Watching Out for Creatinine Levels in Your Body

There are lots of substances in your body that you should watch out for and one of them is Creatinine.

Simply put, this is a chemical waste product produced by creatine, which in turn is made by body with the purpose to supply energy to body muscles.

While some people will not pay much attention to creatinine levels in their body, this matter should be taken seriously as it will show how well your kidneys work.

What is Creatinine?

Creatinine is a byproduct of creatine. This chemical waste product is removed from your body by your kidneys. With this said, it can be inferred that the less your body creatinine levels are, the better these organs of yours work.

protein rich foods
Protein rich foods. Eating a diet rich in protein may increase the amount of creatinine in your body. image source: bodybuilding.com

That is simply brought by the idea that your urine is not as effective as your kidneys in excreting this chemical waste.

The Normal Level of Creatinine

For reference, the normal result of a creatinine test should be the following.

Normal blood creatinine levels are:
For men: 0.6 to 1.2 mg/dL; 53 to 106 mcmol/L
For women: 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL; 44 to 97 mcmol/L
For teenagers: 0.5 to 1.0 mg/dL
For children: 0.3 to 0.7 mg/dL
Normal urine creatinine levels are:
For men: 107 to 139 mL/min; 1.8 to 2.3 mL/sec
For women: 87 to 107 mL/min; 1.5 to 1.8 mL/sec
For anyone above the age of 40: levels should drop by 6.5 mL/min for every additional 10 years of age.

Anything higher or lower from these levels can mean health problems. Be sure to watch out for these numbers so know whether or not you should be concerned with the level of creatinine in your body.

Keep in mind that your women usually have lower concentration of such chemical in their body because they have fewer muscles as compared to men. It’s a helpful reminder for those who are wondering why there is a slight discrepancy to the normal levels for both men and women.

How to test / preparing for the Creatinine Test

A blood and urine sample is needed to perform the creatinine test. Doctors will need little blood and a urine sample from you for them to conduct the procedure. One must remember that there is a slight chance that you will feel little pain during the process of blood extraction, but rest assured that this feeling will go away soon.

How to prevent high / low creatinine levels?

Healthy lifestyle can help alleviate most of the problems, including issues with creatinine levels. Here is a list of preventive measure you can undertake, starting today.

  • Get plenty of sleep (7-8 hours per night),
  • drink plenty of water (at least 6-8 glasses per day),
  • do not workout too hard every day,
  • limit your sodium intake,
  • do not eat too much protein rich foods – have a balanced diet,
  • avoid phosphorus-rich foods,
  • do not consume / stop consuming creatine supplements.

Of course you should always consult your personal doctor about any issue you might have.

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