Exercise Pill

Posted on August 1, 2008

For those who knew they needed to but just didn’t want to, there may be an answer after all. Call it magic muscles I guess, it could be great news for couch potatoes.

What is it? It’s a pill that lets them watch their TV and get their exercise, too—without ever moving a muscle. Scientists have found a drug that simulates the effects of a workout by increasing the body’s ability to burn fat.

The study indicates it can also increase endurance; lab mice that took it ran more than 40 percent longer on a treadmill than those without it.

In addition to increasing stamina, the drug, called AICAR, may also be useful in treating severe muscle disorders like muscular dystrophy as well as diseases such as diabetes, because it also appears to help the body use and remove sugar from the blood more effectively.

Researchers say it works by reprogramming muscle, turning it from speed and power into a mode doesn’t fatigue as easily and aids in endurance.

After four weeks of treatment with AICAR alone, mice that took it could run on treadmills nearly 1 1/2 times as long as those without it.

Certainly the drug would be one of those illegal substances if used in some type of sports competition but might be of great use to the average round mound person.