Is Creatine Safe to Use When Training Your Vertical Jump?

If you’re a conscientious athlete, you don’t want to get inch gain at the cost of your health. Performance-enhancing substances especially can sound potentially harmful. Research has proven, however, that the substance creatine is a natural and legal way to safely add muscle.

What is creatine?

It is a nitrogenous organic acid that supplies energy to muscle, proven to help increase muscles by Harvard University professors in 1912. This substance is naturally found in skeletal vertebrae.

Why should this be used in conjunction with vertical jump training?

Recent research has shown that the consumption of high glycemic carbohydrates in conjunction with creatine increases muscle store and performance, consequently becoming a vital way to increase the strength needed for increased vertical jump.

It increases power during short sessions of high-intensity aerobic exercise. This is especially important when you are training for explosion in your vertical jump in brief but powerful sessions at the gym.

Studies done with creatine and mice show an improvement in lifespan and overall health of the mice. Other tests proved vegetarians especially improved mentally and cognitively with the its use, which is found in meat products. Research is also being done to test the effectiveness of this substance’s supplementation for those with a variety of muscular and neurological diseases.

Successful athletes who have used creatine:

- Linford Christie, 100 meter Olympic gold medalist

- Sally Gunnell, 400 meter hurdles Olympic gold medalist

- Mark McGuire, Athletics and Cardinals Major League baseball player

- Gary Sheffield, Mets Major League baseball player

In actuality, probably all popular athletes use this performance enhancer.

Who shouldn’t use it?

You can always ask your doctor to be safe, but those with renal dysfunctions (kidney problems) are advised to avoid this. Also, “loading,” or more than 20g per day, should be avoided. Drinking enough water with your intake is the most important item to remember to correctly use the supplement.

For a healthy athlete, creatine is a proven safe method to increase muscle mass and a healthy way to obtain more of what the body already naturally produces. This is accepted in most athletic circles as the most effective way to achieve your athletic potential via muscle gain, including increasing vertical jump.