Our 26 year old son has this year started Body Building.
It started because it took his mind off of some very bad experiences at church last year.

He is taking Creatin, which in 8 weeks has already changed the shape of his body.

Does anyone know of a site that tells you what Creatin does to ones body?
I have searched, and only come up with sites to sell it to me!

Any ideas on how you would handle this?

Or should I go to the health forum?

.......................
Be Still, My Soul
Zita

[This message has been edited by Zita (edited March 12, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Zita (edited March 12, 2001).]

Zita,
You might contact Ken Parsons at this e-mail addy:
bonnieparson@yahoo.com

He has a health site on the web, but I can't find the url just now.

Gerry

Zita, my husband has been an afficondo of body building since the 1960's. I've been living with boby building mags for a lot of years. He is telling me as I write that creatine is a very concentrated meat protein (amino acids) derived product. It comes from meat, be it beef, pork, or whatever. He also says to tell your son that garbanzos (also called chickpeas) have almost a PER rating as eggs. He also said he should cycle his workouts so that they end about 1 hour before mealtime. The highest anabolic protein synthesis occurs in that time frame after a workout.

As for websites, I'll look at the sites I often check for information and see what I can find.

Ed says that will definitely frequent this thread. I'm sure he'll probably load it with information.

------------------
For I know that my redeemer liveth,
and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.
_________________________

Linda

I've found a few places you can check out. What I have discovered is that creatine came out as a supplement (at least in the US) in the early 1990's. There is very limited research at this point on what it does and potential problems. What research there is is often conflicting.

This bit of information is from the University of Pennsylvania.

Sales of creatine have increased after its highly-publicized use by professional athletes. It is processed in muscle cells to store energy for sprinting and vigorous exercise. Creatine is now being marketed to the general public and young athletes as an energy-promoting nutritional supplement.

Although creatine has been shown to improve short-term, high-intensity exercise performance, there is no evidence it affects endurance.

There is a need for caution, however. While most people consume 1 to 2 grams of creatine in their diet each day, mainly from red meat, promoters suggest taking much larger doses. Although most researchers assume that creatine is safe, there is little information about long-term, high-dose use.

There are still many questions to be answered about this "energy aid." Before taking supplements of any kind, consult with a physician.

Reviewed by Peter F. DeLuca, MD
Last Updated on 08/12/99

While I normally wouldn't put URLs in a topic, in this case I will. Most of these are for magazine and journal articles.
http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/cgi-bin/aems.cgi?QUERY=creatine&STYPE=EXACT
Search results of USFDA site that lists adverse reactions for creatine.
By clicking the check box under the ARMS number in the table, the clicking the blue bar that says "Click to show ARMS number(s) you will be shown more information

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m0GCU/n2_v15/20924354/p1/article.jhtml?term=creatine
article from Nutrition Forum "The Creatine Craze: such ergogenic promise--but at what price?"

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m0FKA/5_62/62702341/p1/article.jhtml?term=creatine
Article from Better Nutrition "Creatine-- Just the FAQs, ma'am"

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m3225/4_62/65106153/p1/article.jhtml?term=creatine
article from American Family Physician "ACSM Statement on Creatine Supplements"

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m1272/2665_129/66011847/p1/article.jhtml?term=creatine
article from USA Today "Long-Term Effects Remain Unknown"

http://www.consumerlab.com/results/creatine.asp
There isn't a lot of information here, but it's good information.

------------------
For I know that my redeemer liveth,
and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.
_________________________

Linda

I am very grateful to our church family for your replys to my post.

We spoke to our son last night, and although he did not receive us very well, he thought about it, and this morning did not take his creatine.

I have been into one or 2 sites, mostly disputing adverse information.

I appreciate your feedback here Linda and will be checking them out.

Interesting that on the container is says no animal products!

Robbie did try to find out all he could before he went into using Creatine, but no one told him anything bad, incouding the Chemist.

We were certainly praising God this morning for His victory. And you know, already I have noticed that Robbie is more his old lovely self.

..................
BE Still, My Soul
Zita

Linda, would you please ask Ed about having 6 meals a day, which is recommended in the book
Body for Life?.

