Supplement Judge Unbiased Supplement Reviews – Do they really work??
Creatine Causes Kidney Damage / Creatine Is A Steroid
I’m sure we’ve all heard the horror stories about a friend of a friend of a friend who took creatine and got huge but then died from liver failure (not really).
Creatine is one of the most well known bodybuilding supplements on the market which has stood the test of time and criticism. First of all, creatine is not a steroid. Anabolic steroids are derived from testosterone (and illegal). Creatine on the other hand is a safe dietary supplement available for purchase from most supplement retailers. In fact, trace amounts of creatine are already naturally found in some meat products such as beef. Creatine helps to increase ATP to provide you with more energy during workouts which require short bursts of energy. That’s why it’s found in almost every pre-workout and post-workout supplements. These type of supplements are also safe for use for women (but avoid use during pregnancy).
As far as liver damage goes, many studies have shown that creatine is perfectly safe for healthy adults with healthy kidney function. This article explains more in depth with scientific sources. If you do have issues with kidney function, you should (obviously) not use creatine or consult your health care practitioner for further information.
You Lose Your Gains After Taking Supplements.
This one is just absurd. Supplements should be used exactly what they are supposed to be for: supplementing your regular diet. You can’t expect to eat nothing but supplements without at least a decent diet to get any progress.
If you were already taking too many supplements, it’s not like your body will just deflate down to your starting state. As long as you continue to eat the same macronutrients you were receiving with your supplements like whey protein, you’ll continue to get results.
Supplements just make it that much easier to add that extra push to your diet in order to get your body the nutrients it needs to preform at optimal levels.
Too Much Protein Is Bad For You.
This myth, along with “eating more than x amount of protein is bad for you”, or “more than x amount of protein is useless for bodybuilding” have been repeated over and over from just hearsay.
If you are looking to gain muscle, you’ll no doubt need an excess of calories in order to bulk (with or without supplements). Now, would you rather have an excess of calories from carbohydrates and fats(which have little to no benefits in gaining muscle), or an excess of protein which are the building blocks for muscle? (I hope you chose protein). Whether it be from whey protein, steak, chicken, beef etc., you’ll need the extra protein in order to build muscle.
As far as exactly how much protein you’ll need for your goals, that will depend on your body. You’ll have to experiment with how much protein you are eating daily for a few weeks, and then adjust accordingly if you feel that you aren’t getting expected results. That doesn’t mean that protein is the reason for not getting good results though; it can also be your workout routine, the balance of macros(protein, carbohydrates, and fats) in your diet, sleep schedule, or all of the above.
In the case of “too much protein”, everything in extremes probably isn’t good for you. As long as you are not eating just strictly protein, your body will be just fine in getting rid of any excess protein it doesn’t use. In fact, diets such as keto focus primarily on fats and protein, and people who follow such diets are perfectly healthy (if not healthier). Just have a well balanced macronutrient profile depending on your goals, a decent workout routine and supplementation plan, and a good nights rest..
