The research in unanimous in preaching the benefits of creatine supplements for athletes.
It allows the body to work at a higher intensity, increases muscle performance, increases muscle mass, increases maximal strength, increases power and increases work capacity. All favourable effects for those looking to increase performance. In fact, the International Society of Sports Nutrition goes so far as to say that “…it is the most effective nutritional supplement available today for increasing high-intensity exercise capacity and building lean mass.”
But what of longevity?
What of health?
Aside from the performance benefits, how can the use of creatine supplementation increase your lifespan, and more importantly, your HEALTHspan?
Is creatine an important supplement for someone looking to live healthier for longer?
But first, let’s start with a super simple description of what creatine is.
Creatine is a compound already present in the body – stored in our muscles. Our kidneys and liver produce about half of our creatine requirements. The remainder must be consumed as part of our diet – with the highest sources from red meat, fish and poultry. But the amount of creatine many people consume as part of their diet is insufficient, so creatine supplementation (in the form of a supplement called ‘creatine monohydrate’) is a common practice.
So let’s push the performance benefits of creatine to one side, and take a brief snapshot-summary of how creatine can improve your health.
