Creatine

When I first started working out on a regular basis - over 25 years ago - creatine was big news, but not for the same reason it is today. I learned about creatine in the context of, usually men, bodybuilding. In my mind, they had biceps the size of my head and GIANT veins running everywhere. Think ‘roid raging kinds of guys. I stayed away from it because of all of the misconceptions I had, including that it was considered a harmful steroid rather than a helpful supplement.

Last year, when I visited a new OB/GYN for my annual appointment, I wanted information about HRT and the possibility of me graduating to perimenopause. In that appointment, she and I spent a good amount of time talking about all of the supplements that I was currently taking on a daily basis, because in the end, I want to give my body what it needs to be healthy from the inside out that I can’t get solely from my nutrition. At the end of the appointment, I asked her what I should be taking in addition to the handful I already do. Her answer shocked me: Creatine.

When I poked her for more information, the short answer that she gave me was for my brain health. And, since we were running short on time, that was all she was able to offer at the time. When I got home, I entered into research mode to understand how Creatine would fit into my daily routine and the health benefits of it. If my doctor, who is paid to prescribe me western medicine for all of my ailments was telling me to add in a natural supplement, there had to be a reason.

Creatine, at this base, supplies energy to your muscles. It is a natural source of energy and is essential to the organs in our body that have high energy demands, like the muscles and brain. Some sources of creatine can be found in food, but most of us in the western hemisphere need to supplement in order to have the right amount working in our body.

So, what does creatine do? Not only does it benefit my cognitive health as she suggested, but it reduces bone loss and improves bone density, helps muscles recover faster, slows any age-related muscle loss and assists in building lean body mass. Think better short-term memory, cognitive recall, better bones, faster workout recovery and better exercise effectiveness.

With just this small bit of research - sometimes I don’t need to dive too deep when I can easily see that something would be helpful - I started my journey with creatine.

Now, I take it everyday. I don’t necessarily take it at the same time every day, and I don’t take it only on the days that I exercise. I TAKE IT EVERY DAY.

Can I say for 100% certainty that it’s making a difference? Maybe, maybe not. Do I feel healthier when I take it? Yes. Do I feel like I am supporting the functions of my body that I don’t see when I drink it? Yep. Is it easy to remember. Absolutely.

Now, I will say that when I drink this, I normally drink it with my all natural pre-workout (that, sometimes, I drink even when I’m not going to workout…). I don’t find that it changes the taste, but you may taste it if mixed with plain water.

Here’s my last thought, especially when it comes to adding this to your supplement regiment: add it into a habit you already have established. (This is change 101 - I’ll most likely write a post about this soon!) You will have greater success in seeing a habit stick when you tack it on to a habit that has already been established.

You can find the powder that I take here!