Author: edquestions

Creatine doesn’t just come from supplements. You can increase the level of creatine in your diet by consuming various types of meat. Lamb, chicken, and turkey are good sources of creatine, offering 2 to 3 grams per serving cooked. Organic and free-range meats tend to have higher creatine levels than other domestic meats. A three-ounce serving of fish is another good source of creatine, with wild-caught fish having the most. Wild game also has naturally high levels of creatine, so if you consume venison and duck, for example, you’re already getting decent amounts of creatine.

Vegetarians have a bit harder time improving natural levels of creatine, but they can do so by consuming foods high in the amino acids that make up creatine: argine, glycine, and methionine. Oats, peanuts, and soybeans are good sources for these amino acids, as are spinach, seaweed, and sesame seeds.

The phenomenon of “too much of a good thing” applies to creatine. While it’s necessary for good muscle performance and bodily energy use, too much can stress the kidneys, quash sex drive, and even result in erectile dysfunction. Your best bet is to ensure you get sufficient creatine through the foods you eat, and if you choose to take supplements, be sure to inform your doctor, particularly if taking creatine causes any of the side effects listed above.

Creatine doesn’t just come from supplements. You can increase the level of creatine in your diet by consuming various types of meat. Lamb, chicken, and turkey are good sources of creatine, offering 2 to 3 grams per serving cooked. Organic and free-range meats tend to have higher creatine levels than other domestic meats. A three-ounce serving of fish is another good source of creatine, with wild-caught fish having the most. Wild game also has naturally high levels of creatine, so if you consume venison and duck, for example, you’re already getting decent amounts of creatine.

Vegetarians have a bit harder time improving natural levels of creatine, but they can do so by consuming foods high in the amino acids that make up creatine: argine, glycine, and methionine. Oats, peanuts, and soybeans are good sources for these amino acids, as are spinach, seaweed, and sesame seeds.

The phenomenon of “too much of a good thing” applies to creatine. While it’s necessary for good muscle performance and bodily energy use, too much can stress the kidneys, quash sex drive, and even result in erectile dysfunction. Your best bet is to ensure you get sufficient creatine through the foods you eat, and if you choose to take supplements, be sure to inform your doctor, particularly if taking creatine causes any of the side effects listed above.

Your doctor may test your blood for creatinine, which is a waste byproduct of creatine.

If you should visit a urologist because of concerns about erectile dysfunction, he or she will probably do a test for something called creatinine. Creatinine, which is a byproduct of creatine usage, is a waste product in the blood that is filtered by the kidneys and passes out of the body in urine. Creatine, whether generated naturally by the liver, or consumed in foods (meat and fish are good sources) or supplements, is necessary for bodily function, but creatinine doesn’t perform a critical function and must be eliminated from the body so levels don’t build up dangerously.

People who are more muscular will produce more creatinine. However, high creatinine levels can also be caused by kidneys that aren’t functioning well and can’t filter creatinine out of the blood sufficiently. Therefore, urologists often check for creatinine levels because it can give clues about how well kidneys function. Kidney function is intricately tied in with how well the heart functions and how well the body processes glucose (which is why diabetics are prone to kidney disease). And as you may already know, diabetes and heart disease are associated with erectile dysfunction.

Whether or not your doctor checks your creatinine levels, it’s important to mention if you take creatine supplements, and if so how much and how often.

Your doctor may test your blood for creatinine, which is a waste byproduct of creatine.

If you should visit a urologist because of concerns about erectile dysfunction, he or she will probably do a test for something called creatinine. Creatinine, which is a byproduct of creatine usage, is a waste product in the blood that is filtered by the kidneys and passes out of the body in urine. Creatine, whether generated naturally by the liver, or consumed in foods (meat and fish are good sources) or supplements, is necessary for bodily function, but creatinine doesn’t perform a critical function and must be eliminated from the body so levels don’t build up dangerously.

People who are more muscular will produce more creatinine. However, high creatinine levels can also be caused by kidneys that aren’t functioning well and can’t filter creatinine out of the blood sufficiently. Therefore, urologists often check for creatinine levels because it can give clues about how well kidneys function. Kidney function is intricately tied in with how well the heart functions and how well the body processes glucose (which is why diabetics are prone to kidney disease). And as you may already know, diabetes and heart disease are associated with erectile dysfunction.

Whether or not your doctor checks your creatinine levels, it’s important to mention if you take creatine supplements, and if so how much and how often.

Creatine is produced naturally by the liver and is known as a nitrogenous organic acid. It is used throughout the body, but particularly by muscle cells to generate energy. Creatine is made up of three amino acids:

• L-arginine
• Glycine
• L-methionine

The parts of the body that have high energy demands, like the brain and skeletal muscle, are the main users of creatine, and the vast majority of creatine is stored in skeletal muscle.

Most creatine is stored in skeletal muscle tissue.

Creatine can also be taken as a supplement. Athletes sometimes use it in high-intensity training periods. Indeed, there’s evidence that creatine supplements improve athletic performance, with one study suggesting that it increases the maximum performance of high-intensity anaerobic work (life weight-lifting) by up to 15%. It is associated with higher body mass and a total body water volume.

A study out of Australia, along with one done in the UK, found that creatine supplementation can improve memory and brain power, preventing a decline in attention that can occur during oxygen deprivation. Researchers are interested in whether it might be used to improve brain function in elderly people.

This all sounds terrific, right? So why aren’t we all taking creatine? Well, too much creatine can cause problems, and even normal supplementation can cause side effects like nausea and stomach pain. People who have kidney disease need to avoid creatine supplements, as do people with diabetes. There’s also some concern that excess creatine can affect erectile function, and not in a good way.