First things first what is a natty?
Being a “natty” means that someone chooses not to use drugs to make them stronger or better at sports. This includes any kind of drugs that make you bigger, run faster or become stronger like steroids, growth hormones or insulin. So if you take these kinds of drugs, then people won’t think of you as a natty.
What is creatine exactly in it’s most natural form?
Creatine is a type of acid that your body makes in the liver, pancreas and kidneys. It is then sent to your muscles to be used for energy. Your body can store some creatine in the muscles so that you have it ready when you need it.
Some people take creatine from outside sources like dietary supplements and this kind of creatine is called exogenous creatine. To make this exogenous form, scientists combine two different amino acids called glycine and methionine together usually in a laboratory setting.
Is Creatine Natty?
Yes and no, creatine is a naturally occurring substance so in that sense it is natty. However, the exogenous form of creatine is not something that you would find in nature. It is a man-made supplement that is designed to help with energy and muscle growth. So, while creatine is a natural substance, the exogenous form is not and therefore is not considered natty.
However most people look at the doping list by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to define if a substance makes you unnatural or not. On this list creatine is not banned which is why many people consider it to be natural. Caffeine for example was still a banned substance in competition up until 2004, so by the WADA standards it is now a natural substance.
In short, taking creatine does not necessarily mean that you are not natty anymore. It’s simply an substance that is found in food and is not banned by sporting organizations. This substance helps with muscle endurance and is not thought to be a performance-enhancing drug. So, if you are taking creatine you can still consider yourself a natty athlete.
Benefits and risks of taking creatine
Benefits
- Improve strength and power
- Enhance muscle growth
- Increase energy levels
- Improve exercise performance
- Reduce muscle damage
If you want to work out better and become stronger, creatine can help. It is a legal thing that you can take that won’t get you in any trouble and it is safe to use.
Risks
- Weight gain
- Bloating
- Cramping
- Diarrhea
If you take the amount of creatine that is suggested for safe use and drink enough water, then you probably won’t experience any side effects from taking it.
However, if someone takes a lot more than what’s advised or does not stay hydrated properly (drink enough water), then they might suffer from some adverse reactions.
When are you not natty anymore?
We have already decided that taking creatine is okay. But there are some other drugs that people take that would mean you would not be considered to be “natty” anymore.
Anabolic steroids, growth hormone, and insulin are all banned substances which means you’re not a natural athlete if you’re taking any of them. Some people may think these drugs improve how good someone does in sports so it makes them non-natural but this isn’t always true.
Some things like marijuana are against the rules but don’t make someone unnatural – they just aren’t allowed in certain sports. So just because something is illegal doesn’t mean it’s unnatural or will make you stop being a natty athlete.
My opinion on is creatine natty
I think that creatine is okay to use and you can consider yourself “natty” which means not taking any drugs that are illegal. Creatine is a substance found in nature, so it’s okay to take. But some people do not agree with this because you can buy it in forms called “exogenous”, which mean outside-of-the-body, from stores or online.
I believe though, as long as you don’t take anabolic steroids, growth hormone or insulin – drugs that help performance but are banned for use in sports – then creatine is still alright and considered natty.
Conclusion on is creatine natty
Creatine is a chemical that can be found in our bodies and it isn’t against the rules for sports organizations. That means when you take creatine, you can tell people that you haven’t tried any banned substances. But make sure to remember the side effects of taking creatine and stay hydrated.
Whereas anabolic steroids, growth hormone, and insulin are drugs which make people stronger or faster without practice or training, these kinds of drugs are not allowed in professional sports so if you use them then you cannot still call yourself ‘natty’. Creatine is different because it does not help improve performance like those other drugs do – so using creatine is still considered natty!
