Lactic acid is produced by the body when there is not enough oxygen in the system to convert glucose into energy. It usually occurs during intense physical activity or exercises. It’s a normal process within the body that helps keep you energized through hard workouts. Lactic acid itself isn’t bad. It becomes bad when too much is produced that doesn’t get used so it is stored. When the body stores lactic acid muscles feel a burning sensation or cramped. Some other symptoms include weakness, fatigue, and abdominal pain.
How It Works
The body uses oxygen to break down glucose to use as energy. During strenuous exercises, there might not be enough oxygen in the system to perform this task. Luckily there is a back-up system in place for situations like this. The body then produces lactate in replace of oxygen in order to convert glucose into energy. It is produced by brain cells, red blood cells, and muscles. Lactate is usually produced once exercise has reached 50% maximum capacity.
If the body produces lactate faster than it is used it begins to accumulate in the bloodstream. This build-up is what causes muscle cramps along with:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Cramps
- Abdominal pain
- Burning sensation in muscles
When lactic acid is caused by intense exercise it is temporary and usually only causes slight discomforts that go away after a few days. However, if the build-up is due to an underlying medical condition it’s best to seek medical attention from a doctor. Other causes of lactic acid build-up can be from alcoholism, cancer, heart or lung disease, diabetes or HIV.
Many people associate muscle soreness with lactic acid build-up however this is not the case. Sore muscles are due to microtears caused by exercising. These tears are what build muscles but are also what causes soreness.
A build-up of lactic acid in the system also increases the body’s pH balance. This increase in acidity causes a burning sensation in muscles often felt during training. It’s completely normal and goes away on its own.
You always want to make sure to be proactive about releasing lactic acid build-up. It serves a purpose during workouts but then is eliminated afterward. Not only that but the increased acidity from the lactic acid puts a strain on the liver and can slow down recovery time. Here are 8 ways to help rid your system of any built-up lactic acid.
Using Lactic Acid to Your Advantage
Many studies have been conducted that link lactic acid to the release of HGH (Human Growth Hormone). HGH is released during sleep, exercising, and when fasting. This hormone is responsible for muscle growth, bone growth, cell repair, metabolism rates, and certain heart functions. If you use lactic acid to your advantage during workouts you can actually increase HGH and get faster results.
For lactic acid to be released the body needs to be under pressure for certain amounts of time. Sprinting for 30 seconds instead of 6 seconds nearly quadruples the amount of HGH released. The same goes for lifting weights. People who lift weights slower have higher amounts of HGH released in response to lactic acid being produced. Learn exactly how to use lactic acid for HGH release HERE.
How Lactic Acids Leaves The Body
The body has a certain level of tolerance to lactic acid. When that level is reached the body works to remove it from the system. However, in order to do so, oxygen levels need to be normalized. This is when you might start to feel more uncomfortable symptoms like nausea, lightheadedness or vomiting. Essentially the body is trying to stop you so that it can retain more oxygen. The more you exercise the greater your stamina will be so you’ll be less likely to have these types of symptoms occur.
There are two ways the body eliminates lactic acid. One is to oxidize it into carbon dioxide and then water. The second is to turn it into glucose and then glycogen. The glycogen is then used to replenish muscles. Both of these processes require oxygen so the body won’t work to remove lactic acid until after an exercise or after breathing has returned to a normal state. It typically occurs within a few hours after an exercise session has ended.
