Controversy is swirling around the use of the popular supplement creatine. Parents, athletes, and coaches are concerned about its widespread use and long-term consequences. There is now little doubt, when you study the scientific literature and talk to athletes, that creatine improves athletic performance. Athletes participating in sports that require short-term explosive muscle contraction such as football, baseball and wrestling appear to benefit the most. Scientific studies confirm that creatine increases muscle mass, strength, explosive power, and stamina. As a result, creatine has become the supplement of choice for athletes across the country. A recent study found that 48% of Division 1 NCAA male athletes take or have taken creatine. Last year, an estimated six to eight million pounds were consumed in the United States. Although creatine has been widely used in the U.S. since 1992, some still caution that it has not been used long enough to determine any possible long-term side effects. Others are opposed to creatine supplementation purely for philosophic reasons. They believe that supplements are contrary to the rules, spirit and significance of sports.

Although there are legitimate questions that need answers, much of what is reported about creatine is based on rumors and half-truths. In order to make an informed decision about taking creatine, it is important to understand the facts.

Background
Creatine is a protein made from amino acids. Our body makes one gram of creatine each day from amino acids. We also eat about one gram each day from meats such as beef, chicken or fish. Creatine is not a source of energy, but allows extra energy to be stored. It acts like an uncharged battery. When creatine is charged with energy from food, it becomes the major energy source for immediate muscle contraction. When additional creatine is taken to supplement the creatine consumed in meats and produced in our body, then more energy is available for muscle contraction.

High Dietary Intake of Creatine Not Unsafe
Early hunters such as the American Plains Indians, African Tribes, and Eskimos ate huge amounts of meat. During the winter season, they sometimes consumed an all-meat diet. Since meat contains about one gram of creatine per each half pound, these hunters easily consumed 3-5 grams of creatine per day. Remarkably this creatine dosage is similar to that recommended today by many scientists. Since mankind began and remained a hunter for thousands of years, it seems highly unlikely that heavy consumption of meat containing creatine is dangerous.

Creatine Supplement Use Not New
While creatine is “new” to many in the U.S., it is not “new” to the rest of the world. The Russians and other Eastern Block countries have used creatine as a sport supplement for at least 20 years. Recently a Russian sports scientist said that the Russians never found any dangerous side-effects while using creatine.

Creatine Use In the United States
In the West, creatine has been manufactured and sold as a sport supplement for about nine years. Creatine was used successfully in the West in the 1992 Olympics. As creatine became widely available in the United States many bodybuilders began taking creatine in massive amounts. Believing that if a little was good, more must be better, they took twenty, forty and even sixty grams of creatine powder a day, all without injurious effect on their health. If creatine were as dangerous as some would have you believe these human “guinea pigs” would have clearly demonstrated serious side-effects. This has not been the case.

Creatine is a Vital Muscle Nutrient
We have learned much of what we know about vitamins by studying what happens when a person has a vitamin deficiency. The same is true of creatine. In animal studies, researchers have blocked creatine uptake by the muscle cells. The result is a loss of fast-twitch muscle fibers. This is the type of muscle that is called into action first in power sports. Secondly, some children have a genetic defect where they can not make creatine in their body. These children experience muscle loss and weakness. Creatine supplementation strengthens these children. Both these examples show that creatine is necessary for healthy, strong muscle.

Physicians Using Creatine Have Found No Creatine Toxicity
During the past few years medical scientists and physicians began experiments to learn if creatine can be used to treat various medical disorders. In these carefully done studies, doctors have not reported any injurious creatine effects on the body. On the contrary, many of these studies show promise that creatine can be helpful in preventing or slowing certain disorders such as Lou Gehrigs Disease, Huntingtons Disease, and Parkinsons Disease.

Creatine Not Found Injurious By Sports Medicine Roundtable
The American College of Sports Medicine hosted a roundtable discussion by several top scientists interested in creatine. They concluded that “there is no definitive evidence that creatine supplementation causes gastrointestinal, renal, and/or muscle cramping complications.” 1

Summary
Despite all the rumor and speculation over the past few years, I find no credible evidence that creatine supplementation is harmful in anyway to our health. On the contrary, an ample amount of creatine is absolutely necessary for healthy muscle and other cellular function.

Dr. Lynn Myers is a practicing pathologist and Director of Research and Development for NuCare, a nutrition company that makes a chewable creatine tablet. Dr. Myers is regarded as one of the country’s foremost experts on creatine. He has been interviewed by CNN Sports and heard on ESPN’s “One On One Sports”. Dr. Myers has addressed the National Wrestling Coaches Association as a special guest speaker on nutrition.

