| Health and Fitness

Before the Olympic-sized weight bar -- holding 700 pounds -- clanked the bench and 17-year-old Matt Poursoltani sat up, a question began racing through the minds of the general public: How did he do it? The next question was logically obvious: Is he taking anything?
Just for the record, Poursoltani came within five pounds of breaking an NFL-record for bench pressing when he successfully hoisted 700 pounds as a high school student in Texas. What makes the feat even more impressive is that he added 100 pounds to his bench press within a year.
Poursoltani denies he's taking anything illegally. But, what about the stuff that is legal? Is that any safer?
Millions of high school students -- perhaps Poursoltani included -- migrate to supplements on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis without fail. One of the more popular -- and controversial substances -- used is Creatine.
Creatine is typically paired with a high-protein diet and rigorous weight lifting and features dramatically incredible results in a very short amount of time. That description sounds eerily similar to steroids, but Creatine isn't illegal and is sold at GNC or various supplement stores around the world.

Most of the studies regarding the safety of Creatine are quickly dismissed, and the supplement passes the tests with flying colors. Creatine has shown no side effects -- despite clinical studies and reports -- that it causes harm to the kidneys, nervous system or the liver.
The real dilemma with Creatine centers more on the effects of the supplement on kids -- ages 6-18 -- like Poursoltani. More now than ever, high school sports and subsequent dominance is at an all-time high with colleges offering scholarships to junior high school students.
Creatine has been determined safe -- for adults. The same can't be said for kids, especially the younger ones. Creatine is associated with upset stomach, nausea, cramping and loss of appetite. The digestive system of a 6-year-old hockey player or a 10-year-old soccer star isn't fully developed and shouldn't be part of the sports regimen. In addition to the digestive aspect, muscle tears and strains are more common -- again, due to the lack of development.
Truthfully, building muscle mass -- which is the main goal of Creatine -- shouldn't be on the agenda for anyone that isn't playing college or professional sports. The scarier aspect of Creatine may be the notion that it provides such great results for kids like Poursoltani -- who denies using anything illegal -- that it becomes a "gateway" to something more serious -- like steroids.
Creatine works and that leads to results. And once results are achieved, any normal, hard-working and determined person wants to continue those results to epic proportions. The potent powder doesn't belong anywhere near an impressionable, grade or middle-school athlete who should be focusing on enjoying their sports.
The fact that the side effects of Creatine in adults are non-existent will make it even more appealing. The sensation Poursoltani experienced no doubt was exhilarating and made front-page news. Unfortunately, the effect of supplements such as Creatine in kids often finds itself as back-page material.

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