Is creatine good for the respiratory system? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

Is creatine good for the respiratory system?

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

Full Bio →

Written by

UPDATED: Aug 25, 2020

Advertiser Disclosure

It’s all about your brand. Let us do the heavy lifting.

Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident fitness software decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. Our partners do not influence our content. Our opinions are our own.

Editorial Guidelines: The Editorial Team at Exercise.com is dedicated to providing fair, unbiased information about the fitness industry. We update our site regularly and all content is reviewed by credentialed fitness experts.

Get the Basics...
  • Creatine supplements do not benefit the respiratory system. However, creatine is not bad for the respiratory system either.
  • Some creatine supplements have been known to produce asthma in some athletes who are taking them.
  • The amount of inflammation that is taken from the muscles in order to increase muscle mass seems to create positive results that overpower the negative risks of asthma.

Creatine supplements do not benefit the respiratory system. However, creatine is not bad for the respiratory system either.

Every person that consumes creatine may have different results than somebody else. Some creatine supplements have been known to produce asthma in some athletes who are taking them. Other people may have allergic reactions to the supplement, causing inflammation of the respiratory system as well.

As such, creatine has shown both positive and negative effects on a person’s health. Therefore, no answer is concrete as to whether it can actually benefit the respiratory system.

Supplements aside, no healthy lifestyle is complete without a regular exercise routine. Go PRO today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, and more.

Why Do People Say Creatine Is Linked to Asthma?

When studies have been done by researchers in order to clarify the reasons for asthma occurring in creatine users, they used mice.

According to the National Institutes of Health, over a 32-day period, while mice were on a creatine supplement, they had a smaller airway path to their lungs and inflammation of the respiratory system was seen. The lung response after consuming creatine was also less active.

Although the studies are available that show how creatine decreases the density of the lungs, athletes continue to consume the supplement. The amount of inflammation that is taken from the muscles in order to increase muscle mass seems to create positive results that overpower the negative risks of asthma.

The different types of asthma range from acute and chronic to mild or sports-induced. There are medications available, both over the counter or through a doctor’s prescription. While athletes may use these prescriptions to counteract the negative impacts of creatine, when creatine is used with certain medications it could also trigger other health issues as well.

What Types of Prescription Medications Shouldn’t Be Taken With Creatine Supplements?

According to WebMD, some medications combined with creatine may cause damage to the kidneys. Some of these medications include ibuprofen, naproxen, aminoglycosides, and anti-inflammatory drugs. These types of drugs are known as Nephrotoxic drugs and should either be avoided when taking creatine.

A person who is suffering from asthma induced by taking creatine should either reconsider the consumption of the supplement or find a type of prescription for asthma does not additionally interfere with the doses of creatine.

Creatine is the type of supplement that can be replaced by a healthy diet rich in protein-containing food that will promote lean muscle mass naturally. Any athlete, bodybuilder, or average joe looking to gain more muscle mass through a natural, healthy diet would be able to stick to their recommended prescription medications without worrying about interfering with the consumption of creatine. However, it’s always a good idea to consult with your doctor if you have any preexisting medical conditions.

Get More Out of Your Health and Fitness Routine. Go PRO!

Sign Up

What Type of Diet Would Increase My Muscle Mass and Decrease the Fat Content of My Body?

In order to build natural muscle mass and decrease the amount of fat content in the body, one must consume foods that are high in protein such as eggs, leafy green vegetables, meat, and fish. The consumption of fruits and carbohydrates will benefit the diet as well.

Consuming foods that are high in protein helps to build your muscle mass and maintain its structure just as consistently as supplementing with creatine!

A tricky fact about fats is actually that eating fats helps your body dispose of fats as well. If the body is not consistently consuming fats, it will hold the fat that was eaten previously. Fat is a necessity in the diet in order to maintain a balance with carbohydrates and proteins to burn during an intense workout.

Rather than taking a creatine supplement as an energy booster and fuel for the muscles, a well-balanced diet of high proteins, low fats, and moderate carbohydrates will do just fine.

Some of the foods that should be added or kept in your muscle-building diet include eggs, berries, yogurt, salmon, olive oil, mixed nuts, and red meat. You also need green vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, spinach, and kale, as well as oats, carrots, and tomatoes.

How can you stay properly hydrated and energized? Water and green tea are great choices. Green tea helps to replenish your body with natural nutrients while increasing your metabolism, while water helps with muscle recovery and keeping your body hydrated.

Creatine supplements may not be right for you, but you can find other supplements that will support your respiratory system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

– What are the benefits of creatine?

Creatine helps you build muscle. Research has shown that people with more muscle tend to have a higher metabolism, allowing them to use calories from food intake more effectively. In short, when you have more muscle you burn fat easier.

– Do I have to take supplements?

Unless your doctor has instructed you to take certain supplements, you do not have to take them.

– Are supplements safe?

Whether or not dietary supplements are safe to take depends on a number of factors. Learn more about the safety of supplements here.

  What supplements do I need to take?

No one can answer that aside from your doctor. To learn more about the various supplements that doctors commonly recommend, check out this article.

It is important to pair your supplement regimen with a regular exercise routine. Sign up for an Exercise.com PRO plan today for access to training logs, workout plans, and more.

Learn more about Exercise.com Fitness Business Management Software.

Schedule your demo today.