Creatine is a natural compound in our bodies and is usually associated with muscle-building. It is like a little energy booster for our muscles and helps in recovery, growth, and keeping our muscles top-notch quality. Moreover, creatine has gained popularity in recent times, and it helps lose weight. However, if you are on a weight loss journey, then you must understand that no supplements can reduce your weight magically.
If you want to lose weight, then you have to follow a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular exercise and eating a balanced diet. Moreover, if you can make up your mind to stay consistent in your routine, then it is fine to get some help from supplements like creatine.
Fortunately, the use of creatine is not banned as many other supplements by the International Olympic Committee and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Thus, you can use creatine to lose weight and also to gain some other health benefits.
How Does Creatine Work For Weight Loss? Its Role In Our Bodies
Creatine is a natural compound produced in our bodies, found in foods like seafood and red meat, and stored in our muscles. This organic acid helps make energy for our muscles, and around 95% of it is located in our skeletal muscles. People often use creatine to enhance their exercise performance and build more muscle mass.
According to experts, creatine provides our bodies with a quick energy boost, whether taken from food sources or supplements. According to Autumn Bates, who is a nutrition expert, creatine is a nonessential amino acid, which means that our bodies can create it, and we don’t rely on food alone.
Also, Autumn Bates says that we already get enough creatine, and it is not required to get it through supplements. Moreover, Wendi Irlbeck, a registered dietitian, assures that creatine is not harmful to the liver, kidneys, or bones.
How Does Creatine Help You Lose Weight More Efficiently?
The first thing you should understand is that creatine is not a magical substance that will reduce your weight effortlessly. However, if you want to lose weight, then you benefit from the properties of creatine. The main job of creatine in the body is to boost energy and help athletes get involved in more intense workouts.
Thereby, you use creatine to exercise more accurately and for longer periods. Further, when you improve your exercise performance, you will burn more calories, which will ultimately reduce your weight.
Surprisingly, if you use certain types of supplements that claim to be beneficial in losing weight, then you can lose your muscle mass. Fortunately, creatine can help you retain your muscle mass, and the weight you lose comes from your fat. However, other supplements can lead you to lose muscle mass instead of fats and that is why you should be careful when choosing a specific kind of supplement to lose weight.
Take A Glance At The Side Effects Of Creatine
Creatine is generally safe, which can be understood because the International Olympic Committee and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) have not banned the use of the substance.
Autumn Bates says that creatine can be helpful for athletes who want to get involved in more intense workouts, but for common people who do regular workouts, it may not be necessary. However, it may not benefit everyone, but it is also unlikely to cause any harm to the body.
Also, it is important to be aware of some of the potential side effects associated with creatine. Thus, you should know that muscle cramping, nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness are some potential side effects of creatine. Moreover, when you take creatine, it can make your body hold onto more water, which can make you a bit heavier. However, you should know that it is not fat but just extra water in your cells.
Effective Ways To Intake Creatine For Better Results
Creatine is a safe and useful supplement, but you should consult with a dietitian or doctor to know about the right types and dosages. Moreover, studies suggest that creatine is more helpful when you take it on days when you are exercising. Also, you should take creatine shortly before or after your workout because if you take it before or after a significant amount of time, then it may not be that beneficial.
Additionally, you should take creatine with carbs and proteins to experience better results. Moreover, there are different types of creatine supplements available in the market, but studies suggest that each type of creatine provides the same results. However, your dietitian may recommend the best one that can suit your body’s requirements.
Explore Some Other Benefits Of Creatine To Understand Its Potential
Creatine is beneficial in many ways and can improve your overall health conditions. We have already explained that creatine boosts energy in the body and improves body mass. However, several more benefits of creatine can be the reason for you to include creatine in your diet routine.
Some studies have found that creatine can lower the levels of triglycerides in the body, which can be helpful to prevent heart failure. Also, creation can improve your brain health and improve your ability to think.
Moreover, creatine can also help manage and improve some skin conditions like wrinkling and premature aging. Additionally, some studies suggest that creatine is beneficial to manage some diseases like Parkinson’s disease, Muscular dystrophy, and rare genetic syndromes. However, more evidence is required to support such claims.
Final Words
If you are suffering from being overweight or obese, then you must know how hard it is to lose weight. Some people get so frustrated to lose weight that they start using different types of supplements that ultimately harm their bodies.
However, creatine can be a very helpful substance for you to lose weight. Above, we have explored creatine in detail so that you can have a better understanding of this natural compound.
Moreover, we have explained some side effects associated with the consumption of creatine so that you can have a clear understanding. However, you should consult with a dietitian before starting to consume creatine. This will help you know the right dosages and types that can suit your specific body’s requirements.