This study show that 78% of high school athletes either take more creatine than the recommended dose or aren’t sure how they’re taking.

Creatine use among a select population of high school athletes.

Smith J, Dahm DL.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, frequency, and patterns of creatine use among a local population of high school athletes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Male and female high school athletes completed an anonymous questionnaire on creatine use during the August 1999 preparticipation examinations at a single institutional sports medicine center. RESULTS: A total of 328 students (182 males and 146 females) aged 14 to 18 years (mean +/- SD 15.2 +/- 1.3 years) completed the survey (100% response rate), although not all athletes answered each question. Twenty-seven athletes (8.2% of total group), 1 of whom was female, reported creatine use. Of these 27 athletes, 14 (52%) were taking creatine at the time of the survey. The frequency of creatine use among past and current users was equally distributed among rarely (30%), weekly (35%), and daily (35%). Creatine users were older than nonusers (mean 16.5 +/- 1.2 vs 15.0 +/- 1.3 years; P < .001). Of creatine users, 21 (78%) were male football players. Nineteen of 24 respondents (79%) believed creatine improved their performance. Overall, 78% of users either did not know how much creatine they were taking (12/22 respondents) or were taking greater than the recommended doses (5/22 respondents). Minor gastrointestinal side effects or muscle cramps were reported by 5 (20%) of 25 respondents. Creatine users were more likely than nonusers to know other creatine users (81% vs 22%; P < .001) and to use other supplements (67% vs 9%; P < .001). Creatine users obtained creatine information primarily from friends (74%) and purchased creatine predominantly from health food stores (86%).

CONCLUSIONS: High school male and female athletes as young as 14 years use creatine. Of high school athletes participating in our study, 8.2% reported creatine use. Relatively minor side effects, diarrhea, cramps, and loss of appetite, were reported. Creatine users seem to believe that creatine improves their performance, but they may lack sufficient information to make informed decisions regarding creatine use. Further larger scale study is warranted.

Creatine considered food, would not be banned, according to the International Olympic Committee The International Olympic Committee reported December 14, that the dietary supplement creatine would not be added to the IOC’s banned-substance list. The head of the IOC medical commission, Prince Alexandre de Merode said that creatine was considered food and would not be prohibited. “You cannot compare it to testosterone or anabolic steroids,” said de Merode. “Creatine is food,” he said. “You can’t prevent people from eating food.” The IOC’s statement came as good news to creatine users because the organization is notorious for being extremely cautious about supplements, banning even common ingredients such as caffeine.

Dr. Lynn Myers M.D., one of the country’s authorities on creatine, applauds the IOC’s decision. “I’ve studied creatine extensively and despite years of use and research, no scientific study has found it to be unsafe.” Dr. Myers predicts even wider use of creatine because of its “proven effectiveness to increase muscle mass, strength, and stamina and now its increasing acceptance by the sports medical community.” Creatine can even be thought of as a “muscle vitamin”, Dr. Myers says, because studies had shown that creatine in necessary for (peak) muscle function in both animals and humans. Some people may even have a deficiency of creatine without even knowing it. Those people could be helped by taking extra creatine.

Dr. Lynn Myers, one of the country’s top experts on sports supplements, is available for a live interview. He has already received enthusiastic responses from listeners on CNN Sports and ESPN’s One On One Sports. Dr. Myers serves as director of research and development for NuCare, an OKC company that makes creatine Chewtrition, a gum-based creatine supplement.

Dr. Lynn Myers is widely regarded as one of the country’s foremost experts on nutrition. He has been interviewed by CNN Sports and on ESPN’s “One On One Sports”. Dr. Myers has addressed the National Wrestling Coaches Association as a special guest speaker on nutrition. Dr. Myers is also the father of four wrestlers. He is Director of Research and Development for NuCare, a company that makes a creatine chewing gum and a chewable creatine wafer for wrestlers.

There is now little doubt, when you study the scientific literature and talk to athletes, that creatine improves certain types of athletic performance. This is especially true in power sports such as wrestling that require short-term explosive muscle contraction. Creatine increases muscle mass, strength, explosive power, and stamina. Because of these effects, this popular supplement is now widely used in the sports such as wrestling, football, and baseball.

A recent study found that 48% of Division 1 NCAA male athletes take or have taken creatine. Last year, an estimated that six to eight million pounds were consumed in the United States. Although creatine has been widely used in the U.S. since 1992, some caution that creatine has not been around long enough to determine the any potential long-term side effects. Others are opposed to creatine supplementation purely for philosophic reasons. Recently, for example, a French food safety expert recently said creatine “is contrary to the rules, spirit and significance of sport.”

