Creatine is a supplement that can be used as an alternative to steroids. It has many benefits but offers just as many drawbacks at the same time. Mark McGwire is perhaps one of the best known athletes to have used creatine. McGwire broke what was then Major League Baseball’s homerun record during the 1998 season. Since then, creatine has gained national notoriety as teenagers around the country have flocked to the product as a way to gain an advantage in their workout routines and athletic endeavors.

Advantages of Creatine

ATP is a main energy source for muscles at work. This ATP produces energy by releasing a phosphate and becoming ADP. Creatine helps the body produce greater amounts of ATP which, in turn, gives an athlete more energy and strength during their workouts. The presence of the added ATP cuts down on lactic acid that causes muscles to burn and tire and, as a result, exercises can be done while achieving a low level of pain. For those athletes who are undersized, creatine can help them put on extra pounds. However, some of these extra pounds can be attributed to water that is retained in the body versus actual muscle mass gains. Some studies show that creatine can help those with high cholesterol as well as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease.

Other Uses

Creatine is not only beneficial to athletes as a safer substitute for steroids. Studies show that there are a variety of medical uses for creatine as well. Although these studies are not longitudinal in nature and are still in the experimental stages, creatine research thus far seems to be predicting a bright future. Patients who suffer from neuromuscular diseases can be helped by taking creatine based on these initial studies. The heart may be helped by creatine use as evidenced by the fact that heart muscles use ATP for energy just as muscles used by bodybuilders do. This means that creatine could be used to help those who suffer from chronic heart failure. This could mean an increase in energy levels and strength for patients who suffer from heart disease. Overall, creatine seems to have a very steep upside in the medical and bodybuilding professions.