Muscle Milk - Are the claims true?

Well, creatine isn't banned, if you count that as legit. In 2000, my wife said there was only herself and maybe two other athletes on the entire team that were not using creatine. I'm surprised that anyone in board positions of USAS or USMS would consider it cheating. As far as the negative effects, there are thousands of studies that have shown creatine to be safe and effective in individuals with healthy kidneys. There is additional research that shows in people who are predisposed with kidney ailments, that it can increase the severity of those problems. Nathan, I guess I was trying to say that perhaps folks should not really consider it "cheating" to use it if it is not dangerous etc. The same way as a fastskin helps and is not dangerous...I don't think skins are cheating, they are an artificial aid though...but if everyone is doing it and nobody is getting hurt...so be it. For me it's not the steroids but the fact that it forces others to risk compromising their health and use them too if they want to keep pace.

Hopefully, this post will go through. I had a problem when I first tried. If you have even slight gastric problems, Creatine is going to screw you up. I know many GIs who say that in time taking extra creatine is going to do a terrible number of your intestines. I have had a Colectomy. I used to have pretty bad colitis. I still have problems. After my surgery, I took some creatine and about killed myself. My surgeon and my GI were really freaked at me. A side effect of taking in extra creatine is diarrhea. I waddle like to know if anyone who doesn't have gut problems has had problems taking creatine? I and many others took it in Afghanistan. No side effects that I noticed or anyone talked about. Also, we didn't care if it was cheating given the situation. I haven't taken it since returning to the USA. I've heard it is hard on your kidneys. Anyone know if this is true?

I've heard it is hard on your kidneys. Anyone know if this is true? Possibly... I have heard the same about Red Bull and the like..don't overdo any of that stuff... Drink plenty of water regardless...

Possibly... I have heard the same about Red Bull and the like..don't overdo any of that stuff... Drink plenty of water regardless... I do...evertime I swim Back Stroke. Usually through my nose though.:drown::rofl:

This is an interesting discussion. Creatine seems like a grey area and seems risky. I haven't touched it. Maybe the fact that you would have to eat several pounds of steak a day to get the same intake that some people consume with supplementation is nature's way of limiting it. Most of us (except eskimos) didn't evolve that way. I suspect your physicians would take a dim view of it.

There is some serious unwarranted paranoia here about creatine. There are two basic facts about creatine supplementation: 1. It enhances short duration exercise performance 2. It has never been shown to have a negative health effect. I searched a little and found an article to support each of those points. As more research is done and still nobody finds any actual evidence of serious side effects, the tone of reviews seems to be shifting from "creatine is unknown and possibly dangerous" to acceptance of creatine's safety. Long-term creatine supplementation does not significantly affect clinical markers of health in athletes Effects of creatine supplementation on performance and training adaptation

There is some serious unwarranted paranoia here about creatine. There are two basic facts about creatine supplementation: 1. It enhances short duration exercise performance 2. It has never been shown to have a negative health effect. I searched a little and found an article to support each of those points. As more research is done and still nobody finds any actual evidence of serious side effects, the tone of reviews seems to be shifting from "creatine is unknown and possibly dangerous" to acceptance of creatine's safety. Long-term creatine supplementation does not significantly affect clinical markers of health in athletes Effects of creatine supplementation on performance and training adaptation If it's proven to be safe and non habitforming then it should be legitimised as a supplement. The issue with steroids is because kids think it's ok and do it..the detrimental risks are too high...

If it's proven to be safe and non habitforming then it should be legitimised as a supplement. The issue with steroids is because kids think it's ok and do it..the detrimental risks are too high... I think whether something is ethical has something to do with relationship among how much it effects performance, how much it costs, and how dangerous it is. For example, full body racing suits probably make you a little faster, they cost a lot, and they are not dangerous. This may mean they are unethical, because some swimmers can't afford them. But most of us use them. Creatine may make you a little faster, the amount needed for meet preparation costs a few bucks, and it's not dangerous. By comparison, that sounds pretty ethical to me.

I think whether something is ethical has something to do with relationship among how much it effects performance, how much it costs, and how dangerous it is. For example, full body racing suits probably make you a little faster, they cost a lot, and they are not dangerous. This may mean they are unethical, because some swimmers can't afford them. But most of us use them. Creatine may make you a little faster, the amount needed for meet preparation costs a few bucks, and it's not dangerous. By comparison, that sounds pretty ethical to me. I think we see it the same way. I think that fastskins are like the BMW's of swimgear not neccessarily a status symbol but something that is price prohibitve for some. The analogy of the cost of a good golf club to an avid golfer as being comparable to a FS as a justification for buying one is true, but golf clubs are cost prohibitive to some too.

I'm surprised that anyone in board positions of USAS or USMS would consider it cheating. To quote Rob Copeland: "I personally believe that creatine should be banned and that anyone who has used it has cheated." (Post # 226, Dara Torres-Amazing thread)