Are you a physical exercise enthusiast who eagerly awaits your subsequent workout? Or does the mere mention of physical exercise make you roll your eyes?
If you fall into the second category, this article if just for you. What if a small pill the size of a button on your pants did all the hard work of physical exercise while you sat on the couch enjoying a pizza?
Today we’ll talk about the possibility of an “exercise pill,” which researchers think could make a big difference in the lives of people who can’t exercise because they are either obese or have trouble physically moving.
Time To Break The News To The Exercise Haters.
Regular physical activity or exercise can help you live a healthier, happier life regardless of age. Studies have found that regular exercise lowers the risk of long-term diseases like heart problems, pulmonary issues, diabetes, and cancer.
A daily walk to the park or garden for a few minutes might do wonders for your health, and you don’t even need to hit the gym. However, for those who despise the gym, dislike exercise, or are too lazy to go for a morning walk, a wonder pill may just do all the hard work for you.
Scientists have made significant progress towards pillizing the advantages of exercise. Researchers have found mice produce chemicals in the blood when they work out that help them eat less and lose weight, and there is a possibility of reproducing this in humans.
Let’s See If There Is A Need For An Exercise Pill.
Exercise pills could be the solution for people unable to exercise for whatever reason. For them, it is nothing but a matter of popping a tablet into their mouth—no more spending hours at the gym or the need for a trainer.
While the idea of an “exercise pill” may appeal to couch potatoes, long-distance truck drivers, and stressed-out office workers, researchers believe it can potentially transform the lives of people unable to exercise due to obesity or physical disabilities.
Now Let Us Understand How The Concept Of The Wonder Pill Started.
For the scientists working on the pill, the molecular mechanisms of exercisers have long been a mystery, so a team of researchers set out to learn and discover more about them.
A modified amino acid called Lac-Phe turned out to be the most strongly stimulated molecule in the blood plasma of mice after intense treadmill exercise. To make this molecule, the scientists, after conducting a series of experimental studies, combined lactate (a waste product of a strenuous activity that causes muscles to burn) and phenylalanine (an amino acid that is one of the building blocks of proteins).
Let’s Take A Look At What The Researchers Inferred From The Study.
The modified amino acid known as Lac-Phe is the most strongly stimulated molecule. When they administered the molecule to experimental mice, researchers discovered that mice with diet-induced obesity consumed less food on average.
The study ran for over 12 hours by the time the mice received a high dose of Lac-Phe compared to normal mice. Their energy and mobility remained unaltered throughout this time. After being administered for 10 days, Lac-Phe significantly reduced total food consumption to about 50 %, lowering the body weight while improving glucose tolerance.
They also discovered an enzyme known as CNDP2 that contributes to the synthesis of Lac-Phe. They found that the normal mice lacking this enzyme did not lose as much weight during exercise as the control group did.
Who Would Gain The Most From An Exercise-Benefiting Pill?
Interestingly, researchers discovered that racehorses and humans significantly increased their plasma Lac-Phe levels after engaging in strenuous physical activity. According to the findings of a human exercise cohort study, the most dramatic increase of plasma Lac-Phe was through sprint exercise, followed by resistance training, and then endurance training.
Meaning Lac-Phe is a system maintained over time. It regulates food and connects with physical activity in various animal species.
The next step for the researchers will be to investigate the mechanism by which Lac-Phe mediates its effects throughout the body, particularly in the brain. This exercise pathway is currently undergoing studies to see if scientists can adjust it for therapeutic purposes.
Researchers believe that a pill that provides the benefits of exercise can aid the elderly or those unable to exercise enough to lower their risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, and other conditions.
Physical exercise is nature’s way of staying fit and healthy. Yet, We need to understand that some cannot exercise due to physical limitations.