As a pathologist with a lifetime of experience in solving medical puzzles, I have been trained to study the scientific facts and ignore rumors and half-truths. Here is what I have discovered about creatine.

Background
Creatine is a protein made from amino acids. Our body makes one gram each day from protein. We also eat about one gram of creatine each day from meats such as beef, chicken or fish. Creatine is not a source of energy in itself, but stores energy you get from your food. Creatine acts like uncharged battery. When it is charged with energy from food, it becomes the major energy source for immediate anaerobic muscle contraction. When extra creatine is taken to increase muscle creatine levels, then more energy is available for muscle contraction. Vegetarians or athletes who don’t consume enough protein may have abnormally low muscle creatine levels. We have learned much of what we know about vitamins by studying what happens when a person has a vitamin deficiency. Two examples help us to understand creatine’s role in the body. In animal studies, researchers have blocked creatine uptake by the muscle cells. The result is a loss of fast-twitch (type two) muscle fibers. This is the type of muscle that is called into action first in power sports such as wrestling.

Secondly, some children have a genetic defect where they can not make creatine in their body. As a result they have muscle loss and weakness. Creatine supplementation strengthens these children. Both these examples show that creatine is necessary for healthy, strong muscle.

High Dietary Intake of Creatine
In times past, hunters such as the American Plains Indians, African Tribes, and Eskimos ate huge amounts of meat. During certain seasons, they consumed almost an all-meat diet. Since meat contains about one gram of creatine per each half pound, these hunters easily consumed 3-5 grams of creatine per day. Remarkably, this creatine dosage is similar to that recommended today by many scientists. Since mankind began and remained a hunter for thousands of years, it seems highly unlikely that heavy consumption of creatine containing meat is dangerous.

Creatine Supplement Use Not New

While creatine is “new” to many here in the U.S., it is not “new” to the rest of the world. The Russians and other Eastern Block countries have used creatine as a sport supplement for at least twenty years. Perhaps this helps explain why the Eastern Block countries beat the West so badly for many years in the Olympics. Recently, I spoke to a Russian Sports scientist who candidly told me that the Russians never found any injurious effects while using creatine.

Creatine Use In the United States

In the West creatine has been manufactured for about nine years. Creatine was first used by successfully in the West in the 1992 Olympics. As creatine began to be readily available in the United States many bodybuilders began taking creatine in massive amounts. Thinking that if a little is good, more must be better they took twenty, forty, and even sixty grams of powder a day, all without injurious effect on their health. If creatine were dangerous, these human “guinea pigs” would have clearly demonstrated these effects over the past nine years.

Creatine Not Implicated in Wrestling Deaths

Two years ago I was invited to speak to the National Wrestling Coaches Association about creatine and other supplements. You may remember that in the fall of 1997 three college wrestlers died. Some of the media and wrestling coaches speculated that nutritional supplements, including creatine, might have played a role in these deaths. As a practicing pathologist, I was able to obtain the final autopsy reports of two of the three wrestlers who died and then spoke to the pathologists who performed the autopsies. Later I spoke to a coach of the third wrestler. Then I spoke to the representative of the Center for Disease Control who investigated the wrestling deaths. Finally, I talked to the person in charge of the Federal Drug Administration’s investigation. This is what I found. Only one of the three wrestlers had ever used creatine. That wrestler stopped using creatine several weeks before his death. By the time of his death creatine his muscle creatine levels would have returned back to normal levels and therefore creatine could not be implicated in his death. Two of the three died of severe dehydration and heat injury. The third probably died of an undiagnosed heart problem. In conclusion I could find no relationship between creatine supplementation and these wrestlers deaths. Since then, more than three years later, I have found no reason to change my mind. No local, state or U.S. government report has implicated creatine in any of the deaths.

The lesson we should learn from these deaths is that using severe dehydration to pull weight not only severely limits wrestling performance but can be extremely dangerous. It killed not only these wrestlers, but may have killed others who did not gain media attention. In the course of my investigation, I learned from wrestling insiders of many other “near death experiences” from dehydration that required medical resuscitation.

Physicians Using Creatine Have Found No Creatine Toxicity

During the past few years medical scientists and physicians have begun experiments to learn if creatine can be used to treat various medical disorders. In these carefully done studies, under close medical supervision, doctors have not reported any injurious creatine effects on the body. On the contrary, many of these studies show promise that creatine can be helpful in preventing or slowing certain disorders such as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, and Parkinson’s Disease.

