lo down on Animak Pak (long read...)

[lnvictus]

so i went to animal website, note their ingrediants down and did some research. here it goes...(just copy&paste)



Required for
• all competitive strength & power athletes
• High-intensity training
• Athletes who use supplements
• Athletes who want maximum performance

Selected ingredient profile Mega-Vitamin/Mineral/Antioxidant Complex
• Zinc-: Aids in digestion and metabolism of phosphorus and protein; component of insulin and male reproductive fluid; burn and wound healing process; prostate, carbohydrate digestion
• Chromium -Increases effectiveness of insulin; stimulates enzymes in metabolism of energy; healthy blood circulatory system; synthesis of fatty acids, cholesterol and protein
• Magnesium-Catalyst in the utilization of carbohydrate-fat-protein, phosphorus, calcium, possible potassium; good for energy; healthy maintenance of bones, arteries, heart, nerves, teeth
• All The B Vitamins -As its name implies, vitamin B complex is a combination or mixture of eight essential vitamins. Although each is chemically distinct, the B vitamins coexist in many of the same foods and often work together to bolster metabolism, maintain healthy skin and muscle tone, enhance immune and nervous system function, and promote cell growth and division - including that of the red blood cells that help prevent anemia. Together they also combat stress, depression, and cardiovascular disease. B vitamins, which are water soluble, are dispersed throughout the body and must be replenished daily with any excess excreted in the urine. People susceptible to vitamin B deficiency include pregnant women, nursing mothers, vegetarians, alcoholics, "sugar-holics", the elderly, and people with malabsorption conditions or who take certain antibiotics long-term. Symptoms of B vitamin deficiency can include oily or scaly skin, upset stomach, headaches, anxiety, moodiness, and heart arrhythmias.
• Copper - Part of many enzymes; works with vitamin C to form elastin; formation of red blood cells; color of hair and skin; good for bone formation
• Manganese-Enzyme activation, maintains sex hormone production; helps carbohydrate and fat production, tissue respiration; utilizes vitamin E; needed for normal skeletal development
• Potassium - Controls activity of heart muscles, nervous system, kidneys; rapid growth; muscle contractions; nerve tranquilization
• Phosphorous- Works with calcium to form bones, teeth; cell growth and repair; utilizes carbohydrate-fat-protein; heart muscle contraction; nerve activity
• Vitamin C-This well-known vitamin is important in the formation and maintenance of collagen, the protein that supports many body structures and plays a major role in the formation of bones and teeth. It also enhances the absorption of iron from foods of vegetable origin.
• Vitamin E-The role of vitamin E in the human body is not clearly established, but it is known to be an essential nutrient in more than 20 vertebrate species. The vitamin plays some role in forming red blood cells and muscle and other tissues and in preventing the oxidation of vitamin A and fats. It is found in vegetable oils, wheat germ, liver, and leafy green vegetables. Vitamin E is popularly advocated for a wide range of diseases, but no substantial evidence has been found to back these claims. Although vitamin E is stored in the body, overdoses appear to have lower toxic effects than do overdoses of other fat-soluble vitamins.
• Selenium- In humans, selenenium is a trace element nutrient which functions as cofactor for reduction of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidases and thioredoxin reductase, and also plays a role in the functioning of the thyroid gland by participating as a cofactor for thyroid hormone deiodinases [3]
• Folic Acid- Folate is necessary for the production and maintenance of new cells.[


