Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Creatine: More Than Just Muscle
3. Creatine's Role in Running Performance
4. Beyond the Sprint: Creatine's Wider Benefits for Runners
5. Navigating Creatine Supplementation: Dosage and Considerations
6. Tailoring Creatine Use to Your Running Goals
7. Our Commitment to Your Journey
8. FAQ

Introduction

Every runner, from the weekend warrior to the seasoned marathoner, constantly seeks an edge—a way to push past limits, recover faster, and ultimately, improve performance. Perhaps you've heard the buzz about creatine, a supplement often associated with strength athletes and bodybuilders. But what if this powerful compound could also unlock new levels of speed and endurance for your running? The idea of a supplement traditionally linked to explosive power benefiting the sustained demands of running might seem counterintuitive at first glance. However, the science behind creatine reveals a nuanced story, one that extends far beyond the weight room and into the diverse world of running.

In this deep dive, we'll explore the fundamental science of creatine, how it functions within the body, and its specific implications for various types of runners. We'll examine its potential to enhance high-intensity performance, support recovery, and even aid in maintaining optimal hydration, all while addressing common misconceptions. Our aim is to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of whether creatine could be a valuable addition to your training regimen, helping you make informed decisions aligned with your personal wellness and performance goals. At BUBS Naturals, we believe in a no-BS approach to supplements, grounded in science and designed to support your adventurous life, and this article reflects that commitment to clarity and efficacy.

Understanding Creatine: More Than Just Muscle

Creatine is a fascinating compound, naturally occurring within our bodies and a cornerstone of our immediate energy system. While often highlighted in the context of muscle growth, its primary role is far more fundamental: powering rapid, high-intensity actions.

What is Creatine?

At its core, creatine is a nitrogen-containing organic acid synthesized from three amino acids—arginine, glycine, and methionine—primarily in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. It's also obtained through our diet, with foods like red meat and fish being natural sources. Once synthesized or consumed, about 95% of the body's creatine is stored in skeletal muscles, ready for action. The remaining portion is distributed to other vital organs, including the brain, heart, and testes, where it also plays a role in energy metabolism.

The beauty of creatine lies in its simplicity and efficiency. It serves as a rapid reserve for energy, particularly during those moments when our bodies demand immediate power. For athletes, this means more than just bigger muscles; it means greater capacity for short bursts of maximal effort, which is a critical component across many sports, including various forms of running.

How Creatine Works in the Body

To truly understand how creatine can support running, we need to delve into its biochemical mechanism. In our muscle cells, creatine exists largely as phosphocreatine (PCr). This molecule acts as a quickly accessible "energy buffer" for adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the primary energy currency of the cell.

When you engage in high-intensity, short-duration activities—like a sprint, a powerful stride up a hill, or a swift push during an interval—your muscles rapidly deplete their stores of ATP. This is where phosphocreatine steps in. An enzyme called creatine kinase helps phosphocreatine donate its phosphate group to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), quickly regenerating ATP. This process is incredibly fast, providing an immediate energy supply that allows your muscles to sustain intense effort for a few more seconds.

Think of it like this: your body has a small, super-fast generator (the phosphocreatine system) that kicks in instantly for quick bursts of power, complementing the larger, but slower, aerobic energy systems that fuel longer activities. While running often relies heavily on aerobic pathways, the ability to tap into this rapid energy reserve can be a game-changer for moments requiring explosive power or overcoming sudden fatigue. This rapid ATP regeneration is especially critical for fast-twitch muscle fibers, which are primarily responsible for speed and power. By increasing the available stores of phosphocreatine, supplementation with Creatine Monohydrate can enhance the capacity of this rapid energy system, potentially translating into more powerful strides and a stronger finish. Our commitment at BUBS Naturals is to provide you with clean, effective ingredients like our pure Creatine Monohydrate to help you unlock this natural energy potential.

Creatine's Role in Running Performance

While creatine is undeniably effective for activities demanding explosive power, its influence on running performance, particularly in endurance scenarios, is more nuanced. However, emerging research and practical experience suggest several ways it can be a valuable asset for runners.

