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The major challenge for athletes and
physical fitness buffs is to keep the
muscles and brain energized. This is
especially the case for endurance athletes
who also need to recover their muscle power
quickly after an intense workout and
exercise.
Muscle contraction and relaxation are driven
by energy in the cells provided by the
compound adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
Muscles, however, have only a limited supply
of ATP, and their levels are rapidly used up
during exercise, particularly in short,
intense bursts of anaerobic activity. Many
athletes need immediate replenishment of
energy in the muscle during demanding
regimens, such as sprinting and
weightlifting. In these situations, the body
produces ATP, the energy currency in the
cells, which powers muscle movement and
control.
How much and how efficiently ATP is produced
depends upon the amounts of creatine
phosphate stored in the cell. Creatine is
the biomolecule which produces ATP. Creatine
is indigenous to the human body and is
produced by the liver and stored in the
brain, skeletal and heart muscles where it
serves as a ready pool to produce ATP.
Creatine is the key substance that helps
speed up the ATP refueling of the muscle.
More creatine in the muscle yields greater
energy production that allows muscle to work
longer and at higher intensity.
How does creatine help the muscle perform at
higher efficiency and recover faster?
Creatine saturates the muscle to convert it
into ATP. This conversion takes place in the
absence of oxygen and is, therefore, used as
an anaerobic pathway for energy.
Creatine is, however, more than just an
ergogenic nutrient. It has a voluminizing
effect on the muscle. Cell voluminizing, or
cellular hydration, involves binding of
water to the muscle fiber. This binding, in
turn, gives rise to the "pumped" look. Since
water is bound inside the muscle, athletes
using creatine do not have the "puffy"
appearance. In other words, the muscle looks
larger but, more importantly, has improved
strength and has high energy and intensity,
allowing the athlete to recover faster and
have more energy for each training session.
| These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. |
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