5 facts and health benefits of Lactic Acid

Lactic acid accumulates when you do physical activity (exercise) at high intensity. Lactic acid also plays a role in the body's metabolic processes. But there are more facts about lactic acid than it is.

Here are the facts and health benefits of the lactic acid you need to know:

1. Lactic acid is always present in the body.
Lactic acid is always produced even when the body is resting. At rest, lactic acid levels produced about 1 millimoles / liter (mmol / L).

The more intense physical activity, the more lactic acid is produced. When active, the concentration of lactic acid could reach approximately 4 mmol / L, or 70-80% of VO2 maximum.

2. Not only because of lack of oxygen.
Many people think the lack of oxygen will lead to increased production of lactic acid. In addition to the lack of oxygen which is one of the factors that contribute to the formation of lactic acid, the absence of "molecular career" NAD (nicotinomide adenine dinucleotide) and FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide) has a much greater effect.

These molecules play an important role in the transport of hydrogen into the cell for use in energy production.
When molecules are not present career, will be joined by hydrogen pyruvate to produce lactic acid.

3. Lactic acid as fuel.
Lactic acid will usually disappear from the muscle tissue within 30 minutes of physical activity. Lactic acid is used by the liver, heart, and kidney as a source of energy. Liver to convert lactic acid into glucose, which is then released into the bloodstream to be used muscles. Lactic acid can also be converted into glycogen to be stored.

4. Fatigue and lactic acid.
Increased lactic acid will cause physical fatigue resulting in lower performance. But not many know how this could happen. Fatigue occurs because some stages. First, the energy reduction will be felt. Increase in hydrogen reduces the production of ATP (energy) due to inhibition of enzymes involved in energy production.

Second, the muscles can not contract normally or by force as in the past. To contract, muscles need calcium. The problem occurs when the hydrogen blocking calcium, so that the muscle can not contract normally.

5. Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (Doms).
Doms is a pain or pain in the muscles that you feel 24 - 48 hours after physical activity or sport. DOMS was originally thought to occur due to the presence of lactic acid. In fact not the case. Doms occurs due to excessive physical activity causes damage to the muscle or connective tissue.

The body responds by repairing the damage and stimulate sensory nerve endings resulting in pain. Doms usually happens when you first start the sport, or when exercising at a very high intensity.

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