Athletes may be tempted to buy supplements to improve their athletic performance. Some of the most popular supplements used by athletes to improve their performance include protein powders and creatine.
Protein supplements promise many benefits, such as increased strength, more energy, bigger muscle mass and extreme weight loss. In general, is extra protein truly beneficial or just hype? The results are conflicting with little to no data supporting the benefits of protein supplements.
Creatine is made by the body in the liver, kidneys and pancreas. It also occurs naturally in foods such as meat and fish. Creatine supplements promise to improve muscle power during high-intensity and short-time exercise. The long-term safety of creatine supplementation is unknown. Creatine supplements, as with other dietary supplements, are not well-regulated and could contain substances that could put an athlete’s health and eligibility at risk.