Creatine and Anabolic Steroids

Both Creatine and Anabolic Steroids are used to add additional muscle mass. Creatine though is a legal and naturally occurring substance whereas Anabolic Steroids are banned by most professional sporting organisations throughout the world. Creatine can be used to add raw muscle mass size and power but it is not an anabolic steroid. Creatine is a nitrogenous organic acid occurring naturally in all vertebrates. Creatine helps to supply energy to muscle and nerve cells. The body manufactures, stores and uses creatine for pursuits which require bursts of energy – like running at a high speed. Unfortunately creatine reserves within the body can only supply energy from creatine for a very short period of time.

Creatine has quite often been likened to anabolic steroids, because it provides the user with higher amounts of energy and increases lean muscle mass. But nothing could be further from the truth. Though both anabolic steroids and creatine enhance performance, and both are ingested as sports supplements, the basic difference lies in the chemical structure of the two. Anabolic steroids like testosterone are hormones, while creatine is a protein available in the body.

Most steroids however have both anabolic and androgynous capabilities. For example testosterone promotes growth and masculine features in males. This is vastly different from the effects of creatine, which in essence, increases ones energy to perform. Thus, a bodybuilder on creatine becomes capable of running an extra mile, or lifting extra weight due to the excess energy within his body. This in turn, helps him develop his body quicker. Creatine also has an effect of absorbing water, which increases the water mass of muscles.

Creatine is classified as a dietary health (food) supplement, as you can consume, theoretically, enough creatine rich food – like red meat, to substitute supplementation. This cannot be done in the case of steroids, which are released within the human body by specific glands, at specific ages and in specific quantities. To amplify the effects of steroids, they have to be ingested through supplements - tablets or injections. Creatine is closer to vitamins than steroids or hormones. Creatine is an amino acid it is similar to glutamine, and arginine – both used to enhance performance.

In simple terms therefore both Creatine and Anabolic steroids will increase your muscle mass - however Creatine is natural, Creatine is legal, Creatine will not cause any of the nasty side effects associated with anabolic steroids and therefore Creatine is the best choice to add lean muscle mass onto your physique.