{"id":4075,"date":"2019-07-22T01:00:12","date_gmt":"2019-07-22T01:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifehackerguy.com\/?p=4075"},"modified":"2022-02-04T07:35:38","modified_gmt":"2022-02-04T07:35:38","slug":"active-pk-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifehackerguy.com\/active-pk-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Active PK Review – What’s the Deal?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Normally I don't look to review diet products and definitely not diet pills, but the focus of Active PK got me intrigued, and decided to take a look. This supplement has so much \u2018science\u2019 involved, that I couldn't resist reviewing the product.<\/p>\n

Active PK is a capsule supplement that claims to essentially help with metabolism to keep you slim and\/or aid weight loss<\/strong>. I\u2019m always a little uncertain about any product that makes these claims, so I\u2019m going to do a bit of digging around to see whether there can be any basis for these product claims. <\/p>\n

There are literally thousands of products, methods, approaches, lifestyle changes, diets that claim to help you shed pounds. How is this product different from everything else in the market? <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Active<\/p>\n

Active PK First Impressions<\/h2>\n

First and foremost Active PK wants you to believe it is backed by science. Everything about the website for LCR Health (and, for that matter, the brand itself) is leading you to believe it is founded in science, from the brand logo (which resembles a building block) to the pages dedicated to the \u2018research\u2019 undertaken in the formulation of their products. <\/p>\n

The formula used in Active PK is supposed to work by using \u2018natural compounds to help activate AMPK \u2014 your metabolic \u201cmaster switch\u201d \u2014 which tells your body to stop storing fat and start converting it into clean, usable fuel. This can lead to more energy, fewer cravings, and a slimmer waistline\u2019.<\/p>\n

AMPK (Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase) is an enzyme. It has a long name like lots of other enzymes. It has a complicated job like lots of enzymes. It is important because it is involved in energy pathways, helping your body navigate between energy needs and energy production. <\/p>\n

I believe you really don\u2019t need to be bamboozled on science with this one<\/strong>, in order to make up your own mind about whether to take Active PK<\/div>\n

Without going too far into biology (I believe you really don\u2019t need to be bamboozled on science with this one, in order to make up your own mind about whether to take Active PK), a few simple google searches tell me that people are already interested in increasing their AMPK. Search suggestions include \u2018How can I increase my AMPK naturally\u2019 and \u2018AMPK foods\u2019 – oh and \u2018Active PK\u2019 itself. <\/p>\n

I can tell from this that there are people out there who are on board with the idea that this enzyme is useful in terms of metabolism and therefore the notion that taking more of it or making it more available would somehow improve your chances of either getting fit or losing weight. But is there really any truth to this? <\/p>\n

Background on LCR Health<\/h2>\n

I already gave an overview of LCR Health in my Active Stem review here<\/a>, but just to recap:<\/p>\n

\"Doctor<\/p>\n

The company has as its Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rand McClain, a doctor of \u2018Regenerative Medicine\u2019 who has committed his life\u2019s work to the study of optimizing human performance through scientific approaches. The website promotes the scientific basis for their products and quotes research studies to add to their claims. <\/p>\n

The modus operandi of LCR Health seems to me to very simply be taking one basic metabolic principle and creating a product that they can then promote as a health-enhancer. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m not 100% sold on this idea, as I prefer to look at the quality of ingredients and the evidence behind using or taking them<\/strong> before deciding whether this is something I can put my name behind (hence my reviewing of these products and summarising of their effectiveness). <\/p>\n

Another quick look at an article on the website of popular health-product pusher Dr. Axe quotes that what actually activates AMPK is energy deficiency. So when you feel tired, stressed, hungry (you get the idea)… it\u2019s a simple supply-and-demand cycle that the human body does so well. This causes the activated protein kinase (AMP) – a protein – to be produced, which is then used alongside AMPK in the pathway. <\/p>\n

So if some of the best AMPK activators are things we think of as stressful (fasting or calorie restriction and intense exercise) why do we need to take a supplement that actively gives us more AMPK?<\/p>\n

Active-PK Ingredients<\/h2>\n

Active-PK is a \u2018revolutionary formula designed to help fight fatigue and abdominal fat so you can enjoy a stronger, slimmer-feeling body\u2019.<\/p>\n

\nThe actual ingredients are: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Leaf Extract (ActivAMP) 450 mg: This is also called Jiaogulan, or Southern Ginseng.
\nQuercetin Dihydrate 100 mg. Berberine 100 mg.<\/em>\n<\/div>\n

The promotional material says: \u2018This formula contains 2 of the most powerful AMPK-boosting compounds ever discovered \u2014 Berberine and Gynostemma. These plant extracts are proven to help your body trim abdominal fat, boost your endurance, and \u201ccrank up\u201d your metabolism by maintaining healthy AMPK production\u2019.<\/p>\n

\"Active<\/p>\n

Firstly, is this formula \u2018revolutionary\u2019 because it\u2019s the first time these two ingredients have been put together? <\/p>\n

Is it a revolution in weight loss (if so, where is the evidence or studies to back this up<\/strong>)? <\/p>\n

How can we possibly test the truth of these statements if no actual research has been done on the product (or the ingredients in combination) for example in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial?<\/p>\n

How Does Active-PK Taste?<\/h2>\n

The product is sold in capsule form so there should be no discernable flavor or taste. <\/p>\n

Side Effects<\/h2>\n

I looked at Examine.com<\/a> so much to see what the truth is behind these ingredients that I came across the following side effect of Berberine:<\/p>\n

Gastrointestinal upset can occur when high doses are used, and due to its ability to reduce blood sugar, it may increase the risk for hypoglycemia in high doses, though this isn't a common occurrence.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

However, the dose is not particularly high at only 100mg so this may not result in any side effects. <\/p>\n

Does Active-PK Actually Work?<\/h2>\n

First and foremost, how would we know? How can you actually tell whether you are increasing AMPK by taking this product? Is the outcome – and the measurable result – actual, tangible physical weight loss?<\/p>\n

There are so few ingredients in the product. <\/p>\n

The research on the actual ingredients says:<\/p>\n