follow. For one, since creatine redirects all the water to your muscles, you will be in danger of getting dehydrated. When taking creatine, you need to drink lots of water. Another bad thing about creatine is that its users sometimes have psychological attachments to it.
This is often true when the user is in the cycling off period. The sudden ceasing of creatine intake leads to lower energy levels and unenhanced gym performance, dealing a blow to the bodybuilder's morale. It's not a withdrawal phase, really. It's more of a "I miss it" feeling.
Finally, effective as creatine is, there are just some people who take no benefit from them. They refer to themselves as "non-responders." If this happens, there are a few alternatives. However, it's worth noting that these alternatives may not be as good as creatine and may have side effects. So do your research thoroughly before getting one.
To sum it up, creatine is one of the best bodybuilding supplements out there. It allows for the best results to be noticeable in the shortest possible time. As long as you're not unlucky enough to be a non-responder, you'll be fine.
Related Links:
After Losing 83 Pounds, Kristin Griffin Is Training For A Figure Competition (huffingtonpost.com)
Is creatine a safe supplement? (edition.cnn.com)