Creatine Not Found Injurious By Sports Medicine Roundtable

The American College of Sports Medicine hosted a roundtable discussion by several top scientists interested in creatine. They reported in their abstract that “there is no definitive evidence that creatine supplementation causes gastrointestinal, renal, and/or muscle cramping complications.” 2

Summary

Despite all the rumor and speculation that we all have heard over the past few years, I find no credible evidence that creatine supplementation is harmful in anyway to our 1. Clin J. Sport Med., 1999, Jul. v. 9, (3), p. 167-169 2. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2000 Mar; 32 (3): p. 706-17health. On the contrary, an ample amount of creatine is absolutely necessary for healthy muscle and other cellular function.

This is the place a wrestler or parent can learn everything you need to know about creatine and wrestling. You’ll find answers these common questions:

Is creatine safe?
How can a wrestler benefit from creatine?
How to take creatine to maximize results?
Is there any research on the long-term safety of creatine?

We put these resources together this page because much of what you read and hear about creatine is based on rumors or half-truths. It was time someone put out the facts on creatine and did it from the perspective of a wrestler.

Below you’ll also find articles on nutrition for wrestlers.

We’ve put this together because we have deep roots in the sport of wrestling. The CEO of NuCare wrestled during high school. In addition, Dr. Myers has been a guest speaker on creatine to the National Wrestling Coaches Association.

Please call or write with any questions.

Many of you have read “Creatine Answers for ALS“, describing how creatine may slow nerve cell death and strengthen the remaining muscle cells connected to the nerve. Recently, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a report that offers a new ray of hope for ALS and related neurodegenerative disorders. (1)

The Journal told how Drs Gearhart and Kerr from Johns Hopkins University cured an ALS-like disease with a stem cell transplant.

To do this they paralyzed a group of rats by injecting a virus, which killed the spinal cord motor nerve cells that control muscles in the legs. Then they injected stem cells into the spinal fluid that surrounds the spinal cord. (Stem cells are primitive cells that have the potential to change into maturer cells e.g.: nerve and muscle cells)

Like homing pigeons these stem cells migrated through several layers of tissue into the injured spinal cord. They then replaced the dead nerve cells and began to function like normal nerve cells.

To everyone’s surprise the rats began to walk!

Dr. John D. Gearhart said “This kind of result is more than we could imagine.”

The importance of this experiment for the 20,000 people with ALS in the US alone, and various other neurodegenerative disorders is hard to exaggerate.

Needless to say, stem cell research is in its infancy. Many problems must be overcome before it can be used to treat these serious disorders, but surely this finding will excite and encourage many scientists in this new field.

Like good scientists Dr. Kerr is reluctant to offer patients false hope and says: “As heartbreaking as it is we’ve got to be really, really careful.” Nevertheless, the potential medical use of “smart” stem cell transplants that can home into injured or dying tissues and assume their critical cell function is mind boggling.

All Rights Reserved Doc Joc

1. JAMA April 4, 2001-Vol 285, 1691-1693

Lynn Myers MD is a pathologist and serves as Director of R&D for NuCare. To receive his free weekly health newsletter send an email to subscribe send a blank message to docjoc-on@mail-list.com.

Over the past several years, skeptics have said that creatine may be unsafe because there’s been no long-term study. Now, there’s a good study that supports the safety of creatine.

Effects of Long-term Creatine Supplementation on Liver and Kidney Functions in American College Football Players.

Mayhew DL, Mayhew JL, Ware JS.

Exercise Science Program at Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501 and the Athletic Department at Truman State University, Kirksville, MO.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of long-term Cr supplementation on blood parameters reflecting liver and kidney function.

Twenty-three members of an NCAA Division II American football team (ages = 19-24 years) with at least 2 years of strength training experience were divided into a Cr monohydrate group (CrM, n = 10) in which they voluntarily and spontaneously ingested creatine, and a control group (n = 13) in which they took no supplements.

Individuals in the CrM group averaged regular daily consumption of 5 to 20g (mean SD = 13.9 5.8 g) for 0.25 to 5.6 years (2.9 1.8 years). Venous blood analysis for serum albumin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, urea, and creatinine produced no significant differences between groups.

Creatinine clearance was estimated from serum creatinine and was not significantly different between groups. Within the CrM group, correlations between all blood parameters and either daily dosage or duration of supplementation were nonsignificant.

Therefore, it appears that oral supplementation with CrM has no long-term detrimental effects on kidney or liver functions in highly trained college athletes in the absence of other nutritional supplements.

