FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
There's about 10 what we consider anabolic factors, and then there's probably just as many as an anti-catabolic effect.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
So it has a plethora of benefits, which I'm sure we'll talk more about in detail today.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
Yeah, in two ways.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
So it really seems to maximize either the recruitment or the ability of type two muscle fibers.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
And when we talk about aging, unfortunately, those are the ones we're losing as we get older.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
But it really seems to work in the second, third and fourth set.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
So, for example, if you were to do four sets of leg press,
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
Compared to a placebo, you may not notice any difference in the first set because we think we have enough ATP or fossil creatine stores in our muscle.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
But when it comes to set two, three, and four, that's where creatine really comes to the rescue.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
The individual or group can do more repetitions, and then over time, they can actually do a greater volume.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
We think with weeks of training, if you're doing more volume, you can actually get greater physiological adaptations.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
So when we look at all the meta-analysis, when you compare creatine and weight training to creatine placebo and weight training, there is a greater increase in lean body mass, muscle size, as well as muscle performance.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
So creatine, there is something there from a mechanistic standpoint to allow that.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
And we think muscle fiber recruitment, primarily type 2 muscle fibers, is one of the main reasons.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
Excellent question.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
It does.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
It really speeds it up.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
So on average, if you were to totally wipe out your normal creatine stores, it takes about three to five minutes for your mitochondria to recover that.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
However, creatine really, really speeds up that recovery.
FoundMyFitness
#100 The Optimal Creatine Protocol for Strength, Brain, and Longevity | Darren Candow, PhD
which is great for the average person.