Creatine: What It Is, Who Should Use It, and Why It Works
Creatine is having it’s moment in the fitness and wellness world. Whether you’ve seen it at the gym or on social media, it seems like it is popping up everywhere. But despite its popularity, there’s still confusion about what creatine actually does and who should be using it.
At Pursuit Athletic Centre, we’re about giving our athletes, patients and fitness community real, science-backed tools to perform at their best. So let’s break it down.
What is Creatine?
Creatine is a naturally occurring compound found in your muscles and brain. It’s made from amino acids (specifically arginine, glycine, and methionine) and stored mostly in your skeletal muscles. Your body produces a small amount of creatine each day, and you also get some from foods like red meat and fish.
Supplementing with creatine increases your body’s phosphocreatine stores, which help regenerate ATP, the primary fuel source your muscles use during high-intensity activity. In simple terms: more creatine = more quick energy = better performance.
Why Use Creatine?
Whether you’re a high performing athlete, recovering from an injury, or someone who wants to build strength and move better, creatine can help.
1. Increased Power and Strength
Creatine is one of the most researched and proven supplements on the market for boosting power output. That means more weight on the bar, more explosive speed, and more reps before failure.
2. Improved Recovery
Studies show that creatine may help reduce muscle damage and inflammation, meaning you can bounce back faster between training sessions.
3. Enhanced Muscle Growth
Creatine supports muscle cell hydration and performance, both of which contribute to greater hypertrophy (muscle growth) over time.
4. Cognitive and Health Benefits
Emerging research even shows creatine may have benefits beyond the gym, including improved cognitive performance and neurological protection, especially during sleep deprivation or mental fatigue.
Who Should Use It?
Creatine is for anyone looking to train harder, recover better, and get more from their workouts.
Professional and high performing athletes: Creatine can give you that edge in power, speed, and endurance.
Weekend warriors and fitness enthusiasts: It helps you get more out of your sessions and supports your recovery.
Older adults: Creatine can support muscle maintenance and brain health as we age.
How to Take It
Stick to creatine monohydrate. It’s the gold standard for purity, safety, and effectiveness. A daily dose of 3–5 grams is typically all you need. We recommend Klean Creatine! You can take it before or after your workout, or anytime during the day. Of course before trying any supplement please consult your doctor.
At Pursuit, we prefer performance over hypes and gimmicks. Creatine is one of the rare supplements that lives up to the science and delivers results across the board. Whether you're chasing the podium or just trying to hit your next personal best, creatine deserves a spot in your toolkit.
Have questions about how to incorporate it into your regimen? Ask one of our coaches or therapy professionals, we’re here to help.
