💊 Supplement Series: Creatine
Last week I said I’d share the third and final part of my Personal Story series but upon second thought it felt a bit too self-indulgent and perhaps uninteresting 🤷♀️. I’m still very happy to share that another time if you’re interested. In the meantime, I realized it’s been a little while since we talked supplements!
You may have heard of creatine before, specifically in relation to men using it as a complement to strength training and muscle growth 💪🏽. Creatine is actually something our bodies produce naturally and it’s found not just in our muscles but also our brain 🧠! Lucky for us, creatine has been heavily researched and is particularly beneficial for women - especially as we age.
The benefits
🧠 Supports mood and cognitive function (particularly for those experiencing burnout or brain fog)
💪🏽 Improves muscle strength, endurance and recovery
⬆️ Increases lean muscle mass retention (especially important for women 30+)
⬇️ Reduces fatigue (particularly in the luteal phase)
As you can see, creatine is particularly beneficial for two scenarios all women face: stress and peri and post-menopause (where we experience rapid muscle loss).
With all of the above being said, like with any supplements, I recommend getting blood work done before you start taking it. I, for example, was interested but a blood test revealed I already have slightly elevated levels of creatine (likely due to my regular strength training and high-protein diet).
I’d love to hear if any of you have tried it!
Warm regards,
Donelle