If you’re like me, you don’t mind working hard in the gym but you want mountain-sized chest, rock-hard abs, and chiseled, attention-getting biceps to show for your efforts. You can grow like you never thought possible just by applying Dr. Myers’ three creatine secrets.

Creatine Is The Ultimate Muscle Food
Take creatine correctly you’ll pack on pounds of rippling lean muscle and see incredible gains in strength and endurance. Take creatine wrong and you’ll see no benefits or suffer through painful side effects, like dehydration and stomach problems. Imagine yourself having to “camp out” in the bathroom with diarrhea or other, more severe, side effects,

How to avoid side effects with creatine powder
My father spent the past 6½ years discovering the “insider secrets” of creatine supplementation. He learned that 73% of creatine powder (even NuCare’s own creatine powder) is not absorbed, but simply excreted by the liver. But, he also discovered the secrets to enjoying amazing benefits, like massive, sleeve-busting biceps and eye-popping strength, while avoiding all unwanted side effects.

Secret #1: To avoid side effects like upset stomach, bloating, dehydration and cramping use only German creatine.

When you buy a creatine product, do you know where your creatine was manufactured? Creatine is manufactured in just two places – Germany and China. Companies buy their creatine in bulk from one of these sources and then repackage it.

In China, there are few manufacturing standards. Price, not quality, is what matters most. Some of the Chinese creatine tested by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (the gold standard for creatine screening) has been shown to contain staggering amounts of impurities – quite possibly due to questionable, outdated manufacturing techniques. These impurities, such as dicyandiamide, dihydrotriazines, and creatinine, can cause serious problems, like an aching stomach, bloating, or cramping.

German producers, in contrast, use only modern technology and are recognized for their expertise and high quality. Every batch of German creatine is tested for purity. The problem is that Chinese creatine can cost half as much as much as German creatine. Lured by high profit margins, some supplement companies import cheap bulk Chinese creatine. Recent investigative reports have revealed that low quality Chinese creatine is making its way onto sports nutrition store shelves across the U.S.

U.S. laws require clothing and toy companies to label where the product came from, such as “made in China.” But, this same law does not apply to raw materials in supplements. Companies never list, “Chinese creatine” on the label. They know that if they did, no one would buy their product. Some might even use terms like “100% pure” or “pharmaceutical-grade” or even “German creatine”. However, unless you tested their product a lab, you will never know if it’s pure or even where it came from.

So, how do you know where your creatine comes from?
To get around the problem of low-quality creatine, different German manufacturers license the use of their logo only to those companies that buy their creatine. After extensive research, Dr. Myers decided to use Creapure™ brand creatine from Germany (www.creapure.com).

Don’t compromise your health with cheap, low-quality Chinese creatine!
If your creatine product doesn’t list Creapure™ or another recognized creatine logo on the label, you’re probably getting Chinese creatine. Don’t choke down the cheapest creatine powder and risk a bout of diarrhea or an aching stomach. Use only Creatine Power Tabs, made with Creapure™ creatine.

Secret #2: Every time you take a mega-dose of creatine 73% ends up in the toilette.

In order to build muscle you eat six small meals a day, instead of three large ones. You understand that smaller, more frequent meals (usually every 2½ hours) allow for better absorption of protein and other nutrients. Research shows that creatine works the same way.

Your muscle cells have a transport system, called the Creatine Transporter, that regulates how much creatine gets into your cells. This Creatine Transporter acts like a gate, opening and closing to allow creatine into your muscles. Your muscle cells are designed to absorb 1g to 1.5g of creatine every 2½ hours. This is about the same amount you get from food. For example, an 8oz steak has about 1g of creatine. This is a natural amount for your body to absorb in one meal. This is the same dose people have been getting, for thousands of years.

…their Dirty Little Secret To Sell More Creatine
So, you’re probably asking, “if research show that a smaller dose is better, why haven’t I heard this before?” Here’s the insider’s secret. As more companies introduced a creatine product, marketers looked for ways to distinguish their product. And increasing the amount of creatine per serving. If their competitor had five grams, they added ten grams. They didn’t study the science. They just wanted to sell more products.

However, there’s absolutely no science supports taking a mega-dose of creatine. Any scientist will tell you that the more creatine you take, the less you absorb.

