Is it true that taking sodium benzoate will reduce the lactic acid in your muscles while running?

Question

I heard that it will reduce the lactic acid causing you to run with more efficiency and you wont get tired. Also, is there anything else out there that will produce the same results.

Answer 1

There are some pills called SPorts Legs, which somehow make your muscles think that there is already lactic acid there, so they dont build up anymore, or something like that. I do know for a fact that it works, because I use it on my long runs and afterward for recovery and I feel so much better when I use it.

Answer 2

F.Y.I.:



Lactic acid, contrary to popular belief, has a positive effect on the body. It is produced in order to provide energy for the muscles.



A little sports background:



Sprinters, since the 1920's, have run longer distances before doing their races in order for their muscles "to have more energy." This being said, they were building up lactic acid to get ready for their races.

Science, however, has not caught up to this until about three months ago when it was discovered that lactic serves another purpose- to provide energy (as well as to tell us that we are reaching our limits).



I don't know what to tell you- about getting rid of lactic acid.



To restate: You'll be temporarily sore while running, but lactic acid is a biological sign to tell you to slow down so that you don't collapse-or worse.

Answer 3

I think you mean Sodium Bicarbonate:



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The research is split down the middle - about half the studies have found a benefit, the other half no effect. No serious detrimental effects have been found, however, apart from nausea in susceptible individuals. A dose of 300mg per kg of body weight has been found effective in some studies for exercise lasting between 30-120 seconds (eg, 800m track). It' s probably best to take this 1-3 hours before racing ('Bicarbonate Loading', Heigenhauser, G. and Jones, N. In Lamb, D. and Williams (eds), 'Ergogenics, Enhancement of Performance in Exercise and Sport,' Brown & Benchmark, lowa, 1991)