Key Amino Acid Blend

• Arginine- Arginine plays an important role in cell division, the healing of wounds, removing ammonia from the body, immune function, and the release of hormones.
• Leucine- It is suspected that Leucine plays a part in maintaining muscles by equalizing synthesis and breakdown of proteins.
• Valine- valine is an essential amino acid.
• Isoleucine- It’s chemical composition is identical to that of leucine, but the arrangement of its atoms is slightly different, resulting in different properties.
• Glutamine- Glutamine is a supplement that is used in weightlifting and bodybuilding, as well as by those who suffer for muscular cramps or pain—particularly elderly people. The main use of glutamine within the diet of either groups is as a means of replenishing the body's stores of amino acids that have been used during exercise or everyday activities.
• Methionine- The importance of adequate stores of the amino acid methionine cannot be underestimated. Methionine is particularly important because it supplies sulfur--a mineral--that helps to maintain healthy skin tone, well-conditioned hair, and strong nails. Because your body can't produce this essential amino acid on its own, you must get it from methionine-rich foods, such as cheddar cheese, eggs, chicken, and beef. Supplements are also a source. Methionine is thought to keep fat from building up in the liver, and it's often included in liver-detoxifying products called lipotropic combinations. These formulations are believed to accelerate the flow of bile and cell-damaging toxins away from the liver.
• Lysine- Lysine is metabolised in mammals to give Acetyl-CoA, via an initial transamination with α-ketoglutarate. The bacterial degradation of lysine yields cadaverine by decarboxylation.Some individuals have found that taking lysine supplements may reduce the frequency of canker sores
• Histidine- Histidine is also a precursor of histamine, a compound released by immune system cells during an allergic reaction. It is needed for growth and for the repair of tissue, as well as the maintenance of the myelin sheaths that act as protector for nerve cells. It is further required for the manufacture of both red and white blood cells, and helps to protect the body from damage caused by radiation and in removing heavy metals from the body. In the stomach, histidine is also helpful in producing gastric juices, and people with a shortage of gastric juices or suffering from indigestion, May also benefit from this nutrient.
• Threonine- it is required to help maintain the proper protein balance in the body, as well as assist in the formation of collagen and elastin in the skin. It is further involved in liver functioning (including fighting fatty liver), lipotropic functions when combined with aspartic acid and methionine as well as assisting the immune system by helping the production of antibodies and promotes thymus growth and activity. Other nutrients are also better absorbed when threonine is present, and it has also been used as part treatment of mental health.
• Phenylalanine- It is used in elevating the mood since it is so closely involved with the nervous system, as well as help with memory and learning and has been used as an appetite suppressant.
• Tyrosine-Tyrosine is a nonessential amino acid that is synthesized in the body from phenylalanine. As a building block for several important brain chemicals, tyrosine is needed to make epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, all of which work to regulate mood.
• Cysteine- your skin, as well as detoxification of your body, requires cysteine. It is found in beta-keratin, the main protein in nails, skin as well as hair. It not only is important in collagen production but also assists in skin elasticity and texture.Cysteine is also required in the manufacture of the amino acid taurine and is a component of the antioxidant gluthione. It is useful to detoxify the body from harmful toxins and help protect the brain and liver from damage from alcohol, drugs etc. It has also been found that it may help in strengthening the protective lining of the stomach as well as intestines, which may help prevent damage caused by aspirin and similar drugs. Cysteine is also critical to the metabolism of a number of essential biochemicals including coenzyme A, heparin, biotin, lipoid acid, and glutathione.

[Blap Blaow]

Oh really?

[lnvictus]

Performance Optimizers

• L-Carnitine- L-carnitine transports long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria of every cell. There, the fatty acids are broken down into energy which is used to fuel the cardiovascular and muscular systems
• Pyridoxine Alpha-Ketoglutarate-. Pyridoxine-alpha-ketoglutarate and gamma oryzanol. Pyridoxine-alpha-ketoglutarate is composed of pyridoxine (vitamin B-6) and alpha-ketoglutarate (a compound intricately involved in energy production). The pyridoxine-alpha-ketoglutarate (PAK) complex has been shown to significantly improve human maximal exercise performance, particularly in heavy exercise activities like weight training, running, cycling, swimming, and other whole body workouts
• Coenzymes A & B- Coenzyme A. has been shown to participate in a variety of biochemical reactions, all involving acyl groups such as the acetyl unit; it is, for instance, associated with the pivotal first step of the Krebs cycle, in which an acetyl unit (the breakdown product of carbohydrates) is introduced into the cycle to be converted eventually into carbon dioxide, water, and chemical energy. Coenzyme A is derived from adenine, ribose, and pantothenic acid (a vitamin of the B complex)
• Para-Aminobenzoic Acid- PABA is used to improve the protein used in the body, it relates to red blood cell formation as well as assisting the manufacture of folic acid in the intestines. Para-aminobenzoic acid is used in sunscreen preparations since it can help protect the skin against ultra-violet radiation.
It has been linked to hair growth as well as reversing the graying of hair, but these results are disappointing. People suffering from vitiligo, over-pigmentation of skin, or without pigment in some spots, have reported an improvement of the skin after more PABA was ingested.
PABA also assists with breaking down of protein, the formation of red blood cells and maintaining intestinal flora.

• Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero)- Prevent stress-related illnesses. Combat fatigue and restore energy. Increase male / female fertility and reduce male impotence. Relieve menstrual disorders
and menopausal symptoms, Help with Alzheimer's disease. Increase resistance to colds and flu.
• Oriental Ginseng (Panax Ginseng)- The herbal remedies referred to as "ginseng" are derived from the roots of several plants. One of the most commonly used and researched of the ginsengs is Panax ginseng, also called Asian or Korean ginseng. The main active components of Panax ginseng are ginsenosides, which have been shown to have a variety of beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. Results of clinical research studies demonstrate that Panax ginseng may improve psychological function, immune function, and conditions associated with diabetes
• Alpha Lipoic Acid (Thioctic Acid)- n the late 1980s, scientists realized that alpha-lipoic acid, a compound initially classified as a vitamin when it was discovered three decades earlier, possessed potent antioxidant properties that could prevent healthy cells from getting damaged by unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals.
• IGF Colostrum- Colostrum is the first milk produced by mammals for their babies 24-48 hours after birth. Colostrum is a "Swiss Army Knife" of bioactive factors, boosting immunity and stimulating muscle repair and growth. Clearly, colostrum is part of Nature's strategy to ensure infant survival. Two major studies show colostrum holds the promise of enhanced recovery and immunity for serious athletes
• Phosphatidylcholine- Phosphatidylcholine is important for normal cellular membrane composition and repair. Phosphatidylcholine is also the major delivery form of the essential nutrient choline. Choline itself is a precursor in the synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, the methyl donor betaine and phospholipids, including phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin among others. (See the Choline monograph for further discussion.) Phosphatidylcholine is involved in the hepatic export of very-low-density lipoproteins.

Joint & Bone Support

• Shark Cartilage- it has been a widely heralded phenomenon in recent years that has attributed to the sudden popularity of shark cartilage. What is this phenomenon? Studies conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology showed that supplementing with shark cartilage causes a decrease in blood flow to tumors in the body, thereby limiting tumor growth. Therefore, it could help prevent tumor-based cancer.
• Calcium- essential for building strong bones.
• Vitamin D
• Magnesium
EFA Complex
• Linoleic Acid
• Oleic Acid
Digestive Enzymes
• Papain
• Pepsin
• Pancreatin
• Micozyme

sources bodybuilding.com/allvitamins.com/wikipedia...google.com

[391rippy]

and the moral of this story is.....

[lnvictus]

Oh really?

ya"rly

[R_N_S]

and the moral of this story is.....

....."it's a f*cking multivitamin, don't waste you're money"

[lnvictus]

and the moral of this story is.....

do your researcd on product and what it contains. by the look of it animak pak looks pretty good. this is just an info post for those who is knowing more about animal pak...

[McDugan]

Great post - would read again.

[Slated]

do your researcd on product and what it contains. by the look of it animak pak looks pretty good. this is just an info post for those who is knowing more about animal pak...

point is though, can't they get that info in the store or at animalpak.com?

[Blap Blaow]

do your researcd on product and what it contains. by the look of it animak pak looks pretty good.

also look at how much it contains and question why it's there.

