Jack
Medina, President
Designs For Fitness
The
American College Of Sports Medicine has stated that though some
of the research being done shows many gains in Strength and Muscle
bulk for those using Creatine, there is NO long term research
that has been done. I have seen many of the short term studies
and I must admit they are impressive. However, it is the long
term results I am worried about.
An article was recently released from the French linking this
popular training supplement to a potential risk of Cancer. Their
report said "potential risks associated with taking Creatine
were currently insufficiently evaluated", and that the product
was of little benefit to athletes hoping to "improve performance".
(Not just add muscle bulk).
Creatine is an Amino Acid produced Naturally by the liver and
kidneys and stored (naturally in muscles). The NCAA is so skeptical
of this substance (and like substances) that it has Banned member
schools from giving it to their athletes. "The Long Term
safety of this supplement is NOT known"; our scientists were
concerned that there is not enough research to make us confident
of the long term effects of usage." (Tom Hansen, Commissioner
of the Pacific 10 Conference which initiated the measure. The
increased muscle bulk resulting from the use of Creatine supplements
is largely due to water retention. This is the same as with Steroids
and Human Growth Hormone which can be extremely dangerous!.
The Side Effects that are possible scare me too: Hyper-hydration
of the muscle - it retains too much water; the Heart is a muscle.
If it retains too much water you can die. Dehydration of the muscle
(some athletes instead of retaining water, lose it). Seventy Eight
percent of a muscle is water. If it loses water you immediately
lose strength. Severe Muscle Cramping; a professional football
player this past season ruptured a quadricep muscle jogging onto
the field for the introductions because of this problem. Liver
and Kidney problems are starting to be noticed and lately problems
with the Spleen.
ATP is the chemical held in the muscle cell which allows the muscle
to contract. The Creatine, which is GOD given, allows the muscle
to recover the ATP . Therefore, the more Creatine in the cell,
the faster the recovery after a bout of exercise, therefore more
work can be done in a shorter amount of time, therefore quicker
strength gains.
How would you feel as a parent if I told your Son, "go ahead
and take the Creatine, the risk involved is minimal". Then
7 years from now he has Cancer of the Liver because I didn't know!
Schools like Michigan State University and UCLA do not allow any
supplements of any kind in their athletic programs. This is the
kind of school I want my Son to attend.
You can contact the American College of Sports Medicine in Indianapolis,
Indiana and request information on their stance regarding Creatine.
I
personally, as a coach and trainer, would NEVER allow an athlete
to take a substance where there is no long term research available.
Your Son already has enough Creatine in his body to do the job
if he is just trained right. I question the integrity of any coach
that would recommend this to an athlete - they simply do not know
what they are possibly doing.
I sincerely hope the information I have given you helps. If you have additional questions let me know.
Jack Medina has an audio tape available called "Run Faster, Jump Higher, Play Longer and Stronger" that talks about energy systems and what they do, how to train an energy system and design and exercise program. If you would like to have it sent to you Email: worldchamp@cox.net requesting the tape.