Is Taking Creatine Supplements Bad For You?

Creatine is showing up on the cans of some of our favorite energy drinks. But what exactly is it?

According to Healthline, creatine is a highly ranked supplement that improves performance in the gym and during other physical activity. Believe it or not, your body creates creatine on its own as an amino acid, but is passed out through the body when you use the bathroom. Therefore, it is important to be aware of your creatine levels, especially if you have a larger muscle mass, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Bang Energy is a popular energy drink that contains "super creatine," or creatine that is bonded to L-Leucine, according to Null Chiropractic. Due to its skyrocketing popularity thanks to TikTok, even those who aren't athletes or regulars in the gym have become fans of the company's multiple flavors, which come in everything from cotton candy to key lime pie.

However, lots of people are skeptical about creatine drinks and supplements, with some people even believing it is a steroid, according to Basic Fit. This is not true, but it's important to note that every individual body may respond to supplements differently.

Depending on your own body, you may experience some less pleasant side effects from creatine. Some users have experienced symptoms like bloating, kidney stones, and other digestive problems, according to Healthline. However, the same article also explained that the International Society of Sports Nutrition considers creatine one of the safest and beneficial supplements on the market.

Creatine enhances gym performance by helping your muscles produce more energy. Also, according to another Healthline article, more benefits of creatine include increasing lean muscle weight and muscle size. In addition, if you're vegetarian or vegan, chances are, you should be taking creatine supplements, as the compound is mostly found in meat and fish products, according to Nutrifix. Creatine is helpful if you live a very active lifestyle, as it can prevent injury, boost short-term memory, and promote recovery, according to the same source.

So if you're worried that ingesting creatine supplements might cause a slew of negative health effects, you can relax a little.