[McDugan]

point is though, can't they get that info in the store or at animalpak.com?

On his defense - have you seen many of the posts the past few months?

[Slated]

On his defense - have you seen many of the posts the past few months?

Over the weekend there were so many, that I made a cut and paste page that I used to show serach results to all the threads that popped up. It was like an animal pak weekend lol

[naturalguy]

It's a good post and shows how complete Animal Paks are, they have a lot more in them than a standard multi.

[McDugan]

It's a good post and shows how complete Animal Paks are, they have a lot more in them than a standard multi.

Quoted for untruth.

[nni]

It's a good post and shows how complete Animal Paks are, they have a lot more in them than a standard multi.

yeah like 12 extra pills.


i'd hope that have more than a standard multi.

[R_N_S]

little known fact: food contains f*cking vitamins and minerals

[naturalguy]

yeah like 12 extra pills.


i'd hope that have more than a standard multi.

They are what they are. There are other pak like products out there (Beverly comes to mind among others). They should not be compared with standard multi's. Your not going to fit all that stuff in one or two tablets.

[cakedonkey]

From pogue's Animal warning thread:

Animal Pak
Rating: Okay product, fine to use - still cheaper products available

Animal Pak is their multivitamin product. It comes in packets and you take two a day. For the most part, this looks pretty decent. Their new blend looks better to me than their old one. They do have some strange stuff in here though, such as Smilax and Ginseng. They have low dose L-Carnitine, which does no good and low Chromium Picolinate. They also include Colostrum in a dose of 25mg which is absolutely worthless, and an essential fatty acid complex, which is too low of a dose to be sufficient.

Everything else with this product looks okay. I'm not entirely impressed with it, but there would be nothing wrong with taking it.

Instead of Animal Pak:

• NOW ADAM / NOW EcoGreen
• ON Opti-Men

[civileng68]

Im no expert so I hope not to get flamed but, because I like to stay in tune with my health, I did research on each mineral/vitmamin before taking this stuff and can say that the difference between this and most multi's is that this has more aminos and the amounts within those are so much more. It has such a higher quantity of grams/mg's than most multi's.

I dont know how much better it is than the average multi because I dont take the average multi but , I can say that since I've taken this, I feel so good. I feel like I have more energy, I feel more recovery and potency in my body/muscles and though I take other supps I do feel like this helps.

To the previous poster................I agree that food is the best place to find these things. I 100% agree. However I work a hard schedule at work and Im lucky to even get a lunch some days, and eating pretty much 6 meals a day is just not attainable to get the amount of vitamins/minerals I get in one pack of Animal Pak.

[391rippy]

do your researcd on product and what it contains. by the look of it animak pak looks pretty good. this is just an info post for those who is knowing more about animal pak...

oh, i see. so the point of this thread is to post the nutritional information of a product that people could easily get off the company website or the bodybuilding.com store

here's the low down on NOW adam
All other male multiples are now obsolete with the introduction of our new ADAM Male Multivitamin formula. Here’s why:

* Contains 10,000 IU beta carotene from CaroCare®, a vegetarian source with mixed carotenoids
* Inositol hexanicotinate for vitamin B-3 – the superior form nutritionists recommend
* B-6 derived from P-5-P, a more bioavailable and efficient form
* B-12 as methylcobalamin, the most active co-enzyme form
* 165mg of Coral Calcium per 2 tabs – ecologically friendly from above-ground sources
* Includes patent-pending ZMA, a chelated zinc supplement popular with active individuals
* 160mg of Saw Palmetto – important for every man over 30
* 100 mg of energizing Panax Ginseng – standardized for maximum effectiveness
* 50mg of the powerful metabolic antioxidant Alpha Lipoic Acid – rarely found in other multiples
* 5 mg of CoQ10 and 30mg of Ginkgo Biloba – ideal for men of all ages – guaranteed potencies
* High levels of Lycopene (Lyc-o-mato™) and Lutein, carotenoids critical for prostate and eye health
* Iron-free formula offers the best value on the market for premium male multiples
* Available in both tablets and vegetarian VCaps®

Many multiples on the market today contain unnecessary levels of excipients and added ingredients. ADAM is formulated to contain the lowest levels of these unneeded additional ingredients, leaving more room for higher levels of the nutrients men need to maintain optimum health.



