8 Reasons Why You Might Want to Try Creatine: It's Not Just About Muscles!
Updated: Sep 21, 2023
When it comes to building muscle, creatine is the go-to supplement for many. But this powerhouse compound offers much more than just muscle gains. Let's explore the top 8 reasons why you might want to try creatine.
#1 Increase Muscle Strength and Power
Creatine is renowned for its ability to enhance muscle strength and power. Whether you're a trained athlete or just starting your fitness journey, supplementing with creatine can lead to significant improvements.
#2 Enhance Brain Health and Function
Creatine isn't only for muscles. It plays a vital role in maintaining brain energy levels, improving cognitive functions like attention, memory, and creativity. Recent studies even point to potential benefits in neurodegenerative diseases.
#3 Boost Cognitive Function in Stressful Conditions
High levels of stress can affect your brain, but creatine might come to the rescue. It may help maintain cognitive function during high-stress situations, making it a useful aid for students to busy professionals.
#4 Protect Against Brain Injuries
Creatine has been investigated as a potential treatment for brain injuries, like concussions. Animal studies and some human trials show promising results, making it an exciting area of research.
#5 Potential Treatment for Neurodegenerative Diseases
From Alzheimer's to Parkinson's disease, creatine is being explored as a potential treatment for various neurodegenerative conditions. Though results are mixed, the existing research provides hope for future applications.
#6 Improve Mood Disorders
Creatine might offer relief for those battling mood disorders like depression or anxiety. While the mechanisms are not fully understood, research hints at creatine's potential to alleviate symptoms.
#7 Help with Muscular Dystrophies
For specific types of muscular dystrophies like Duchenne and Becker's, creatine supplementation has shown potential benefits. More research is needed, but the initial findings are promising.
#8 Support Bone Health & Combat Menopausal-Related Muscle and Bone Loss
Especially for post-menopausal women, creatine combined with resistance training can improve bone mineral density. It also emerges as a promising countermeasure to menopausal-related muscle and bone mass loss by reducing inflammation and promoting bone formation.
My Conclusion on Creatine
Creatine clearly is not just a one-trick pony focused on muscle gains. Its potential to affect brain health, cognitive function, mood disorders, aging, and even neurodegenerative diseases makes it one of the most versatile supplements available!
So if you're still on the fence about whether or not to include creatine in your supplement routine, consider its wide array of benefits. Whether you're an athlete, a student, someone battling a mood disorder, or just curious about improving your overall wellness, creatine just might have something to offer.
If you're uncertain about which brand of creatine to try, I've listed ConsumerLab's Top Picks below. It's crucial to remember that the supplement industry is not strictly regulated. Therefore, relying on third-party evaluations to ensure the product contents match their label claims is essential.
Here are some highly-rated options:
Thorne Creatine (Note: I'm a Thorne Ambassador with a professional account. If you're interested, reach out, and I can help you set up an account for a 35% discount.)
Disclaimer: Always consult with a healthcare provider before beginning any new supplement regimen. The information provided here is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.
The expression of creatine kinase isoenzymes in neocortex of patients with neurodegenerative disorders: Alzheimer's and Pick's disease Effects of Creatine Supplementation Combined with Resistance Training on Regional Measures of Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis
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