Animal Stak 2 is a dietary supplement manufactured by Universal Nutrition, based in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Animal Stak 2 is marketed to bodybuilders and athletes who want to increase their strength and performance. According to the manufacturer's marketing claims, Animal Stak 2 increases the functionality of your natural testosterone and human growth hormone, two hormones associated with muscle strength and libido.
Features
Animal Stak 2 is primarily targeted to the "serious (weight) lifter" who wants to increase strength and bulk. Animal Stak 2 optimizes the levels of testosterone and growth hormone, or GH, in your body according the the manufacturer. The manufacturer states that 98 percent of an adult male's testosterone is "unusable" and that Animal Stak 2 "frees" unavailable testosterone so it can yield the same effects associated with anabolic-steroid use.
Ingredients
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine Dietary Supplements Labels Database, Animal Stak 2 contains numerous essential and nonessential nutrients and herbal ingredients, as well as a proprietary cortisol inhibitor and vasodilator complex. Some of the numerous active ingredients in Animal Stak 2 include chromium, vitamin B6, saw palmetto, beta-Sitosterol, longjack, alpha-Glycerylphosphorylcholine, milk thistle, velvet bean, lysophosphatidylcholine and diindolylmethane. Many ingredients have no recommended daily value established, as they are not considered essential to the diet.
Use
Each container of Animal Stak 2 contains 21 packs; one pack is considered a serving size. The manufacturer advises taking one pack every day for three weeks a half-hour before working out; on days you don't train, Animal Stak 2 should be taken on an empty stomach in between meals. The manufacturer recommends following a three-week-on, one-week-off cycle to get optimal results.
Safety
Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist Edward R. Laskowski cautions you that over-the-counter "natural" steroids may not be safe to use. He indicates that these dietary supplements may have some of the same adverse effects as synthetic steroids -- and some may linger for a lifetime. Mood swings, aggressiveness, baldness, acne, sexual dysfunction, high-blood pressure, increased "bad" cholesterol levels and liver damage are associated with steroid use. The American Council on Exercise notes that the risks associated with any type of steroid use aren't worth the gain and advises adhering to a challenging training program to increase your strength and endurance instead.
FDA Classification
None of the marketing claims made by the manufacturer of Animal Stak 2 have been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. By virtue of its classification as a dietary supplement rather than a drug, Animal Stak 2 cannot claim to prevent, treat or cure any disease. Dietary supplements do not go through the same rigorous FDA-approval process as do prescription and nonprescription drugs; the safety, efficacy and overall quality of your product is not assured. Talk to your physician before using dietary supplements.