So, What If I Waste A Few Grams…It’s Not A Big Deal, Right?
Plain creatine powder is not very expensive. To waste a few grams may not a big deal for your pocketbook. However, it is incredibly important if you want amazing gains in size and strength. Remember your Creatine Transporters? Normally, after a dose of 1.25g, your muscles will be ready for more creatine in about 2½ hours. However, when you flood your body with a five or ten-gram dose of powder, your absorption dramatically drops. Not only do you not absorb the 5g of creatine, but your Creatine Transporter gate closes down. A 5g dose shuts the gates for six hours and a 10g does keeps the gate closed even longer. The closed Transporter gates mean that even creatine from your food can’t get into your muscles. This leads to no absorption and no results. Plus, the wasted creatine can’t get into your cells and has to be flushed out through your liver. Don’t make your liver work harder than it has to.

A Single Meg-Dose of Five Grams Shuts Down Your Transporters All Day
Imagine you’re in a crowded movie theatre and a fire breaks out. There’s only one small exit and you and everyone makes a run for it. Because so many people are trying to get out at once, the front door gets jammed. And because everyone tries to get out at the same time, no one can. Creatine works the same way, but instead of trying to get out, you want to get the creatine into your cells. However, when you flood your Creatine Transporter with 10 grams of powder, the door or gate gets jammed and very little creatine gets in.

“I stand 6’8” and weigh 305lbs. I usually take ten grams of creatine powder. So, when Mike gave me a bottle of the Tabs to try, I was doubtful they would work. I thought I needed two or three times the dose. However, the Tabs proved me wrong. I’m experiencing incredible gains in size and strength. The Tabs have helped me build more muscle than any other creatine product I’ve ever taken. The fifteen people I train have seen similar results.”
– Dave Teague, owner of Complete Physiques (Blanchard, OK)

If a dose of ten or even five grams is not the answer, then what is?
Instead of a single mega-dose you should feed your muscles a small but steady stream of creatine all day long. Instead of jamming the Creatine Transporter, they will form an orderly line and get transported into your muscle.

Each Power Tab has 1.25g of Creapure.™ All you have to do is chew a tasty tab every 2½ hours. This is the exact dose you need to get 100% absorption, amazing gains in strength, and to pack on pounds of lean muscle. Remember, Power Tabs are guaranteed to work for you or they cost you absolutely nothing!

You could take a 1.25g dose of powder every 2½ hours. However, imagine stopping several times a throughout the day to measure and mix up a powder. It’s an incredible hassle.

Don’t you agree? Powdered creatine is poorly absorbed…is a capsule any better?

Dr. Myers wanted to find an alternative to powders and was on the verge of introducing a capsule when he discovered the final secret to creatine absorption.

Special ingredients allow creatine to move more easily into your muscle cells. The easier creatine gets your muscles, the better your results – like a massive, mountain-sized chest and chiseled, rock-hard calves. Dr. Myers learned that carbohydrates and amino acids are the two most important absorption-boosting ingredients.

Secret #3: Use a creatine product that includes an amino acid blend and carbohydrates to increase absorption.

Power Tabs contain a blend of 4500mg of special carbohydrates to trigger the release of the hormone insulin. Insulin greases the hinges of the Creatine Transporter “gate”. This allows creatine to more easily get into your muscles. Some creatine products load you with 70g of gut-busting sugar. That’s equivalent to 19 teaspoons of table sugar! Power Tabs give you just enough to boost absorption but not enough to be stored as fat.

Dr. Myers also included a proprietary blend of 18 peptide-bonded amino acids because these are the raw material for Creatine Transporters. By feeding your body these building blocks, you help your Creatine Transporters function more effectively, drive more creatine into your muscles, and dramatically boost your results. Plain creatine powder does not boost your insulin and doesn’t give you any additional amino acids.

The overlooked key to creatine: It’s not how much you take…it’s how much you absorb that counts.

NuCare’s plain powdered creatine just wasn’t very good. And, capsules weren’t much better. We invested a lot of time, effort, and money into our powder, only to discover that unless you take several small doses during the day, much of it is wasted. Worse, our second choice, creatine capsules, contained no important transporters needed for superior absorption.

Get Smart…Don’t Flush Hard-Earned Money Down the Toilette. Take Power Tabs, the Superior Alternative to Powders and Capsules.

My father knew there had to be a better way for you to get all the benefits of creatine. He started working on a new product to build more muscle than any other creatine product. It had to be easy to take with no mixing, measuring, or mess. He wanted something convenient. Something you could carry anywhere and take anytime.

Creatine Power Tabs are your answer to poor results! Take the scientifically proven dose of 1.25g, every 2½ hours for maximum muscle absorption and mind-boggling, attention-getting results!

