The pros, the cons, the facts The most common side effects How to use them safely and effectively for maximum resultsGet the facts on the hottest supplements on the market for enhancing athletic performance.A muscle-building nutrient found in the human body, creatine has become the clear winner in the sports nutrition supplement field. In fact, many professional athletes are using it. But what exactly are muscle-enhancing supplements--and how do they power up athletic performance? What are the dangers of these popular natural muscle boosters?This comprehensive guide, written by Dr. Robert Monaco, a leading figure in sports medicine, and health writer Terry Malloy, separates fact from fiction, and explores the full range of proven benefits and potential drawbacks. Discover: How to use muscle enhancers safely Why some muscle enhancers are banned When creatine may not work How to choose the right product at the right price What parents need to know if their children are using these supplements The facts on a wide variety of natural muscle boosters, including: glutamine, taurine, whey protein isolate, chromium, and pyruvate...and more!
Amazon Sales Rank: #2222549 in Books Published on: 1999-12-01 Released on: 1999-12-01 Original language: English Binding: Mass Market Paperback 288 pages
From the Inside Flap The pros, the cons, the facts The most common side effects How to use them safely and effectively for maximum resultsGet the facts on the hottest supplements on the market for enhancing athletic performance.A muscle-building nutrient found in the human body, creatine has become the clear winner in the sports nutrition supplement field. In fact, many professional athletes are using it. But what exactly are muscle-enhancing supplements--and how do they power up athletic performance? What are the dangers of these popular natural muscle boosters?This comprehensive guide, written by Dr. Robert Monaco, a leading figure in sports medicine, and health writer Terry Malloy, separates fact from fiction, and explores the full range of proven benefits and potential drawbacks. Discover: How to use muscle enhancers safely Why some muscle enhancers are banned When creatine may not work How to choose the right product at the right price What parents need to know if their children are using these supplements The facts on a wide variety of natural muscle boosters, including: glutamine, taurine, whey protein isolate, chromium, and pyruvate...and more! About the Author Terry Malloy is a New York-based freelance writer, who has been a principal writer for the monthly newsletter Sex over Forty for the past ten years, specializing in medical issues, especially those relating to male sexuality. She is also the author of Viagra: The Wonder Drug for Peak Performance, which is available from Dell. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Nutritional Supplements and the Competitive Edge: Why Creatine?There are many reasons why creatine has emerged as the clear winner in the sports nutritional supplement arena. Creatine has been shown to:* increase muscle mass (size) * boost muscle strength * possibly speed the rate of muscle growth * possibly prevent breakdown of muscle tissue * help the body lose fat and replace it with lean muscle * increase the body's production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the fuel used for fast bursts of activity * shorten recovery time during activities (such as between reps) and between workouts * possibly delay muscle fatigue * permit longer and more intense workouts * improve athletic performance, especially when short bursts of strength are required, as in power lifting, bodybuilding, wrestling, sprinting, martial arts, football, baseball, hockey, javelin, discus, shot put, hammer throwing, and other sports * possibly elevate levels of HDL (the good kind of) cholesterol * help improve body image * possibly increase motivation to train hard * as of this writing, be safe, for short-term use, with few side effects * possibly have benefits in treating certain medical conditions, including Lou Gehrig's disease, congestive heart failure, recovery from surgery, AIDS-related muscular wasting, and loss of muscular strength in the elderly * help in about 80 percent of the people who try itOn the downside you should note that creatine:* should not be used by people with kidney problems * may not help endurance athletes in such sports as long-distance running or swimming, and may even be a negative factor, since its use can result in weight gain * may have side effects such as cramping, nausea, and diarrhea in some people who use it * may cause dehydration by drawing water into the muscle cells * may have no noticeable effect on sports performance for some people, possibly those who already have high levels of creatine in their muscles * may do little or nothing unless you exercise on a regular basis while taking it * may be dangerous if taken in larger-than-recommended doses * has no long-term studies to prove there are no adverse side effects when used over a period of yearsTHE SEARCH FOR A BOOSTWe've all seen them. People wandering around health-food stores, picking up one product after another, reading labels and considering: will this work for me or not? They talk to the clerks, compare ingredients, and try to choose the right supplement, the one that will be worth the money and make a difference in their performance, make them stronger and more energetic.Chances are, you've done this yourself, so you know the feeling.It's confusing. And frustrating. There are so many products, so many different manufacturers, such a variety of formulas. One promises "high energy," another says it will "fuel muscles," while yet another claims their product will "enable the muscles to work at greater intensity."How can you know if these claims are true? Do you need to be a chemist or physician or nutritionist to be able to figure it out? And are there any governmental safeguards, or can these manufacturers just make any claim they want to? These are some of the things you should know before buying.If you walk into a health-food store today, things look very different from a few years ago. Now, instead of row after row of vitamin and mineral bottles, chances are the first thing you'll see as you come in the door is a big selection of creatine products.Creatine seems to be everywhere. The figure of $200 million in annual sales makes a pretty important statement. People want this stuff and they're willing to pay