Creatine

Creatine

Why It Should Be Your Best Friend

Todd recently heard something and shared it with me. It was profound in the sense that it made us both ponder it and mention it several times now. An old man was asked for advice on what to do to slow down aging, and his response was, “Don’t let the old man in, once he’s in he won’t leave.” I’m a firm believer in what we think, we become. If I say, “Man, I’m getting old” I will start feeling it. So, one of my things is, that I do not EVER say I’m getting old or feeling old, or let anyone refer to me that way. I refuse to place that into my mindset.

Don't Let the Old Man In!

Our bodies, just like a car, start to slow down after much wear and tear. As youngsters, we tend to think we are indestructible. We expose our bodies to unthinkable physical feats to impress friends, take risks and don’t think twice about the possibility of breaking bones, the recovery process, etc., we just go and do. Yet once we hit a certain number we start wondering if it’s smart to do that. “If I’m injured, how much time off work to heal? How bad could I injure myself?” And, then we just decide, “Nah, not worth it” and walk away. That friends, is wisdom.

Regardless of our careless childhood, we will all start losing typically 3% - 5% of muscle mass each decade after 30. Inactive people lose the most. Most men will lose about 30% of their muscle mass during their lifetimes. The loss can become more noticeable and start to speed up at around age 60. After age 80, studies suggest somewhere between 11% and 50% of people have sarcopenia. Sarcopenia can be a serious problem. Once we’ve lost a lot of muscle and strength, we may struggle to do things such as getting out of chairs, opening jars, or carrying groceries. You also can become frail and have a higher risk of falls, broken bones, disability, and death. So, is that it? NO. There is help and an easy way to allow your body to build muscle mass.

Todd is an avid cyclist. I am a walker, and runner and love physical activities. We both have made this part of who we are since before we met 20 years ago. The key is to keep moving our bodies. We must keep the arms, legs, hands, and feet moving. You know that feeling we get when we’ve been sitting for about 3 hours? Then we stand up and it’s a slow stand? Muscles are stiff? Yup, we can help that by moving. Using light weights and working out 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes is a great start.

I Knew the Basic Things About Creatine..

Although I knew about creatine, I’ve only recently been "really" learning about it and the benefits this relatively low-cost supplement can have on someone’s health. Creatine is a natural supplement and is often used to improve athletic performance and recovery. It’s not only safe but also one of the world’s most popular and effective supplements for building muscle and strength. Creatine increases your phosphocreatine stores, allowing you to produce more ATP energy to fuel your muscles during high-intensity exercise. What’s more, creatine supplements can increase the water content of your muscles. This is known as cell volumization and can quickly increase muscle size. Now, I already knew these details for the most part. Here’s what I didn’t know…

Here's What I Didn't Know..

Creatine plays an important role in brain health and function. For older individuals, supplementing with creatine for 2 weeks significantly improved memory and recall ability. In older adults, creatine may boost brain function, protect against neurological diseases, and reduce age-related loss of muscle and strength. Creatine has been researched for more than 200 years, and numerous studies support its safety for long-term use. Clinical trials lasting up to 5 years report no adverse effects in healthy individuals. What’s more, supplementing is very easy — simply take 5 grams of creatine monohydrate powder per day.

Todd and I take Thorne Creatine daily. It’s unflavored so you can add it to water, oatmeal, anything. The bottom line, God has given us one body, His temple. We are to treat it with care. Do what’s necessary to make the wisdom years your best years yet!

Cheers to a healthier you,