Big new broke that an exercise pill could give you the same results as running a 10K while you stayed on your couch. It sounded too good to be true. In fact, it sounded so good that we looked into it to see what the real truth was.
The new drug was developed in Denmark. In lab rats, the pill, called LaKe, flushed out toxins and strengthened the heart. According to a study, it had the same benefits as running long distances quickly.
After running, the body has inflammation with spikes of lactate and ketones. The lactate helps metabolism while ketones show that fat is being converted into energy. Appetite-suppressing hormones wash through the body, and fatty acids are flushed from the blood.
LaKe must be tested in humans to learn if it is effective and safe. It could be “a game changer” for people with injuries or health conditions that make them unable to exercise.
As the medication can increase metabolism and burn fat in rats, it may help people obtain the health impacts of exercise. However, calling it exercise in a pill, or promising the same results as exercise “while you sit on the couch” still seems implausible. It doesn’t promise to build muscle or tone the body. This may help overall health, but it cannot completely replace the benefits of an exercise routine.
In addition to behaving like a stand-in for exercise, LaKe may aid some cognitive problems. Dementia and Parkinson’s are both characterized by low levels of energy in the brain. Increasing lactate in the brain could improve people’s ability to concentrate.
This drug could be a breakthrough if you struggle with exercise because of physical or medical limitations. However, the headlines that promise a workout in a pill appear to be overpromising. While LaKe could have beneficial applications, it does not seem to yield more muscle mass.
Exercise does more than lead to weight loss, aid the heart and benefit the brain. There are many aspects that this pill cannot mimic. Benefits like improved strength are impossible if it doesn’t add muscle mass. The increases in mobility, balance and flexibility that a person can gain by working out can’t be absorbed through this pill.
It would be great to swallow our exercise every morning with a sip of water. However, that is not a reality. If you struggle with exercise because of physical or medical limitations — or have any stumbling block stopping you from reaching your fitness goals — speak to your doctor. Any form of movement can be exercise. Fitting more of it into your day could be beneficial. This pill may prove to be an incredible tool, but it’s not the solution the headlines claim.
