“Natural” Steroids: The Power of Creatine
Today, the biggest school sports event commenced, and even bigger than the already existing Christmas atmosphere in the air is the competition among the different batches for this year's Intramurals. No matter the motivation to win in the competition, may it be to bring up the batch pride, to leave a name for oneself, or even just to impress a certain someone, it is no question that everyone desires to compete at their optimal level with minimal fatigue, feeling stronger than normal. Although it may seem a little unrealistic, a solution to this is closer than ever before.
In the past decades, the popularity of a "natural" steroid has become a pressing issue, but many are skeptical of the actual effect this has on one's body. This substance called creatine holds promise for enhancing athletic performance and maybe even unlocking the potential of one’s physical abilities.
In its basic form, creatine is an amino acid that, when used as a supplement, could help one become stronger. It can be found not only in our bodies but also in the meats and dairy we consume. In general, 95% of the creatine we take and produce in our bodies goes to our muscles for physical activities and the rest goes to our brains. This internal creatine helps in the production of an important molecule called adenosine triposphate (ATP). When a phosphate group is removed from the molecule, it produces energy to power cellular processes. This then enables our cells to function and helps in muscle contraction for physical activities.
Creatine supplements increase the availability of this energy-rich molecule, allowing athletes to push their limits, perform more repetitions, and recover faster after training. It would also lead to an increase in water retention in some individuals because creatine naturally is an osmotically active substance. This could be a positive effect to those wanting to look muscular but it may not be the case for those only looking to get stronger and not bigger. Creatine supplements can be found in drug stores, supermarkets, and gym equipment stores, but it is quite expensive with the cheapest being about P700 for 300 grams.
With Intrams ongoing, taking creatine sounds like a secret formula to dominate the competition, but one thing to note about taking it is that they won't be effective for everyone with already high creatine levels. There are also side effects to this but it is generally noted as safe in comparison to steroids. Some experiments on this supplement show that some people have gotten stomach discomfort when they have exceeded the recommended dosage. However, there are guidelines in place as to how much one should take. Usually taking five grams of creatine supplements every day can take three months to gain the full effect of having increased muscle volume, strength, and definition, so don’t go gulping down 10 tablespoons of this in one go. Experiment with what works best and observe how your body responds to this.
Creatine is not a magically altering substance that works immediately, but it is a useful tool for people to achieve their short-term goals, be it in sports or fitness. If your fitness goal isn’t focused on building muscles or having additional strength, taking this supplement is not recommended. For those who have muscular or nervous system problems, it is highly recommended to consult a doctor before taking this. However, for those daring enough to start taking creatine based solely on this article, just remember that nothing comes for free and we have to work to achieve our dreams.
Sources:
How much creatine affects the muscles and the brain.
How creatine produces ATP in turn produces energy for the muscles