After months of work, Dr. Myers developed a chewable, great tasting tablet that blows away powders and capsules. All you do is pop a tasty Tab into your mouth and chew it up. You don’t even have to use water to take it. You can keep a bottle in your car, office or gym bag. Most importantly, you can take a the scientifically-proven dose of 1.25g, four times daily and get gains in size and strength that defy description. Plus, Power Tabs are guaranteed to work or they cost you absolutely nothing! All the risk is on us.

Now I know you may be thinking that all of this sounds too good to be true.

That’s OK (and very natural).

Quite frankly, I’d be skeptical too. So, let me tell you a little bit about Dr. Myers.

During our high school years, two of my brothers and I wrestled. We wanted to take supplements to build muscle and gain an edge. My dad was concerned about what we were putting into our bodies so he researched products to learn what works and what doesn’t. He discovered ingredients that are safe and which ones to avoid. He saw what was out there and knew he could do better.

The nutrition industry is full of doctors with no credentials. But, Dr. Lynn Myers is the authority when it comes to supplements. He spent 20 years as a pathologist in Oklahoma, and has since become one of the foremost experts on sports nutrition. When CNN wanted to learn about creatine, they interviewed Dr. Myers. CNN could have called on any doctor, but they chose my father.

He saw what was out there and knew he could do better. So, in 1996 we started NuCare to be the company you trust to build muscle, burn fat, and look your best.

Power Tabs are simply the most potent, scientifically proven muscle-building product available. They contain everything you need to get that cut, rock-hard, attention-grabbing look you want and deserve. Power Tabs will help you build more muscle than any other creatine product. We guarantee it!

Still not convinced?

I’m so sure that you’re going to pack pounds of lean, attention-getting muscle and see your strength skyrocket, that I’m giving you a 100% Empty Bottle Guarantee.™ Use the entire bottle and if you’re not absolutely thrilled with the results, I will gladly refund your money.

Here’s What You Get From Power Tabs
You have a choice. You can feed your muscles the most potent, scientifically proven creatine formula or you can choke down the cheapest creatine powder

• Experience the excitement of getting noticed in the gym. • Enjoy amazing gains, in strength the most intense pumps of your life, and incredible muscle recovery. • Fantastic taste and convenient to take. • Get that cut, rock-hard, attention-grabbing look you want and deserve. • Begin transforming your body’s physique as soon as you begin chewing a tasty tab. • Get smart…don’t flush hard-earned money down the toilette. Get 00% absorption for incredible results. • Feed your muscles the most potent, scientifically proven delivery for creatine. Power Tabs will help you build more muscle than any other creatine product. We guarantee it.

Here’s What You Won’t Get From Power Tabs
• No side effects like dehydration and stomach problems, caused by low-quality creatine loaded with impurities. • No wasted creatine and extra stress on your liver caused by a mega-dose your body can’t absorb. • No mixing, measuring or mess. Simply pop a tasty Tab and you’re ready to go. • No artificial sweeteners – like aspartame or sucralose.

Remember, you will build more muscle than any other creatine product. We guarantee it!

But Wait, There’s More… Because you heard about this product through this special website, you will pay less than anyone else. Amino Power Tabs normally sell to the general public for $29.95. But because you found out about it through this special website, you will receive an instant $5.00 discount off that price, right here, right now. That means you can get the Tabs today for just $24.95.

Last year all eight College World Series Teams took creatine. The supplement is widely used by bodybuilders, and pro athletes including Shannon Shape, and Sammy Sosa, the major league baseball MVP. Despite these high-profile athletes, there have been reports of negative side effects with creatine. These include intestinal cramping, diarrhea, increased urination, and dehydration.

Lynn Myers M.D. is one of the country’s foremost experts on nutritional supplements. He has been interviewed by CNN Sports, heard on ESPN’s “One On One Sports”. Below he answers common questions about creatine.

What is creatine? Creatine is a protein made from amino acids. Our body makes one gram each day from protein. We also eat about one gram of creatine each day from meats such as beef, chicken or fish. When we take extra creatine we can store more energy. This allows the athlete to work harder and perform at a higher level. Researchers have even used creatine to treat people with neuromuscular diseases. Creatine increases these people’s strength and thus, their ability to stay active.

What are common side effects? These side effects include intestinal cramping, diarrhea, increased urination, and dehydration. These might be explained by the high doses of creatine people take. Many companies require that you “load” creatine by taking high doses for the first five days. When these high doses of powder enter the stomach they draw water from the body, causing the intestine to contract, just drinking sea water. These high doses do not translate into higher creatine levels in your muscle. Instead, they may be the very cause of the side effects, including intestinal cramping, diarrhea, increased urination, and dehydration.

