JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?j+'k"oS'E] ^(v 6gc@sE|\kz>$U(% ׮:?N?;tV<~,z@ήA/rU?֨W.LY*A ;#PEQEQEQEQEQEQEQEZ}>" s`kе*4;I\%62A9-'hvΰEwNxlO-ż0@\ܱ+&gq#ל]Im,S9Yc?+0 s׺6Xx M:qcr}&>&?̔DS1Z-%B1=k~Mhg4ekTOlQ:Cu|d"ǝ\|$F%N0ANf/a(LǞ|Wk $ZRSjl* h^3QҌ;OZkrDy8=/kҘXdᬀO ; CWG$J1$h6>wX Ac1|gҨ$[-j$ݝѢuO@r8me`|8ac™7Db0o]Gyk#OHIgLҚ;* K-c$O֧r][[= (2W \,7 ;; 7r+Gq=X$D$^@?`2 |3sXΥfkmW|CJ :c=ǰkڦ6e> y VֳbfT.%:e/ nH?a~_N(7 gYR)G0kWƂGz ޻EfDnZ((j6t^ezMpJ宕 $k[&}$Ʃw+[ZO$~ +UBۖmʀ(^P;zU=1WL 6դGxЎ޵*&G41BL$n `z+OM]/œBb'y3jI+OckrG4U((([ҞEŹ0W\ Fv0WX`]m[­.mQ:јLJd(fc>dR]{nHF!ޣRd;^6U4M^ Va cYSSnkM+xb wS5.R,`FEg=ΩE"cl=.mB[ҙ2vqm;IfaO[kiAʪ䷵ym߇5E װuy ibN$S,⚻4 6~q#/ӁAӴ?,K7MoWQ%VVGcaķDp}ڥcJ"K b O!rk^Q$rrY$v4;of鸞~I709a\snoS%4w {U7M{a~PڗN^gK)9} ?ʷ+ztKQEnfQEQEQEQEQEbk~MDf_ dޢieoDq43 }A zgkrj6)@e@Z6UJƥ%-Q*86xex<[k }+qfuR H ՐYIZCIk?^k_%/a3)X!'iLϵs"nړRȗRjr1w8᳏Ưj6i,Ez613[s,y?Z-qk8a#U.}o$Շ;(32qJT6n23zgT.`3&o* PSV$6?u{m3GZ2DH㊩VRܨu_aI-IgwjͼqZ!,rX$M&ߒD5Kћc'T^Rf. ^Gok)ajHaӚ?7V1jv\Dj|ȇoj|;Q|@3PFH3x{Vz MJ9핯YNgI7bwg}~0Oq&_[+͏F[5b(EPEPEPEPEPEPH~饤:'KXK&Yi$$g'ttʧUOh-¯c3.0d!.i ziٝ^#"INo:L|$1wkI_H 1&%'t7<*}>KKSpǨ5B`5]OaXT/lÚ XAHGDds]>]L$iHx4ctrץ ۱L$ݻZ=a/N$%^in}Б?YIX%)q@ ]Hk'7[i1_i >xnֶ+ox7kbx %^OJ+.t3Ʋ!R2MX)QEQEQEQEQEQE"F +WӤ/dnO?wǍeB#**AM My|G_(zUMHL*Q{<7q`s!!{\?b/G9Eq/S2SGA5L̺Z]~?m],$@~hF8^is3wj S}O^[?ZLsdi1Evw9*IuQVfQEQEQEQEQEQEQLE ;Q7Fq+eF7=[sjF ԓ\W5]G߆ukvk6{y9DT&@Z]Cy*؃'ڷu kDKԡAqE+(r@ j7ЉK-|G9`Vĺ|R$;;t`OC.U-z7<-$} $%'\;sҾeԮŰ2"p0Yd>ʹ?Gysr1ciV-ᔳ0봅ǯ$V#ZKڲOSL*2r;㧽e*i摫(ǔ:gӼ#[\ V,rI? ޭLŠ((((((((((( ]V:mտ"O2;~+.@ *m?8V\Jɍ^Ac;jK_=we]jZ)PjvQt)\#AWY:-*fe(|g$`nŢ)QEQEQEQEQEQEQEQEQEQEyVM3\([((((s". If too much sodium is lost through perspiration, it causes an imbalance with potassium resulting in cramping. The "environmental theory" states that exercising in extreme heat or humidity can lead to an electrolyte imbalance already mentioned above. Again, there are many theories, but no documented evidence. So if we do not know what causes cramps, and, we know there is no physiological reason creatine can cause dehydration, we can dismiss the notion that creatine causes muscle cramps.<br>Does creatine affect the function of the liver and kidneys? This has been and is currently being studied by three well known and highly respected researchers, Dr. Bill Kraemer, Dr. Rick Kreider, and Mr. Mike Stone to date, no undesirable side effects have been found. Kreider studied the effects of creatine on college football players and reported "no impact on tests of liver or kidney function." Kraemer examined active college students at Penn State after a heavy work out. He also found no side effects from the use of creatine. He examined hormone levels, blood profiles and muscle biopsies. Participants also filled out questionnaires regarding any side effects such as cramping, diarrhea, nausea. None were reported. Not only has Kraemer thoroughly examined creatine, he also used it when he was a competitive athlete as did his 17-year-old daughter when she played high school tennis and his 15-year-old son when he was weight lifting. Again, no adverse side affects. Creatine does have one well-documented side effect. It causes an increase in muscle mass. When taken as prescribed it has the capacity to increase body weight by as much as seven pounds in five days.<br>Are there any long term effects? The long term effect of creatine has never been studied. However, creatine has been used in the past and without incident. Athletes in the 1940s and 1950s used it until steroids became available. They switched to steroids because they got results much faster. The Eskimos ingest up to four grams of creatine per day through their high consumption of meat and fish, twice that of Americans, and, have not had any documented ill effects.<br>How much time is considered long term? Is it 5 years, 10 years, or 50 years? The FDA has been studying creatine since it exploded onto the sports scene in 1992. Dr. Mike Stone from Appalachian State University, a leader in the field of Muscle Physiology, has been studying athletes who have been taking creatine for as long as six years. To date, there are no reports of kidney, heart or liver problems.<br>Since there is no documented evidence that creatine is a health hazard, the benefits of accelerated muscle development using creatine, far outweigh at least one alternative - using anabolic steroids. For those concerned about sending the wrong message to young adults, consider this; it is a great service to young people to let them know there is a viable alternative to using anabolic steroids.<br><br>_____________________________