Creatine Side Effects – Learn More About Creatine And What Using It Means For Your Health

By: Sarah Bais



What Is Creatine?
Our bodies produce a large variety of compounds used in the complex mechanisms of life. One of these compounds is creatine, an amino-acid whose main role is to help the human body to release a large amount of energy when the body becomes tired. There are two ways in which creatine is produced naturally in our bodies. The first one is by producing the creatine from internal amino acids and the second way involves the process of decomposing the foods we eat. There are certain foods that are rich in creatine, such as fish and red meat. The main human organs involved in producing creatine are the liver, the pancreas and the kidneys. Creatine is needed by the muscle tissues and it is transported there through the blood. The muscles do not use creatine as it is, but after it is transformed in phosphocreatine molecules.

Creatine Advantages
For normal people, the creatine produced in their bodies is enough for leading their lives. But there are categories of sports that require more energy from the body in order to get better results. Such sports are weightlifting, wrestling and sprinting and people performing them used creatine supplements to add to the natural production of creatine inside their bodies. FDA approves these supplements and their production is also regulated by the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. There are other uses for creatine supplements, too. They can be used for reducing the muscle wasting for patients that suffered surgery or as a good supplement in heart diseases. Creatine helps these patients to exercise more as it can helps heart functions. Research is still underway to establish if creatine has an important role in helping patients with neuromuscular disorders.

Some Side Effects
It is true that creatine can have a lot of benefic effects, but taken without proper care, can lead to the appearance of some side effects. Some people may experience a gain in weight, as the quantity of water in the muscles increases. Other people may suffer from dehydration, muscle cramps, nausea, diarrhea, gastrointestinal distress or seizures. A certain attention must be paid by people that suffer from renal diseases, because creatine can contribute to the stress put on the kidneys.

There are studies that try to establish what are the side effects if creatine supplements are taken for a long period of time. These are yet unknown, so, if you decide to follow a diet that includes creatine supplements, it is advisable to be aware of the side effects this substance may have on your body. Read carefully the printed label and any instructions that come along with the product, as well as the side effects that are listed there. If the information provided does not satisfy you, then you can go ahead and make a call to the manufacturers asking them more about the side effects. There are also websites on the internet, from where you can learn more about creatine supplements and the effects of prolonged usage on your health.


Sarah Bais is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com