The Actions and Effects of Creatine

For decades now the human race for one reason or another have always thrived on what and how they do. The sports athletes are probably the best example of this.

There are so many different substances out there and many of which have been disapproved and questioned as for their safety, legitimacy, and decency for the athletes that are using them.

Now that steroids have been banned from all competitive sports and the enactment of random drug tests have been put into place in most sports, not all but most athletes ranging from professional to would be professionals are wanting that power that power they think they need. The most recent power that athletes have discovered and that power is finding itself in the locker rooms of athletes is creatine. Even though it is legal, creatine has its ups and downs. In this paper I will be able to tell you what makes creatine such a hot topic not only in sports but also amongst the health industry.

I want you to understand why people choose to use creatine, but I first had to do the research as to what creatine really is.

["Creatine is naturally synthesized in the human body from amino acids primarily in the kidney and liver and transported in the blood for use by muscles. Approximately 95% of the body's total creatine content is located in skeletal muscle.

Creatine was discovered in the 1800s as an organic constituent of meat. In the 1970s, Soviet scientists reported that oral creatine supplements may improve athletic performance during brief, intense activities such as sprints. Creatine gained popularity in the 1990s as a "natural" way to enhance athletic performance and build lean body mass. It was reported that skeletal muscle total creatine content increases with oral creatine supplementation, although response is variable. Factors that may account for this variation are carbohydrate intake, physical activity, training status, and muscle fiber type. The finding that carbohydrates enhance muscle creatine uptake increased the market for creatine multi-ingredient sports drinks"]

["In fact, meat and fish are the richest natural sources of creatine. Carnivores therefore, receive their creatine directly via dietary channels. Conversely, herbivores (and strict vegetarians), since they abstain from consuming these sources of creatine, are solely reliant on their body's natural ability to synthesis creatine from basic components. Omnivores, on the other hand, have at their disposal both avenues from which to fulfill their daily creatine requirement.

When dietary creatine intake is restricted (or entirely absent) the body can produce creatine from amino acids made available during the digestion of foods. Therefore, in one way or another, creatine is acquired from our diets. The production of new creatine (synthesis) principally takes place in the liver and kidneys, although the pancreas also contributes some to the body's new synthesis of creatine. Creatine is produced in a chemical reaction involving three amino acids, arginine, glycine and methionine. Of these three, the requirement for dietary methionine is most critical, since the body does not readily produce it from starting materials"]

The exact numbers in this current trend regarding the athletes who are using creatine do not exist, but when Brady Anderson, a professional baseball player and creatine user/endorser began supplementation, he was one of very few who knew about the product, but numbers suggest now that approximately 50% of all NFL players use creatine (Bamberger, 1998). Creatine is used by all different types of athletes. It is very common to see it used in high school, college, and professional athletes. They use creatine because of what the supplementation does.

There are some four reliable benefits of creatine supplementation that have been researched are as follows:

["1. Creatine rebuilds ATP. ATP, or more technically adenosine triphosphate, is the chemical in the body that powers your muscles. When you are lifting, ATP helps your muscles contract. With each contraction, the amount to ATP in your system decreases until you are maxed out-at the point where you can no longer lift. The only way to replenish ATP in your muscles is with creatine.

2. Creatine increases your ability to store glycogen. Your muscles use glycogen to fuel the anabolic process. In other words, you need adequate glycogen to help your muscles recover after an intense workout. By doing this, your muscles grow bigger and faster.

3. You can use creatine supplements if you aren't getting enough in your diet. Creatine is mainly found in red meats, like steak, so vegetarians or anyone who doesn't eat a lot of creatine-hearty foods may benefit from