The Animal Pak dietary supplement is a product manufactured by Universal Nutrition, a sports nutrition company founded in 1977. Animal Pak is "your nutritional insurance," according to the company, meaning that it is a nutritional supplement designed to provide all of the nutrients that athletes, bodybuilders in particular, need to maintain proper health. Despite the potential benefits, you should consult a doctor prior to using this or any other supplements.
History and Recognition
Animal Pak was introduced in 1983, and was voted multivitamin of the year in Bodybuilding.com's Supplement Awards from 2005 to 2010.
Intended Use
According to the official website for Animal Pak, this supplement should be taken once daily, unless you are dieting for a bodybuilding contest or training more intensely than usual, in which case Universal recommends two daily doses. Potential beneficiaries of Animal Pak include power and strength athletes, or those engaging in high-intensity training.
Nutrition Facts
Animal Pak provides 40 calories per serving, with 4 g of carbohydrates, 2 g of which come from fiber, and 6 g of protein.
Vitamin and Mineral Content
Animal Pak provides large doses of numerous vitamins and minerals, including 900 times the recommended daily intake of vitamin B-6, more than 500 times the RDA for thiamin, nearly 200 times the RDA for vitamin C, and 100 times the RDA for vitamin E.
Amino Acid Complex
Animal Pak provides all of the essential amino acids, or EAAs, and the branched-chain amino acids, or BCAAs, which are building blocks of protein that may enhance athletic activity. A study published in the March 2011 issue of "The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness" found that BCAA supplementation could improve endurance and increase the amount of fat your body burns for fuel during exercise.
Performance Complex
Animal Pak contains a performance complex that includes a number of herbal ingredients, such as milk thistle, ginseng and inositol. These ingredients may support intense athletic endeavors, as research from the March 2011 edition of "The American Journal of Chinese Medicine" found ginseng to be effective in reducing muscle damage associated with hill running.
Antioxidant Complex
Animal Pak provides several antioxidant ingredients, such as lycopene, alpha lipoic acid and coenzyme Q10. Antioxidants protect your body from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are produced by bodily stresses, such as exercise.
Digestive Enzyme Complex
If you engage in intense training, you will burn a lot of calories, which means you'll need to eat more to support your activity. If you are not used to eating so much, you may experience digestive discomfort, which makes the addition of enzymes such as lipase, inulin and papain potentially beneficial.
