Social News Reporter Alice Sjoberg started taking a supplement in the hopes it would help overcome her afternoon tiredness and brain fog. Now she revealed what really happened…
Most days without fail, I would have an energy crash in the afternoon. It didn’t matter if I was working or had the day off, but my eyelids would get heavier and I’d struggle with focusing on what I was doing.
While some might say sitting at a desk for an office job all day isn’t tiring, it is often mentally draining. I always make sure to go out on walks every day and schedule in time to exercise and take time away from screens, I still find myself exhausted by the time 3pm rolled around every day, often resulting in me reaching for caffeine or sugar for an energy kick.
I quickly realised this wasn’t a good long-term solution and started researching ways to keep my energy levels up through to the end of the day, or at least until the end of my work day.
From making sure I go to bed early and getting a good night’s sleep to eating healthily and going to the gym several times a week, my overall energy did improve. I even went on to ask my GP for a blood check to make sure everything looked good. However, I still had my big dips in the afternoon that often left me unable to focus on what I was doing.
One day as I was expressing my frustrations about the matter to my parents, my dad went on to say he had been experiencing the same thing, so he started taking a supplement which helped prevent these energy dips.
But as he told me he was taking creatine, my thoughts immediately went to the stereotype that it’s a supplement only bodybuilders and people who want to build muscle take. But after doing my own research, I realised just how wrong I was.
Creatine is one of the most well-researched supplements in the world, and people often don’t realise just how many benefits that can come from taking it.
What is creatine and what are the benefits?
Creatine is a vital chemical ingredient in our bodies, where it is produced naturally within the liver, kidneys and pancreas and stored in our muscles and brains. The creatine we produce typically isn’t enough for our total requirements on its own, so most people also rely on sources in their diet – certain foods, such as meat and oily fish, are rich in this nutrient.
Creatine helps to manage the energy available to our cells and tissues, and there’s emerging evidence that some people might benefit from creatine supplementation.
From reducing post-viral fatigue to improving cognitive function in people who are stressed, and even boosting memory, creatine supplements may provide some people with a significant cognitive boost. It’s also been speculated that creatine might help to alleviate symptoms in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and improve mood.
Studies have also shown a range of other potential health benefits of creatine, including stopping the progress of tumours in some animal studies, and improving menopause symptoms.
Creatine may also have benefits to our mental health. In one study, people with depression were given creatine powder alongside a course of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The researchers found that, over eight weeks, their symptoms improved more than those who had CBT without creatine.
So as you can see, creatine comes with a long list of benefits, so I decided to try it. I bought a package and now mix the dosage with a glass of water every morning, and within a week, I noticed that I can now go through my whole work day without feeling like I need a nap.
I’ve also noticed I don’t experience brain fog as much anymore either, which has been another unexpected benefit of the supplement.
Always talk to your GP if you’re experience excessive tiredness, and ask for a consultation before starting a new supplement.