Boosting Anaerobic Capacity for Speed

For any runner looking to increase speed, anaerobic capacity is key. This refers to your body's ability to produce energy without oxygen, primarily through the phosphocreatine and glycolytic systems. This energy pathway is crucial for:

• Sprints: Whether it's a 100-meter dash or the final kick in a longer race, the ability to generate maximum power instantly is paramount. Creatine can help saturate your muscles with phosphocreatine, leading to faster ATP regeneration and enabling more powerful, faster sprints.
• Interval Training: High-intensity intervals demand repeated bursts of speed followed by short recovery periods. Enhanced phosphocreatine stores can mean you maintain higher speeds for longer during these intervals, or recover more effectively between them, allowing for a greater overall training stimulus.
• Hill Repeats: Attacking hills requires significant power and anaerobic effort. Creatine can provide that extra surge of energy to climb stronger and faster.

By improving your anaerobic work capacity, Creatine Monohydrate can help you perform better in these high-demand segments of your training and racing. This translates directly to improving your top-end speed and your ability to accelerate.

Enhancing Muscle Strength and Power Output

Running isn't just about endless strides; it requires a surprising amount of muscular strength and power. Each time your foot hits the ground, your muscles absorb impact and then propel you forward. Greater strength and power output can lead to:

• More Forceful Strides: With more power, you can generate more force with each push-off, potentially increasing your stride length and overall speed.
• Improved Running Economy: While seemingly paradoxical, increased strength can actually make running feel easier and more efficient. Stronger muscles can maintain proper form for longer, reducing wasted energy.
• Higher Speeds: The ability to generate more force allows you to achieve and sustain higher speeds, whether you're accelerating or maintaining a challenging pace.

Creatine has a well-established track record for supporting gains in muscle strength and power when combined with resistance training. For runners who incorporate strength work into their routine, our Creatine Monohydrate can help amplify those efforts, translating to more resilient and powerful running muscles.

Supporting Glycogen Storage and Endurance

Beyond its role in immediate energy, creatine has been shown to positively influence glycogen storage, which is a crucial fuel source for endurance activities. Glycogen, the stored form of carbohydrates in your muscles and liver, is your body's preferred fuel for moderate to high-intensity exercise.

• Increased Glycogen Synthesis: Studies suggest that creatine supplementation, especially when taken with carbohydrates, can enhance muscle glycogen resynthesis and overall storage. This means your muscles can hold more fuel, potentially delaying the onset of fatigue during longer runs.
• Sustained Energy: By ensuring a more robust glycogen reserve, creatine can help maintain consistent energy levels, allowing you to sustain your pace and effort for extended periods before depletion sets in. This can be particularly beneficial during the latter stages of a race or a demanding long run where energy stores are critical.

This enhanced glycogen capacity works in concert with the phosphocreatine system. While the phosphocreatine system fuels short bursts, greater glycogen stores provide the sustained energy to keep those powerful efforts coming, supporting overall endurance.

The Link to Muscle Endurance and High-Intensity Efforts

Creatine doesn't just help you go faster; it can help you maintain that intensity for longer, even within an endurance context. Many endurance races are not steady-state efforts but involve repeated surges, changes in elevation, and critical "finishing kicks."

• Maintaining Intensity: By augmenting your anaerobic capacity, creatine can help you maintain a higher intensity during interval training, tempo runs, or when responding to pace changes in a race.
• Delayed Fatigue: The ability to regenerate ATP more rapidly means muscles can resist fatigue for a longer duration, especially during those demanding segments where you need to push hard. This doesn't mean it will make an easy run feel easier, but it can make a hard effort feel sustainable for longer, helping you push through mental and physical barriers.

For example, a runner completing a 10K race might experience the benefits of creatine during a mid-race surge to overtake competitors, or in the final kilometer when digging deep for a strong finish. The rapid ATP availability from creatine can be the difference between fading and finishing strong. Our Creatine Monohydrate is designed to be a simple, effective addition to your routine, supporting these crucial moments of your run.

Beyond the Sprint: Creatine's Wider Benefits for Runners

While the direct impact of creatine on speed is compelling, its advantages for runners extend beyond just improving bursts of power. It plays a significant role in overall athletic resilience, recovery, and even cognitive function—elements vital for any dedicated runner.

