Sodium Bicarb… Man, that’s old school

[stretch512]

I recently ran across some old reading material and one article really caught my attention. It was all about how back in the day endurance athletes would use baking soda (bicarbonate) to help neutralize lactic acid. I had never really heard of this but peeked my interest. Soon I found many stories of athletes showing up with shady looking bags of white powder at races and a lot of people were using this baking soda method. It wasn’t for everyone though because as some may know (volcano science project) bicarbonate can also have some nasty side effects on the stomach. Horror stories of people mid race puking and having diarrhea isn’t something that sounds worth the risk for a small advantage. It looks like folks finally found a way to get bicarbonate into a hydrogel that removes all those old nasty side effects on the stomach. How can this be any different than other carbohydrate gels? Well those are just carbohydrates in a water based gel but of course it’s missing the key ingredient- sodium bicarbonate. Why is baking soda so useful. Well….

Baking soda, when mixed with water, creates an alkaline solution that helps to buffer the acidity level within the blood and muscles. As a result, the lactic acid is drawn out of the muscle cells, causing the acid-base balance, or pH level, of the muscles and blood to return to equilibrium.

At first this sounds like straight up bro science but then when you see top level athletes who have used this method it seems there might be some truths worth exploring. Even back in the day when the risk might be shitting yourself, top pros we’re using baking soda to balance the lactic acid allowing athletes to push harder for longer.

What do you brothers think?

[stevesmi]

taurine would have made more sense. and electrolytes before and during (but done correctly)

if you are a runner and get calf pumps that bad then you need to look at the shoes you are using and also your technique. treadmill running will teach a person to heel strike when they run and that is why i discourage EVER running on a treadmill!

[stretch512]

Yeah, I also despise treadmills but that’s just my personal preference. I also preferably want to be outside and living in a warm climate helps facilitate that. I have used Tuarine and L Citruline together with nice results during training sessions. As always if your diet is crap then most of these supplements get lost in the mix.

I think I will try some of these bicarbonate hydrogel’s eventually. If I do I will slap up some feedback and log my process. My thinking is that utilizing bicarbonate is something to consider when a person is at threshold or beyond. At least that might be an easy way to test it.

[Mobster]

As is it's less than it gives you endurance and more it takes away the sense and feel of fatigue.

One company I associated with briefly back in the day was 'SiS' (Sports in Science) which had some very high end proteins (they dropped these) but still do great gels for cyclists (where the founder made his name)

[stretch512]

As is it's less than it gives you endurance and more it takes away the sense and feel of fatigue.

One company I associated with briefly back in the day was 'SiS' (Sports in Science) which had some very high end proteins (they dropped these) but still do great gels for cyclists (where the founder made his name)

Cool, thanks Mobster! I will check them out.

[Npcclassicphysique champ]

I recently ran across some old reading material and one article really caught my attention. It was all about how back in the day endurance athletes would use baking soda (bicarbonate) to help neutralize lactic acid. I had never really heard of this but peeked my interest. Soon I found many stories of athletes showing up with shady looking bags of white powder at races and a lot of people were using this baking soda method. It wasn’t for everyone though because as some may know (volcano science project) bicarbonate can also have some nasty side effects on the stomach. Horror stories of people mid race puking and having diarrhea isn’t something that sounds worth the risk for a small advantage. It looks like folks finally found a way to get bicarbonate into a hydrogel that removes all those old nasty side effects on the stomach. How can this be any different than other carbohydrate gels? Well those are just carbohydrates in a water based gel but of course it’s missing the key ingredient- sodium bicarbonate. Why is baking soda so useful. Well….

Baking soda, when mixed with water, creates an alkaline solution that helps to buffer the acidity level within the blood and muscles. As a result, the lactic acid is drawn out of the muscle cells, causing the acid-base balance, or pH level, of the muscles and blood to return to equilibrium.

At first this sounds like straight up bro science but then when you see top level athletes who have used this method it seems there might be some truths worth exploring. Even back in the day when the risk might be shitting yourself, top pros we’re using baking soda to balance the lactic acid allowing athletes to push harder for longer.

What do you brothers think?

You never heard of baking soda being used for combat lactic acid? this is very normal bro. Used in bodybuilding for years actually.

Taurine and baking soda work with electrolytes to buffer lactic acid and refill muscles.

[ceo]

bros baking soda used for years to buffer blood

[ROIDDERS]

yea baking soda pretty much all bodybuilders use it

[JasonPriest]

curious what would be the purpose in doing this anyway? lactic acid has a good purpose of preventing injuries, it isn't what is caused with soreness as people believe, rather it is important while you train for the body to use that glycogen into energy

[Quadsweep]

yea this is oldschool I drink baking soda daily