Lactic acid- an athlete's nemesis, if you like- is an alpha hydroxy acid. During normal exercise, a process of fermentation in red blood cells occurs. When the rate of production of lactate surpasses the rate of removal, too much lactate enters the blood stream, and problems occur. During cardiovascular activity, the amounts of blood lactate can increase tenfold, and the buildup eventually results in an onset of soreness which usually sets in hours after activity.
This same fermentation, however, is responsible for many properties of food, such as the souring of milk. It also makes the pickling process possible. Its role as an acidity regulator allow us to enjoy the luxuries of sweets, dressings and soft drinks. Maybe this makes all those sore muscles worth the pain!
http://www.chemistrydaily.com/chemistry/Lactic_acid
Posted by Nicole Prince
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I remember learning about lactic acid fermentation in my AP Biology class last year; muscle cells use this process for energy when they can't get enough oxygen to perform regular cellular respiration, right? I didn't know about it being an acidity regulator, though. I have sore muscles right now from a marching band competition the other night, and I definitely think it's worth the pain to be able to enjoy sweets!
ReplyDeleteAA
ReplyDeleteLactic acid is what makes your muscles sore after physical activity. When your body needs energy during excercise, lactate is produced faster than the body can pump it out. This ensures that your body continues to create energy, so that the physical activity can be continued.
KS
ReplyDeleteLactic acid is formed from the breakdown of ATP. Romoval of lactic acid can be accelerated by doing a cool down after strenuous physical exercise.
DB
ReplyDeleteLactic acid is produced by muscles from glucose and burned to obtain energy--it's a fuel, not a waste product. Training hard adapts muscles to more efficiently absorb lactic acid.
NJ
ReplyDeleteI always knew lactic acid existed but was never sure on its function. In aerobic exercise, it is especially produced because blood is pumping a lot faster and harder, causing a large amount of lactate buildup. As an athlete, I realize the importance of cooling down to rid my body of the lactic acid so I don't experience the soreness left behind.
SD
ReplyDeleteBeing an athlete, I have heard the term "lactic acid" used by my coach and even other athletes, but was not exactly sure how it was produced. From experience, I know that without a proper cooldown after extrenuous exercise, lactic acid will build up and cause soreness for a few days after. Swimming, lightly jogging, and even walking after exercise can prevent the build up to occur.
EF
ReplyDeleteLactic acid was a term I'd heard before in sports, and I'd definitely felt the soreness from exercise, but I never knew it was an acidity regulator. Even though I'm not a fan of the soreness, thank goodness for lactic acid for letting us be able to eat sweets and drink soda!
Michael Jackson
ReplyDeleteI'm not exactly an athlete so I had never heard the term in association with sports. However, I had heard of it being used in soda, sweets, and different foods. I was actually allergic to it as a baby and had to drink special formula.
JH
ReplyDeleteLactic acid, although it is fuel for your body, can be very annoying when it isn't used up during exercise. Yesterday I played football for two hours and didn't cool down afterward; now I'm sore. I planned to play football for two hours, but my body made enough lactic acid for more than that.
RM
ReplyDeleteDuring very strenuous activity, such as sprinting, the body's concentration of lactate increases at the body's ability to rid itself of the lactate before the tissues can burn it. This causes the build up of lactate and causes soreness in the muscle after a period of time.
BP
ReplyDeleteThe term "lactic acid" is usually used by athletes when they participate in strenuous exercises. It is the presence of lactic acid in our muscles “the morning after” that makes them so sore. Once our muscles form lactic acid, they can’t do anything else with it, then our strained muscles feel stiff and sore even if they haven’t been physically injured. The lactic acid is released and prevented when there is a proper warmup and cool down during exercises.
Scottie2hottie
ReplyDeleteThe term "lactic acid" is normally associated with the strenuous exercise that athletes participate in. The presence of lactic acid is what makes everyone sore after doing these exercises. A proper cool down is an easy solution to resolve this problem for athletes
TB
ReplyDeleteThe problem with this thoery is that lactic acid build-up rarely persists for more than an hour of rest after excercise. Although that was what was previously thought, it has been proven false that lactic acid concentration in the blood is the cause of muscle soreness. I guess muscle break-down is the only reason for soreness the next day.
JK
ReplyDeleteLactic acid builds up in your muscles after hard exercise and causes tiredness and soreness after the activity and the next day. Athletes are now learning how far they can push themselves before the lactate buildup becomes too bad. Although lactate is a negative in sports, its positive use for sweets and milk fermentation makes it all worth while.
AO
ReplyDeleteI knew that lactic acid resulted from strenuous activity due to the fact that oxygen becomes scarce and aerobic respiration becomes harder. I did not know however that it was food additive and an acidity regulator.
This is a cool post and I have gained knowledge from it. Now I know why I am always sore after I work out.
ReplyDeleteI know lactic acid builds up in your muscles after a work, and a good way to avoid it is a proper cool down.
ReplyDeleteJP wrote the comment previous to this one.
ReplyDeleteKB
ReplyDeleteEveryone who has even thought about exercising has heard the warning about lactic acid. It builds up in your muscles. It is what makes your muscles burn.Its buildup is what make your muscles tire and give out.
Yes I have heard about this. During strenous exercises, when the demand for energy is elevated, lactate is made quicker than the ability of the tissues to reduce it and lactate concentration begins to rise. Contrary to popular belief, this increased concentration of lactate does not directly cause acidosis, nor is it responsible for delayed onset muscle soreness.
ReplyDeleteSource: http://ajpregu.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/287/3/R502