Accelerated Recovery and Reduced Muscle Damage

Intense running, especially high-volume or high-intensity training, inevitably leads to muscle micro-damage and inflammation. Effective recovery is paramount to consistent progress and injury prevention. Creatine has been shown to aid in this critical process by:

• Reducing Muscle Cell Damage: Research indicates that creatine supplementation can mitigate exercise-induced muscle damage, helping to preserve muscle integrity post-workout. This means less soreness and a quicker return to optimal function.
• Decreasing Inflammation: Creatine can help reduce inflammatory markers after strenuous exercise, contributing to a faster recovery timeline. This allows runners to bounce back more readily between demanding sessions, maintain higher training loads, and ultimately, adapt more effectively.
• Supporting Repair Processes: By influencing cellular energy, creatine indirectly supports the body's natural repair mechanisms, which are crucial for rebuilding and strengthening muscle tissue.

For runners committed to their training plan, this translates to improved consistency and reduced downtime. Our belief in supporting active lifestyles means we understand the importance of robust recovery, and the science behind Creatine Monohydrate aligns perfectly with this goal. For even more comprehensive recovery support, many athletes also find our Collagen Peptides to be beneficial for joint and connective tissue health, rounding out their post-workout routine.

Improved Hydration and Thermoregulation

A common concern among runners regarding creatine is the potential for dehydration or cramping. However, scientific evidence largely refutes these fears and, in fact, suggests that creatine can actually contribute to better cellular hydration and potentially even improved thermoregulation.

• Intracellular Water Retention: Creatine's mechanism involves drawing water into muscle cells, not out of the body. This increase in intracellular fluid can actually improve muscle cell volume and turgor, which might play a role in performance. It's important to differentiate this from systemic dehydration.
• Enhanced Fluid Balance: By optimizing fluid distribution within the muscles, creatine may support overall fluid balance in the body. Some studies have even suggested that creatine users may experience less cramping and heat-related issues in hot environments, likely due to better hydration at the cellular level.
• Thermoregulation Support: While more research is always valuable, existing evidence suggests that creatine does not hinder heat dissipation during exercise. Some findings even indicate a neutral or slightly positive effect on body temperature regulation.

To truly optimize hydration, especially for runners, we always emphasize the importance of consistent fluid intake. Our Hydration Collection offers performance-focused electrolytes that can be a vital partner to any runner, helping to replenish what's lost through sweat and maintain critical muscle function, ensuring that your body has the right tools to perform.

Adaptations for Strength Training

Many serious runners understand that strength training is not optional; it's fundamental for injury prevention, improved running economy, and boosting power. Creatine can significantly amplify the benefits derived from your strength training sessions:

• Increased Strength Gains: When combined with resistance training, creatine has consistently been shown to increase muscle strength and power more effectively than training alone. Stronger glutes, quads, and hamstrings directly translate to a more powerful and efficient stride.
• Enhanced Running Economy: By improving overall muscular strength and endurance, creatine helps your body maintain optimal running mechanics for longer. This means less energy is wasted on inefficient movements, allowing you to sustain your pace with less effort.
• Injury Resilience: Stronger muscles and connective tissues are more resilient to the repetitive stresses of running, helping to reduce the risk of common running injuries. Our dedication to a comprehensive approach to wellness means we advocate for tools that support your body's ability to withstand the rigors of an active lifestyle.

Consider incorporating Creatine Monohydrate into your post-strength workout shake, perhaps alongside our easily mixing Collagen Peptides to maximize both strength adaptations and connective tissue support.

Cognitive Support for Mental Toughness

Running, especially over long distances or through challenging terrains, is as much a mental game as it is physical. Mental fatigue, loss of focus, and compromised decision-making can significantly impact performance. Interestingly, creatine's role in energy metabolism extends to the brain.

• Brain Energy Metabolism: Just as in muscles, phosphocreatine helps regenerate ATP in brain cells, which are highly energy-dependent. This can support cognitive function, especially during periods of high demand or stress.
• Reduced Mental Fatigue: Some studies suggest creatine supplementation may help reduce mental fatigue, particularly during sustained cognitive effort. For a runner, this could mean maintaining better focus on pacing, hydration, and technique during the latter stages of a race when the mind starts to wander.
• Improved Cognitive Performance: While not a "smart drug," creatine's support for brain energy may contribute to better concentration and quicker decision-making, subtle but significant advantages in dynamic running environments.

