Creatine is a very popular supplement that numerous people use to build muscle mass. However, today you can hear a lot of simply shocking rumors about it. Some of them are very improbable! But inexperienced bodybuilders can believe them and refuse a fairly useful supplement as a result. You should read the article to prevent this! The most common rumors about creatine are listed below. You will also be able to read the real information about the substance.
Myth № 1: Creatine = Steroid
Perhaps, this is the most common and the most ridiculous myth at the same time. In fact, creatine has a natural origin. It is found in foods such as:
- beef;
- pork;
- oily fish.
However, these products contain a small amount of creatine. You will have to consume them in unimaginably large amounts to get the necessary portion of this substance.
Myth № 2: Damage to the Kidneys.
This statement is misleading. The fact is that creatine cannot provoke the occurrence of kidney diseases in people who do not experience this kind of problem. This fact was established in the course of clinical studies. So, you should forget about this stereotype!
Myth № 3: The Daily Diet is a Source of Enough Creatine to Build Muscle.
As already noted, the food products contain this substance in small doses. Therefore, you will not be able to get enough creatine from only the food. In addition, the heat treatment of products leads to a decrease in the proportion of this substance. You should definitely take it as a supplement.
Myth № 4: Fattening
Consumption of creatine leads to an increase in body weight but not to fattening! Your weight increases due to the growth of muscle mass but not because of the appearance of excess fat on your body! Another stereotype is dispelled!
Myth № 5: Absolute Benefit for Every Athlete
No, don’t believe this stereotype. The truth is that the substance can only be useful for those who need short bursts of energy. Athletes who are engaged in sports involving long-term loads will not be able to derive any benefit from creatine.
Myth № 6: Increasing the Level of Anabolic Hormones in the Body
The falsity of this statement was proved in a study conducted at the University of Leuven in Belgium. It was found that the substance does not change the response of anabolic hormones to training. These hormones included:
- growth hormone;
- testosterone;
- cortisol
Myth № 7: The Benefits of Using the Substance Increase as Its Dosage Increases
Many people claim that the more creatine you consume, the greater your muscle mass increases. A number of studies have been conducted to verify the veracity of this statement. However, the results showed that there is no relationship between the volume of the substance taken and the increase in muscle mass. So it is safe to say that this is one more stereotype that is not true!
Myth № 8: All Creatines Have the Same Properties
This is a misconception. The fact is, the substance is not only useless in some cases but also contains contaminants, including:
- sodium;
- dicyandiamide;
- dihydrotriazine
Bottom Line
Have you made sure how many stereotypes there are about creatine that are not true? Of course, this is not a complete list of common misconceptions about the substance. Most likely, you have heard many other myths. However, please note that you should not trust every rumor. You should turn to reputable and reliable sources of information in order to verify the truthfulness or falsity of a particular statement! Share the information you read with your friends and family. Everyone needs to know the truth about creatine to be able to get the maximum benefit from its consumption.