Avoid the more is better mentality Many parents and coaches have told me their athletes were taking mega-doses of creatine. They took too much, thinking that if a little bit was good then a lot would be better. When scooping creatine out of a big tub it is easy to take one or two extra scoops of the powder.

Poor absorption from powder Up to two-thirds of creatine powder may be destroyed by stomach acid and turned into a waste product called creatinine. Companies have attempted to get around this problem by developing new ways to deliver creatine to the body, such as creatine serum and even a creatine patch.

Is your made in the U.S., China, or Germany? Raw creatine powder is made in only three countries – the United States, China, and Germany. The U.S. and German governments regulate creatine manufacturers. However, in China there is very little oversight of these manufactures. Your creatine may be deliberately watered down using a cheaper ingredient. There have been some reports of creatine being diluted with bone meal or baking soda. If you’re using inexpensive creatine or if a manufacturer doesn’t say on the label then there’s a good chance it came from China.

How to void the problems with powder creatine There are two products that avoid the above-mentioned problems. The first is a chewable creatine tablet called Creatine Power Tabs. The second is a creatine chewing gum called Creatine Chewtrition. Both are effective and convenient. Each product gives you an exact dose of creatine so you don’t have to worry about taking too much. Plus, you don’t have to load or take mega doses. Finally, there’s no mixing, measuring, or mess. These work just like a nitroglycerine tablet. The creatine begins to be absorbed in your mouth and goes directly to your muscles. Your saliva acts as stomach acid buffer against any creatine swallowed. More than 11,400 people have used these products without one report of a negative side effect.

How to take creatine During practice or competition I recommend chewing one piece of gum or two tabs 20 minutes before a workout or competition. Take the remainder halfway through the game or practice. During a weight training session take one piece of gum or two tabs right before and the remainder halfway through your workout.

Does creatine help some more than others? If a person does not eat much protein they may have lower creatine levels and see a dramatic improvement with supplementation. In addition, stomach acid destroys creatine so the amount a person absorbs may be a lot or a little depending on a person’s stomach acid level.

Is creatine safe for long-term use? Creatine has been used for at least ten years in the United States. At times muscle builders have taken extremely high doses, all without proven toxicity or long-term injury. No controlled scientific studies have shown serious side effects or toxicity. In times past, heavy meat eaters such as the Plains Indians, African Tribal People, and Eskimos have all eaten high concentrations of creatine in their meat over long periods of time, without any known ill effects.

If I stop taking creatine how long will creatine last in my muscle? Creatine levels in muscle gradually fall and are usually back to normal in a month.

Will creatine injure my kidneys? Creatine in your body gradually changes to a substance called creatinine (notice the spelling) a waste product that is excreted by your kidneys. High powder levels may raise creatinine, but this does not injure the kidneys. Creatinine is not known to be toxic.

Is creatine a steroid? Creatine is not a steroid, and therefore does not have any of the side effects known to found with those drugs. Creatine is not a hormone, and has no known effect on our hormone levels or endocrine system.

How can I learn more? You can subscribe to my free nutrition newsletter by sending an email to docjoc-on@mail-list.com. I also welcome specific questions from you, your friends or your physician. Just write doctor@nucare.com.

Have you noticed how big football players are getting these days?

Today it is not uncommon to see college football linemen that weigh more than 300 lbs.

Just the other day I saw a 1960 freshman football program from of two major Division 1 football programs. The linemen averaged only 190 lbs. for one school and 200 lbs. for the other.

What has happened?

Certainly the players’ genetics have not changed. The genes of players today are about the same as those of 40 years ago.

Better medical care is a consideration, but health care has not changed radically for youth in the United States.

Nutrition plays a role in making the new stronger, faster player. Kids eat more protein and fresh vegetables. Our youth have also been taking more vitamin supplements. All these nutritional changes probably play a role.

However, one major reason for bigger players is creatine supplementation. It has been increasingly used by football players since the mid 1990’s. A recent report said that 48% of male Div. 1 athletes have used creatine. Creatine allows players to rapidly gain muscle mass. Muscle size is directly related to strength. Since creatine stores energy in the muscle cells the athlete has more endurance and more stamina.

Creatine is best at fueling type 2, fast twitch muscle fibers. This is the muscle type that contracts first and is used for rapid, explosive strength and speed.

Intense weight training is now a part of every Div.1 football program. Undoubtedly this has played a major role in increasing the size, speed, and endurance of today’s football players.

In my opinion, weight training, creatine supplementation, and better nutrition in that order are the major reasons for bigger, stronger, and faster football players.