For us at BUBS Naturals, wellness encompasses both body and mind. Products that support both physical performance and cognitive clarity, like our Creatine Monohydrate and other offerings in our Boosts Collection, are central to our philosophy of empowering a purposeful life.

Navigating Creatine Supplementation: Dosage and Considerations

Deciding to incorporate creatine into your routine is a personal choice, and doing so effectively requires understanding proper dosage, timing, and potential considerations. At BUBS Naturals, we champion a science-backed, no-BS approach, ensuring you have the information to make the best choices for your body and your goals.

Loading vs. Maintenance: Finding Your Path

There are generally two approaches to creatine supplementation, each with its own rationale:

• Loading Phase: This involves taking a higher dose of creatine for a short period to rapidly saturate your muscle creatine stores. A typical loading protocol is 20-25 grams per day (often split into 4-5 doses) for 5-7 days. The goal is to quickly maximize intramuscular phosphocreatine levels, potentially leading to more immediate performance benefits.
• Maintenance Phase: After the loading phase, or if you choose to skip loading, you transition to a lower, daily maintenance dose. This is typically 3-5 grams per day. This amount is sufficient to keep your muscle creatine stores elevated over time, though it will take approximately 3-4 weeks to reach saturation without a loading phase.

For runners, a loading phase isn't always strictly necessary, especially if you're not in a rush to see immediate effects. Many endurance athletes opt for the simpler maintenance dose from the start, which can still yield significant benefits over time without the potential for initial water retention being as pronounced. Your individual response, body weight, and training intensity may influence what feels right for you. We encourage listening to your body and adjusting as needed.

Optimal Timing for Runners

The question of when to take creatine is a common one, and the good news is that consistency often outweighs precise timing. However, some strategies can help maximize its effectiveness:

• Pre- or Post-Workout: Creatine can be effective whether taken before or after your run or strength session. Taking it before exercise may ensure ample energy supply for those high-intensity bursts. Taking it after exercise can aid in recovery by promoting muscle protein synthesis and glycogen replenishment. Some athletes choose to split their daily dose, taking some before and some after training.
• Combining with Meals: Consuming creatine with carbohydrates and/or protein can enhance its absorption and retention in the muscles by stimulating insulin release. This makes adding it to a post-workout shake or a balanced meal a practical and effective strategy. For example, a scoop of our Creatine Monohydrate blended into a smoothie with our Collagen Peptides and some fruit makes for a perfect recovery drink. Alternatively, stirring it into your morning coffee with our MCT Oil Creamer – 10 oz Tub offers a convenient way to integrate it into your daily routine.
• Consider Dehydration Risk (Near Races): While creatine generally doesn't cause systemic dehydration, it does draw water into muscle cells. If you're concerned about potential fluid shifts or the feeling of extra weight close to a race, you might consider adjusting your dosage or timing, always ensuring adequate overall hydration with products from our Hydration Collection.

Potential Side Effects and How to Mitigate Them

Creatine is one of the most thoroughly researched supplements, and generally considered safe for most healthy individuals when used as directed. However, some people may experience mild side effects:

• Weight Gain: The most common "side effect" is a temporary increase in body weight (1-2 kg) during the initial loading phase. This is primarily due to increased water retention within muscle cells, not fat gain. For many runners, this water weight often stabilizes or becomes negligible over time with a consistent maintenance dose. If weight is a critical factor for your specific race, timing your creatine use might be something to discuss with a coach.
• Gastrointestinal Discomfort: Some individuals may experience mild stomach upset, bloating, cramping, or diarrhea, particularly with higher doses or if the creatine isn't fully dissolved. To mitigate this, try:
  • Splitting doses throughout the day (e.g., during a loading phase).
  • Mixing creatine with plenty of water or other fluids.
  • Taking it with meals.
• Dehydration and Cramps: As discussed, current research largely debunks the myth that creatine causes dehydration or muscle cramps. In fact, by drawing water into muscle cells, it may actually promote better cellular hydration. However, maintaining excellent overall hydration is always crucial for runners, especially when supplementing. Our Hydrate or Die – Lemon is a fantastic way to ensure you're getting essential electrolytes.
• Kidney or Liver Concerns: Extensive research on healthy individuals shows no evidence that creatine supplementation, at recommended doses, causes harm to the kidneys or liver. However, individuals with pre-existing kidney or liver conditions, or other health issues like diabetes or high blood pressure, should always consult a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regimen. We are committed to a responsible approach to wellness, and your health comes first.