Nutrition Info


Serving Size 2 Tablets
Servings Per Container: 60
Amount Per Serving % Daily Value
Servings Per Container 60
Beta-Carotene (as pro-Vitamin A 6 mg) 10,000 IU 200%
Vitamin C (from Calcium Ascorbate) 350 mg 580%
Vitamin D (as Ergocalociferol) 400 IU 100%
Vitamin E (from d-alpha Tocopheryl Succinate) 200 IU 670%
Vitamin K (as Phytonadione) 50 mcg 60%
Thiamine (Vit. B-1) (from Thiamine HCI) 25 mg 1670%
Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2) 25 mg 1470%
Niacin (Vitamin B-3) (from Niacinamide and Inositol Hexaniothinate) 50 mg 250%
Vitamin B-6 (from Pynidoxine HCI and Pyridoxal-5 Phosphate (P-5-P) 25 mg 1250%
Folate (as Folic Acid) 800 mcg 200%
Vitamin B-12 (as Methylobalamin) 250 mg 4170%
Biotin 300 mcg 100%
Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B-5) (from Calcium d-Pantothenate) 100 mg 1000%
Calcium (from Calcium Carbonate, Coral Calcium and Calcium Ascorbate) 350 mg 35%
Iodine (from Kelp) 225 mcg 150%
Magnesium (from Magnesium Oxide, Magnesium Citrate and ZMA®) 100 mg 25%
Zinc (from ZinMax® (Zinc Picolinate) and ZMA®) 30 mg 200%
Selenium (from L-Selenomethionine) 200 mcg 290%
Copper (from Copper AAC*) 500 mcg 25%
Manganese (from Manganese AAC*) 3 mg 150%
Chromium (from Chromium Chelavite®) 200 mcg 170%
Molybedunum (from Molybdenum AAC*) 50 mcg 70%
Potassium (from Potassium Chloride) 50 mg 1%
Coral Calcium 165 mg †
Saw Palmetto Extract (Berries) (Serenoa repens) 160 mg †
Panax Ginseng Extract (Roots) (min. 5% Ginsenosides) 100 mg †
ZMA® 55 mg †
Alpha Lipoic Acid 50 mg †
Choline (from Choline Bitartrate) 50 mg †
Royal Jelly 50 mg †
Kelp (Laminaria digitata) (Whole Plant) 45 mg †
Ginkgo Biloba Extract (Leaf) (min. 24% Ginkgoflavonglycerides) 30 mg †
Nettle Extract (Root) (Urtica dioica) (min. 30 ppm Socopoletin) 25 mg †
Grape Seed Extract (Vitis vinifera) (min. 90% Total Polyphenols) 25 mg †
Inositol (from Inositol Granules and Inositol Nicotinate) 25 mg †
Bromelain (2400 GDU) 25 mg †
Lipase (60,000 FCC) 12.5 mg †
Papain (2,000 USP) 12.5 mg †
Pepsin (1:10:000) 12.5 mg †
Amylase (5000 FCC) 5 mg †
CoQ10 (as Ubidecarenone) 5 mg †
Lycopene (from LYC-O-MATO®) 1 mg †
Boron (from Boron AAC*) 1 mg †
Lutein (from FloraGLO®) 500 mcg †
Vanadium (from Vanadium AAC*) 100 mcg †
* Percent Daily Values are based on 2,000 calorie diet.
† Daily Value not established.

[naturalguy]

The ADAM looks decent but even at 1/2 dose of Animal Paks (1 pak) it has more B-vitamins than the ADAM, which are extremely important for athletes.