I have pointed out the information in Counsels on Diets and Foods, but Robbie is looking for informed answers on these questions.

He just told me about the body builder who has a special deal with the local butcher, and has an order for a cow a week

Incase you are wondering, we are strictly Vegetarian! lol

.................
Be Still, My Soul
Zita

Hi Zita & Robbie

I will try to contain my joy as I one finger type. Way to go Robbie, I love to pump IRON too & especially building strength.

First things first. The human stomach is built on a dual time clock. That time clock is both chemically controled and neurologically controlled. The digestive system needs work and activity and rest and recuperation - recharge cycles just like the muscles. X-ray studies have been done to track the activity and emptying cycles of the digestive system. Healthy adult male college age test subjects were fed a tradational breakfast then had their alimentary system x-rayed at timed intervals to see how fast the stomach emptied.

1. Normal breakfast - stomach x-ray (baseline)
x-ray one hour later & stomach is well into peristalysis and breaking the contents down to send into the deuodnum to be buffered into a less acidic solution and be processed in the small intestine.
( a candy bar is fed to some test subjects at this time - after one hour)

Then later sequential x-rays showed in some of these test subjects that normal digestion is delayed from 8 - 13 hours. The digestive cycle is reset back to the initial phase when eating between the normal cycle time of digestion. So lots of people wind up going around with semi digested semi putrified "rotted" food in their stomachs, on a daily basis.

Unless a medical condition exists to require six small meals a day, it is poor practice to accept the theories of trainers and gurus as to the care and "feeding" of the digestive system. The physiologic timed cycle of digestion from start to uninturupted finish is a window of 4 - 6 hours.

Second thing to consider - would you suspect an MD of colusion if they advised surgery & were going to be the surgon who collected the MD & surgery fees ? I would.

The merchants & gym owners who advise 6 meals a day also want you to use their protein supplements (for a price of course).
This is a large share of their cash flow, often they might not make a profit without selling these supplements.

Their theory is that of building muscle by eating muscle. Where did the bull get muscles from in the first place ? Basic building blocks of food, water, work, rest, sunlight. Humans need to add the works of reason (temperance & abstemiousness)plus trust in God & what He has caused to be written.

You will need sufficent easily digestable calories furnishing stored chemical energy in appropriate forms, plus rebuilding materials, and nutrient transport & lubricant supplies in your diet. In other words Carbs, proteins, lipids, minerals & vitamins & plant microproducts & plenty of water .

More later. As far as excercises & variety try this book by Bill Pearl (who is lacto-ovo vegetarian.) "Keys to the Inner Universe".

I do not yet have it so I can not fully vouch for it but as far as a varity of excercises, which minimize joint damage through repedative same movements, it consistantly recievs good references from all sources I have reviewed. However do not use it or any books for your bodybuilding value system. Only the Bible & SOP qualify for that.
http://www.billpearl.com/

http://www.billpearl.com/bpbooks.htm
(one Bill Pearl link didn't work when tried so I deleted it. It was in the main Bill Pearl homepage anyhow click on programs at the top of the page to go to his eighteen month cycled system.)

BTW Bill Pearl was the only one capable of one on one against Arnold & possibly beating him.

I personally like bodybuilding but I prefer to lean toward the strength end rather than the contest posing end. I have naturally wide sholders & a life long struggle with body fat.

Bye for now,

------------------
Edward F Sutton

[This message has been edited by Edward F Sutton (edited March 13, 2001).]

Ed, do you think lifting weights would help me?
Walking is good aerobic exercise, but I want to build muscle as well.

Hi Gerry,

I'm not an expert so I'll leave the how's to Ed. But I do know that the more muscle you have, the more fat your body will be able to burn. You should consult your doctor on how to begin though if you've been sedentary for some time. We bought a Bowflex system which is nice because you can buy it on payments for $35 a month. Also, it is very compact and easy to use. But Ed probably has some better suggestions.

Wendy
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Maranatha!!!

Topic moved to the Health Message forum for continued discussion there.

__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace

Daryl