Creatine is not actually a drug, it is a natural substance that our bodies produce. It’s a combination of three amino acids: glycine, arginine and methionine. We can get creatine from our diets, mostly from animal products like meat or fish. Whatever creatine is stored is usually stored in our muscles.

It helps the body do so-called “explosive” high intensity and repetitive exercise. This means that you can get a better workout when you take creatine, and you’ll feel better after your workout too, since your muscles can cover much more quickly from fatigue. It helps reduce the accumulation of lactic acid after your workout, which will help you avoid muscle soreness after your workout.

Even though you can get creatine from your diet, taking supplements of creatine will give you larger amounts of it; taken within reason, this can help you exercise longer with less fatigue and soreness, and with faster recovery times so that you’ll recuperate for less time between workout sessions. This is especially helpful for bodybuilders or other athletes who wish to build muscle mass quickly by working out longer and harder.

So let’s explore how all this actually works. In essence, there is this composition called adenosine triphosphate, which is also known as ATP. ATP is kept within your muscles until you need it, generally during a workout, at which time it’s instantly released. This is where the term explosive workout comes from.

Creatine works quite well, primarily because right after ingestion it turns into what is known as creatine phosphate. This will replenish the ATP stored in muscles through replacing phosphate that was expended during your workout. During intense activity such as exercise, ATP turns into ADP or adenosine diphosphate.

That is how creatine functions in your favor. What it does is replenish the phosphate molecule that you’ve lost so that your reserves of ATP are full and ready to be used whenever you need them. Creatine will help lengthen your workout times and provide you greater results.

As with anything though, there are some disadvantages to using creatine, one of which is that water will be retained in your muscles. This means that if you want to keep your body hydrated and get water to other organs in your body, you will have to drink more water than usual when you are using a creatine supplement.

Creatine can help you work out longer, harder and more frequently than you can without it, which can help you build muscle faster. It can also greatly reduce muscle soreness after workouts, which not only means you can work out sooner, but you’ll also feel better.

However, it has some drawbacks. You will gain weight because you will be retaining water in your muscles. It’s not really a bad thing, just be prepared for higher numbers on the scale. In addition, if you’re not careful, you can experience dehydration and related side effects like nausea, vomiting or even seizures. Also, if you have kidney problems, you shouldn’t take creatine; it can place greater stress on your kidneys.

Diet is something that needs to be observed as well, and that is true also with creatine. Creatine isn’t a magic substance that will take care of everything, and as such you will need a good diet.

Regardless of how much creatine that you take, it won’t make any difference at all if your diet is just junk food. Make sure that your diet is made up of complex caps, lean proteins, and fruits and vegetables. This will help you to maximize your workout and make sure that you are getting everything that you need.

Muscles need a place to start, and that’s why diet is so important. Make sure that your diet consists of adequate lean proteins like lean meats, fish, complex carbs, and lots of other things.

With these guidelines in place, creatine can certainly help you improve your workouts and therefore your muscle mass as long as it’s used properly.