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Creatine Monohydrate

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Creatine is the primary metabolic fuel for high intensity, short duration movements such as sprinting, lifting heavy weights, and jumping to maximal heights (Smith-Ryan & Antonio, 2013), and a significant body of research (it is the most extensively studied ergogenic aid) reports supplementation during training can optimize muscle creatine stores, increased high-intensity intermittent work output, and promote greater gains in strength and muscle mass, plus Cr has been demonstrated to provide some therapeutic benefits in clinical populations (Kreider, 2008, p. 430). Cr is also known as methylguanidinoacetic acid, which is an amino acid derived compound chemically classified as a non-protein nitrogen (Smith-Ryan & Antonio, 2013). Cr can be …show more content…

Regarding creatine as a supplement, there is no data to support any other form of creatine supplementation other than creatine monohydrate (Kreider, 2008). However, Kleiner (2014) reports that there are three major forms of creatine on the market: monohydrate, citrate, and pyruvate. Research supports all three as effective; however, monohydrate works best for muscle building and performance. Beef, pork, and fish, which are .5-1% Cr by weight, are highly bioavailable, whereas only 20 percent of creatine ingested as a supplement is absorbed. In other words, Cr from intact protein foods produces smaller, but more sustain effects compared to supplementation, which results in the most rapid increase in plasma Cr (Smith-Ryan & Antonio, 2013). Regardless, research indicates that Cr from meat or supplementation appear to yield the same absolute level of Cr to tissue. When choosing a particular food, shrimp has trace amounts, milk has 0.05g/lb, cod 1.4, tuna 1.8, salmon 2, beef 2, pork 2.3, and herring 3-4.5 (Kreider, 2008). When a sardine grows larger, it becomes a herring. Since sardines are a good source of protein and omega-3s, it makes since to eat both sardines and herring if wanting to ingest the most Cr through

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