Is creatine good for the immune system? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

Is creatine good for the immune system?

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

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UPDATED: Aug 25, 2020

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  • Creatine is not good for the immune system
  • If used over long periods of time, creatine could cause the body to no longer be able to locate and destroy bacteria and viruses that enter the body.
  • Whey protein, another supplement to benefit the body’s muscle and protein content has actually been proven to help the immune system.

Surprisingly enough, creatine is not good for the immune system.

Although many people may believe that because creatine is beneficial to one part of the body, it will be beneficial to other aspects of the body, this is incorrect.

In fact, creatine could potentially be damaging to the immune system, especially if it is mixed with certain prescriptions or supplements. It may even slow down your immune system functions if you are unaware of the problem and you continue to consume these in combination.

Creatine is known to be good for performance and energy levels, along with the repair and growth of the muscles. In order to make this product beneficial to our entire body, it must possess the qualities of a nutritional supplement, such as rich vitamins and proteins, etc.

Supplementation is only part of a healthy lifestyle. You need to move your body, too. To get the most out of your workouts, go PRO today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, goal trackers, and more!

Why May Creatine Be Harmful to the Immune System?

Studies have been done in order to conduct the same question if creatine is beneficial to the immune system. According to Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong website, researchers found that with the use of the popular type of creatine supplement, standard creatine monohydrate, the body sensed foreign substances in the body as well as a decrease in the functions of the receptor molecules.

In conclusion of the experiment, the researchers agreed that the creatine may actually harm the immune system. If used over long periods of time, it could actually cause the body to no longer be able to locate and destroy bacteria and viruses that enter the body.

Although these results are not set in stone, they are giving the creatine user a heads up to keep track of the potentially damaging effects of the product. The immune system is a very important part of the body. If a creatine user is diminishing their immune system’s ability to protect their body because they want larger muscles, they may be making an irresponsible trade.

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Are There Beneficial Supplements for Your Immune System?

Whey protein, another supplement to benefit the body’s muscle and protein content has actually been proven to help the immune system. A whey protein supplement, which includes some contents of cheese, is one of the best sources of milk for the body and the immune system.

There are natural ingredients in whey protein that are beneficial to the body. Glutathione, which is an important natural part of the body, is produced by consuming whey protein.

The glutathione in whey protein detoxifies the liver and other parts of the body. It also hinders other infections, bacteria and viruses in the body, unlike creatine supplements.

Whey protein has also been seen to show some improvement for detrimental health issues including cancer.

How Do You Make Your Immune System Healthy Without Supplements?

In order to keep the immune system healthy and working properly, it is important to make sure you are eating a healthy, varied diet of fresh whole food. It is also important to let some germs into your body, but make sure you are regulating those germs and keeping them at a minimal level.

For example, you do not necessarily want to touch every dirty door knob in your path, but touching a few won’t hurt you. Another tip is to make sure hand-washing happens often; before meals, after meals, and definitely after a long work or school day.

Another way to keep the immune system healthy is to drink a lot of juice. The juice should be 100% juice, no concentrations. Look for the juice content of important vitamins such as vitamins A and C.

In some cases, in order to get the right amount of nutrients and vitamins for a daily diet, OTC vitamins are consumed. This will more than likely help your immune system as long as they are combined with a consistently healthy diet.

Keeping the immune system healthy is tricky. Someone who is looking to boost their immune system should drink plenty of water, and refrain from fatty, body-clogging foods.

Stick to a leafy green diet. If vitamins don’t seem to be beneficial, consuming fruits and vegetables will be a great replacement for all of the missing vitamins and nutrients.

Another interesting tip is to incorporate lemons and carrots into the diet. These two components are great for keeping up the balance in the body as well as maintaining the proper nutrients. Sufficient amounts of protein are also important for this task. Pair your healthy diet with a regular exercise routine by going PRO today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, and more.

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