for it. Thirty, forty, even fifty dollars a month and sometimes more. Is it really worth it?SUPPLEMENT REGULATIONSWe all know that prescription medications are carefully regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and drug manufacturers spend millions of dollars researching their products to prove they are safe and effective, so they can gain FDA approval and sell them to the public. In fact, recent statistics indicate that some drug manufacturers spend up to $500 million on developing a single drug.But what about nutritional supplements?Manufacturers of dietary supplements have an estimated annual revenue of $11.5 billion dollars. It seems like just about everyone takes at least one multivitamin per day, and millions of people take a whole menu of products, including individual vitamin and mineral pills, herbal remedies, and protein supplements.But since these supplements are neither drugs nor food, the FDA has no power to regulate them.For years a great battle has been waged between the government and the public over the question of regulations. Health-food advocates claim it is their right to take any nutritional supplements they want and the government has no business interfering. "We can self-regulate," they argue, "and we don't want the government telling us what we can and can't take for our health." Government officials counter that there must be strict controls if the public safety is to be assured.The Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act of 1994 grew out of this debate. It allows manufacturers to produce and sell nutritional supplements, provided they are not considered drugs by the FDA and companies make no health or medical claims for their products. Creatine, andro, and all the other supplements you buy in the health-food store come under this act. In addition, these nutritional supplements do not have to be clinically tested for effectiveness or safety.However, there are exceptions. If the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) finds that a producer is using misleading advertising or making claims it cannot substantiate, this government agency can take legal action against the manufacturer in order to protect the public.In addition, the FDA can take action against supplement manufacturers whose products cause serious health risks to their users. This was the case in 1989, when the amino acid supplement L-tryptophan caused about thirty-eight deaths, apparently due to accidental contamination in a Japanese factory. As a result the FDA banned tryptophan for sale in this country.So despite the power of these agencies, at this time there is really very little government control over the content of dietary supplements. Quality can widely vary from product to product, and the motto is "buyer beware."However, there is some hope on the horizon for the consumer. In a regulation that went into effect in early 1999, the FDA now requires manufacturers of dietary supplements to provide more complete information on their labels.Specifically, they must include a complete list of all ingredients and the precise levels of every vitamin, mineral, herb, or other substance in the product, similar to what is provided for most food items in the supermarket.With this new "supplement facts" label, people who buy creatine and other supplements will have a better chance to judge each product and make an informed decision about what to buy. They will be able to see, quickly and easily, exactly what ingredients the product contains and in what amounts. As a result, comparison shopping should be much less confusing.THE PURSUIT OF VICTORYLet's face it. There's nothing like winning.In a split second you feel an intoxicating rush unlike anything else you will ever know.The quest for this singular thrill is what motivates many athletes around the world. Whether you're a twelve-year-old figure skater getting up at five in the morning to train for the Olympics, a basketball player shooting hoops all weekend, or a runner snatching a few extra laps in the cold winter dark after work, you are willing to go the extra mile, push your body to the limit, in fact, do almost anything just to gain that infinitesimal competitive edge that can be the difference between second place and first. Between almost making it and breaking a record. Between winning and losing.Throughout history athletes have trained to perfect their bodies and their performance, running, jumping, lifting weights, whether at home alone, on school teams, in neighborhood playgrounds, in gyms, or in professional sports. And until recently the ingredients that made up a good athlete were pretty simple: natural ability, hard work, good health, and the will to succeed.But now the formula has changed. There's been a significant addition, a new factor that can actually alter the balance: supplements.Everyone's doing it, right?Before you join the crowds take a moment to inform yourself. Or if you're already taking supplements, do yourself a favor and find out more about them. And above all, do not take any supplements, no matter how safe you may think they are, without a doctor's approval and supervision.In today's world you have to be alert. You have to be smart. You have to know what you're doing. As the saying goes, you've got to look out for number one-it's not such bad advice.So if you're just starting an exercise program for the first time, or if you want to maintain and enhance your regular fitness program, or if you're a serious athlete and want to dramatically improve your performance, you should know more about creatine. It could be the answer to your prayers.
Most helpful customer reviews 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. If you don't know this is the book that you need By Phil Huggins Finally a book that explains how supplements work. Very easy to read, this book explains in detail how creatine works and how it should be used. There is more truthful supplementation information in this book than I have found in muscle magizines in the past three years. Anyone who wants to try supplements needs to read this book first to get an edge on companies who sell low grade products. 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Creatine: Explained By A Customer This book was very informative about the good and bad effects of creatine and other muscle enhancers. I think that this is a good book for the serious or not too serious weight lifter. Very clear and straight to the point. See all 2 customer reviews...