Researchers: Menthol used to attract young smokers (AP)
AP - Tobacco companies deliberately changed the menthol levels in cigarettes depending upon whom they were marketing them to - lower levels for young smokers who preferred the milder brands and higher levels to "lock in lifelong adult smokers," researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health concluded.Anybody who's been lifting weights for a while or often active in competitive sports get curious about supplements. One of the many supplements we wonder about is creatine. Though, skeptics are weary of the usage of creatine, many studies have proven that creatine is known to increase lifting or playing performance. One annoyance of mine, is when people often misjudge this supplement and think it's a anabolic steroid. Well folks, news flash here, it's no steroid.
Let's get one thing straight here. For any supplement to work at it's maximum potential, a user must have their training regimen and diet in check first. And yes, that goes for creatine also. When many people start to supplement with this, they often get over wishful and think it's the supplement of all supplements. They perceive it as a magic pill to burn away their fatty bellies, or expect to gain 10lbs of pure muscle within a week. Well, that's not going to happen over night. True gains are always made within the kitchen and not at GNC.
I, myself, am an avid supplement user. I remember the first time when I started supplementing with creatine and to be honest; I had a lot of expectations. Reading all the reviews and advertisements within the bodybuilding magazines alike got me all hyped up. Often, you'll see direct quotes saying "Ronnie Coleman uses this blah blah to super pumps." Countless times I've fallen for numerous advertisements. It's no wonder the supplement business is such a multi-billion dollar market. Nowadays, new supplement companies are popping out left and right trying to get a piece of the pie. But who's to blame them? If I had the investment money and time to do so, I would probably jump right in also.
Anyways, back to creatine. So what is creatine exactly and what does it do on a biological standpoint? Well, one thing straight, creatine can be purchase bulk dl-methionine produced within the body of the pancreas, the kidneys, and the liver. If you're a big red meat eater, creatine can also be naturally found within red meat also. After creatine is produced, it is transported via the bloodstream and into the muscles. Once creatine has made the journey to the muscle, creatine is then converted to phosphocreatine AKA creatine phosphate. Creatine is what re-fuels and powers the ATP availability of the muscle. ATP stands for adenosine triphosphate. This is the energy that your muscles use in order to do certain movements.
The use of creatine can be seen being used within almost any high competitive sport. Sports such as football, basketball, hockey, soccer, and even track and field. With the extra energy boost that creatine provides, it's considered to be a very popular supplement these days.
There are also numerous forms of creatine being sold on the market today. One of the most popular forms known to any avid experienced athlete is creatine monohydrate. With this form, it requires a loading stage to get your body used to it. Some argue that this form is difficult for the body to fully absorb and often looked down upon. But whether or not that statement is true, creatine is creatine when it comes down to it. You'll most likely benefit from its use if proper pre-cautions are made such as your current lifting routine and your diet program.
As stated before, in order for any supplement to work at 100% of its maximum, one must have their diet and training regimen in check. You can be on the most effective supplements on this planet Earth, but if you're not eating right or lifting correctly, your money invested within supplements will be a wasted one.
These tips brought to you by http://www.creatines.org, which provides useful bodybuilding resources and popular bodybuilding supplements.
posted by azkchk @ 5:35 PM
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