The Importance of Quality and Purity

When choosing a creatine supplement, quality and purity are non-negotiable. The supplement market can be saturated with products of varying standards. At BUBS Naturals, we stand by our commitment to clean, high-quality, natural ingredients, rigorously tested and certified.

• Third-Party Testing: Always look for supplements that are third-party tested and certified, such as NSF for Sport. This ensures the product contains what it claims, is free from banned substances, and meets stringent quality standards.
• Pure Creatine Monohydrate: Creatine monohydrate is the most researched and proven effective form of creatine. We believe in sticking to what works, which is why our Creatine Monohydrate is pure, simple, and effective. It embodies our no-BS approach to supplements – only what you need, nothing you don't. This dedication ensures you get a product that supports your active lifestyle with integrity and efficacy.

Tailoring Creatine Use to Your Running Goals

Creatine's versatility means its benefits can be harnessed differently depending on a runner's primary goals and chosen distances. There's no one-size-fits-all approach, and personalizing your strategy can help maximize its impact.

Sprinters: Maximizing Explosive Power

For sprinters, whose performance hinges entirely on generating maximal power over short distances, creatine is a natural fit.

• Objective: Increase speed, power output, and the ability to sustain high-intensity efforts.
• Benefits: Directly augments the phosphocreatine energy system, allowing for faster ATP regeneration. This means more powerful muscle contractions, quicker acceleration, and the ability to maintain peak speed for longer during races or critical interval training sessions.
• Recommendation: A standard loading phase followed by a maintenance dose of 3-5 grams of Creatine Monohydrate daily is often recommended. Timing can be flexible, but many sprinters prefer to take it pre-workout to ensure peak availability during their most demanding sessions. Monitoring body weight and ensuring optimal hydration are important.

Long-Distance Runners: Supporting Glycogen and Recovery

While steady-state long-distance running is predominantly aerobic, creatine still offers compelling advantages for endurance athletes.

• Objective: Enhance glycogen storage, improve recovery, and support the ability to handle high-intensity surges within longer efforts.
• Benefits: Creatine's ability to increase muscle glycogen stores provides a more robust fuel reserve, potentially delaying fatigue during long runs or races. Its anti-inflammatory properties and role in muscle repair mean faster recovery between high-volume training days, reducing the risk of overtraining. It also supports the anaerobic bursts needed for strong finishes or challenging hills.
• Recommendation: A consistent maintenance dose of 3-5 grams of Creatine Monohydrate daily, without a loading phase, can be ideal to minimize initial water retention while still building up muscle stores over time. Taking it post-workout, perhaps with a carbohydrate and protein rich recovery drink, can maximize glycogen replenishment and muscle repair. Complementing this with our Collagen Peptides can further support joint health and recovery.

Middle-Distance Runners: Balancing Power and Endurance

Middle-distance events (like 800m to 3000m) are a unique blend of anaerobic power and aerobic endurance, making creatine potentially highly beneficial.

• Objective: Optimize both explosive power for speed and the stamina to sustain high-intensity for several minutes.
• Benefits: Creatine can provide the anaerobic boost for powerful starts and mid-race surges, while also supporting muscle endurance to maintain a fast pace. The enhanced recovery benefits are also crucial for the high-intensity, high-volume training often associated with these distances.
• Recommendation: A moderate approach, perhaps a 5-gram daily dose of Creatine Monohydrate, can be effective. Timing could be pre- or post-workout, depending on individual preference and the focus of the day's training. Ensuring robust hydration with our Hydrate or Die – Mixed Berry is essential to support these multifaceted demands.

Creatine as an Aid in Injury Recovery

Injuries are an unfortunate part of many runners' journeys. Creatine might offer support during these challenging times:

• Objective: Preserve muscle mass and strength during periods of reduced activity and aid in the return to training.
• Benefits: During immobilization or reduced training, creatine can help attenuate muscle loss, making the return to full activity potentially smoother and faster. Its role in reducing muscle damage and inflammation can also be beneficial in the rehabilitation process, supporting the body's natural healing capabilities.
• Recommendation: Continue with a maintenance dose of 3-5 grams of Creatine Monohydrate even during periods of reduced activity. Always consult with a physical therapist or healthcare provider to ensure any supplement use aligns with your specific recovery plan. This thoughtful approach to wellness is a core value we uphold at BUBS Naturals.

