Lactic acid is a naturally occurring compound present in milk. Upon consumption, the acid breaks down into lactose, which requires the digestive enzyme lactase. Some people lack this enzyme resulting in a lactose intolerance often causing...
Exercising your muscles and joints is a great way to build strength and improve the flexibility of your limbs. While exercising, you are likely to exert a high amount of energy through your muscles as you complete various physical movements....
Lactic acid forms in your muscles and red blood cells when your body breaks down carbohydrates to use as fuel. This process occurs when you are low on oxygen, particularly during intense exercise; intense anaerobic exercise, like weight training,...
During exercise your body uses oxygen to break down carbohydrate, fat and protein to produce energy. This process is called oxidative metabolism. Fat requires more oxygen than carbohydrate when used for energy during exercise. Your body's ability...
Put simply, acidosis is a buildup of too much acid in your bodily fluids. There are several different types of acidosis, with a variety of causes; one type relates to over-exercising or extreme physical exertion. If you're concerned that you might...
Breathing is the most important factor in distance running, even more so than leg strength. Endurance is about adapting your body to the long haul, and taking and using oxygen efficiently is a major factor in that adaptation. Stay relaxed, let...
When you train, you gather energy from several sources of fuel found in your body. When oxygen is present, the energy comes from stored glycogen and blood sugar. If you train hard enough, your oxygen level drops and your muscle cells and red...
Fermentation is a process in which food is pre-digested by bacteria or fungi to create a product that may be tastier in some ways, or have other culinary or medicinal value lacking in the original food. Fermented foods are often good sources of...
When working out for a high level of repetitions at a high intensity, two things can happen. First, you will notice burning sensations in the muscles being trained; that is lactic acid. After finishing your exercise, your muscles will be engorged....
Increasing speed endurance allows you to work at a higher rate for longer periods of time. According to sportsfitnessadvisor.com, any athlete who is required to repeat high intensity sprints in quick succession can benefit from this type of...
Some people have genetic disorders that interfere with the way their bodies convert food into energy. Pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase deficiency is a genetic defect that can make it hard for you to keep your cells energized, resulting in...
After spending 9 months gaining weight to support the growth and development of your baby, you might be ready to shed the post-partum pounds as soon as possible after the birth. Although breastfeeding might alter your post-baby dieting and...
Lactic acid is a by-product of the process cells use to produce energy. As cells convert glucose to energy, they use oxygen. If there is not enough oxygen within the cell, the cell is still able to produce energy, but also produces lactic acid....
If you are a typical gym rat, you undoubtedly know how to use all the equipment and likely have a regular exercise routine. If you have been working out for months or even years, you may have hit a plateau when it comes to increases in strength or...
Any natural molecule that consists of carbon and hydrogen atoms is considered organic. Since glucose is made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms, it is organic. Glucose is a monosaccharide, the smallest biologically active form of a sugar or...
Everybody experiences muscle aches, particularly after strenuous exercise. The most common agent behind this is lactic acid or lactate. Lactate is formed in the muscles due to the incomplete breakdown of sugars during intense exercise. The pain is...
Each of the parts of the human body, from plasma to intracellular fluid, has a given normal pH value. One of the functions of homeostasis, or your body's ability to self-regulate, is to keep its relative acidity or alkalinity in check, just as it...
AIDS (autoimmunodeficiency disease) is a potentially life-threatening disease that results from the HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). This particular virus infiltrates specific immune cells and makes them ineffective. The Mayo Clinic says that...
A circuit training program combines strength-building exercises with cardiovascular exercises, performed at a fast pace. A man using a circuit training routine can boost his heart rate and metabolism, facilitating fat loss and better muscle...
Although kombucha tea has been promoted for centuries for several health benefits, it remains a controversial treatment. Clinical studies have yet to demonstrate its effectiveness, and some medical authorities even consider it to be dangerous....
Intense forms of exercise such as running, cycling, cross-country skiing and basketball require basic fitness. But simply being "in shape" is not enough. Because your effort varies between very easy and rigorous, these activities require both...
Exercise after pregnancy offers a host of healthful benefits to new and experienced mothers. No evidence suggests exercise while breast-feeding has negative effects on your milk supply, as your breast health is tied to your baby's growth and...
Lactic acid, or lactate, is produced in muscle cells by the anaerobic breakdown of glycogen during short bursts of high-intensity exercise. It forms when the body metabolizes carbohydrates to generate energy when oxygen levels are low. It may...
Metformin HCL 500 mg is an oral prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is sold under such brand names as Glucophage, Fortamet, and Riomet, and belongs to a drug group known as biguanides. Metformin controls the amount of glucose...
L-proline belongs to the group of non-essential amino acids. The mammalian tissue synthesizes its own non-essential amino acid sources; hence, the name "non-essential." L-arginine serves as the precursor of L-proline, a basic amino acid found in...
Swimming --- whether treading water or doing laps --- is an exercise that puts minimal stress on the body's joints. However, muscle cramping during a workout is common, especially if you aren't preparing your body for the pool by adequately...
Although often associated with a vegetarian lifestyle, whey and soy proteins can actually be low-fat protein sources for anyone's diet. Soy comes from the soybean, a subtropical plant, while whey is a protein derived from cow's milk. Both are...
Muscle endurance is the ability to produce force over an extended period of time without a reduction in quality. Athletes cope with fatigue and tolerate high levels of lactic acid by achieving muscular endurance through variations of weight...
Muscular endurance is a muscle's ability to work continuously against resistance over a long period of time. To build muscular endurance, an athlete must train her muscles to overcome fatigue. Gains in muscular endurance are not made by increasing...