They are just different products, ADAM contains some nutrients that the Pak doesn't and the Pak contains some nutrients that ADAM doesn't.

[McDugan]

The ADAM looks decent but even at 1/2 dose of Animal Paks (1 pak) it has more B-vitamins than the ADAM, which are extremely important for athletes.

They are just different products, ADAM contains some nutrients that the Pak doesn't and the Pak contains some nutrients that ADAM doesn't.

Adam + food = all the vits a bodybuilding man will need.

[naturalguy]

Adam + food = all the vits a bodybuilding man will need.

umm, ok, you could subsitute that and say "Animal Pak + food" or "Multi pro 32x + food" or "Activite + food"

[McDugan]

umm, ok, you could subsitute that and say "Animal Pak + food" or "Multi pro 32x + food" or "Activite + food"

Ya dude - no **** - but price per serving kinda factors into someone’s purchasing decisions. That's the point.

[naturalguy]

Ya dude - no **** - but price per serving kinda factors into someone’s purchasing decisions. That's the point.

If you look at the price, it's not a big difference. You can get Animal Paks for $19 for a 6 week supply. An 8 week supply of ADAM is $17.

[391rippy]

Ya dude - no **** - but price per serving kinda factors into someone’s purchasing decisions. That's the point.

yep; with animal pak you're paying for a multi plus underdosed amino acids, underdosed EFAs, shark cartilage (which has been proven to be ineffective), and some gnarly ads.

[nni]

If you look at the price, it's not a big difference. You can get Animal Paks for $19 for a 6 week supply. A six week supply of ADAM is $15.

hmmm.

adam - $16.59 for 60 days = $0.276 per serving
animal pak - $22.97 for 22 days = $1.044 per serving


math not so good my man

[naturalguy]

hmmm.

adam - $16.59 for 60 days = $0.276 per serving
animal pak - $22.97 for 22 days = $1.044 per serving


math not so good my man

Your looking at it wrong. Most people should only take 1 animal pak per day. So it's 44 days. You can get them for $19 online. So it's only $0.43 cents per serving. So your only saving $0.16 cents per day.

You can always find something cheaper.

[nni]

Your looking at it wrong. Most people should only take 1 animal pak per day. So it's 44 days. You can get them for $19 online. So it's only $0.43 cents per serving. So your only saving $0.16 cents per day.

You can always find something cheaper.

your right i am looking at it wrong. i thought an all purpose multi and food and protein were enough. i didnt realize that i needed a dozen more pills to get what i needed.

i will shop around for animal pak...

[Glaive]

You can't directly compare nutritional info for Animal Pak and another multi and then when it comes to comparing price shift to saying "Oh, normal people only need to take one pak a day." That halves the nutritional content, thus negating any nutritional comparisons in favor of Animal Pak.

There are other things to look at in a multivitamin. Is it pharmaceutical grade? Does it follow USP guidelines?

Anyone can slap a bunch of numbers on the side of a bottle, but there's nothing that really guarantees that what you get inside matches the label, or that even if potency is correct that the supplement is designed so that it will be absorbed correctly. Most multivitamins have extremely poor absorption and just get passed through the body. There's also the issue of the source of the vitamin's nutrients. Many vitamins have can be gotten from a variety of different sources, not all of which are equal in terms of how the human body reacts to them. This is a common way for a supplement manufacturer to cut corners while still maintaining an impressive-looking label.

Animal Pak is hardly cost-effective for what's in it. Most all the extras (amino acids, EFA's, etc.) are underdosed, making them little more than marketing hype. Are those good things to get in your diet? Damn straight, but you'll need to supplement with them separately if you want to see a benefit, not tiny minidoses in a product like Animal Pak.

I also find it rather underhanded that they list the nutritional info for a serving of 2 Paks, but then say that it's ok to just go and take 1 each day. Would you just take half a scoop of whey protein or half a serving of Creatine? That doesn't make any sense.