Ultimately, the optimal use of creatine is highly personalized. We always recommend consulting with a coach, sports dietitian, or healthcare professional to determine how creatine best fits into your unique training program and goals, ensuring it complements your individual physiological needs and performance aspirations.

Our Commitment to Your Journey

At BUBS Naturals, our journey began with a simple yet profound mission: to honor the legacy of our fallen friend, Glen “BUB” Doherty, through a commitment to adventure, wellness, and giving back. This ethos permeates everything we do, from the sourcing of our ingredients to the creation of our science-backed supplements. We believe that what you put into your body should be as clean and purposeful as the life you aspire to live.

Our no-BS approach means we offer only simple, effective ingredients, rigorously tested and certified by third parties like NSF for Sport. We understand that your active lifestyle demands products that not only perform but also align with your values. That's why, whether you're pushing for a new personal best, embarking on a challenging trail run, or simply striving for daily vitality, we're here to support you with integrity.

Integrating a high-quality supplement like our Creatine Monohydrate into your routine is about more than just physical gains; it's about fueling your potential and enhancing your overall well-being. It’s about being prepared for whatever adventure comes next, knowing your body has the support it needs.

Beyond providing exceptional products, our mission extends to making a tangible difference. In honor of BUB's service and sacrifice, we proudly uphold our 10% Rule: donating 10% of all profits to veteran-focused charities. When you choose BUBS Naturals, you're not just investing in your own wellness; you're contributing to a larger purpose, empowering those who have given so much.

We encourage you to explore our entire Boosts Collection, which includes not only our pure Creatine Monohydrate but also other essential supplements like Vitamin C for antioxidant support and collagen formation. These products are designed to complement each other, offering comprehensive support for your body's natural functions and helping you achieve your running goals, recover effectively, and live a life filled with adventure.

FAQ

Q1: Is creatine only for sprinters, or can long-distance runners benefit?

A1: While creatine is highly beneficial for sprinters due to its ability to enhance explosive power and anaerobic capacity, long-distance runners can also experience significant advantages. These include improved glycogen storage for sustained energy, enhanced recovery between training sessions, and increased strength for better running economy. Creatine can also support the high-intensity surges and strong finishes often crucial in longer races. It helps improve overall training quality and resilience, rather than just raw speed for every step of an endurance run.

Q2: Will creatine make me gain weight and slow me down?

A2: Creatine can cause a temporary increase in body weight (typically 1-2 kg) during the initial loading phase due to increased water retention within muscle cells. This is not fat gain and often stabilizes or becomes less noticeable with consistent maintenance dosing. For many runners, particularly those focused on strength, recovery, or high-intensity efforts, the performance benefits may outweigh this slight, temporary weight change. The enhanced power and endurance it offers can make you feel stronger and faster, not slower, by improving muscle efficiency and energy availability. Consistent hydration, supported by products from our Hydration Collection, is key.

Q3: How does BUBS Naturals ensure the quality of its creatine?

A3: At BUBS Naturals, we are unwavering in our commitment to clean, functional, and science-backed supplements. Our Creatine Monohydrate is rigorously tested and certified by third parties, such as NSF for Sport. This ensures that our product contains exactly what it claims, is free from banned substances and contaminants, and meets the highest standards of purity and quality. We believe in a no-BS approach, providing you with simple, effective ingredients you can trust to support your active lifestyle.

Q4: Are there other BUBS Naturals products that complement creatine for runners?

A4: Absolutely! Many of our products are designed to work synergistically to support a runner's comprehensive wellness. Our Collagen Peptides are excellent for supporting joint health, skin, hair, and nails, and aiding in overall recovery, making them a great partner for the stresses of running. Our Hydration Collection, including Hydrate or Die – Bundle, provides essential electrolytes to support fluid balance and muscle function, especially crucial when training hard. For sustained energy and mental clarity, particularly in your morning routine, our MCT Oil Creamer – 14 ct Travel Pack from our Creamers Collection can be a fantastic addition. These products, along with others in our Boosts Collection like Vitamin C, help ensure your body has the comprehensive support it needs to perform, recover, and thrive.