ID :
16220
Mon, 08/18/2008 - 10:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/16220
The shortlink copeid
Baking soda 'can enhance your performance'
the spirit of fair play -- a spoonful of baking soda before acompetition can enhance performance of sportspersons.
Researchers in Britain have found that "soda-doping", as it is known amongst professional sportsmen, raises sporting chance as the bicarbonate of soda has a significant effect onspeed and endurance.
According to them, sodium bicarbonate reduces acids thereby helping the body to deal with the acidic wastes which are produced during exercise, that tire people more quickly,the British media reported.
Lead researcher Jonathan Folland said: "Essentially sodium bicarbonate is an alkali substance that increases thepH of the blood.
"This actually seems to reduce and offset the acidity produced in the muscles during intense and anaerobic exercise that produce lactic acid most quickly, such as fast running or swimming." The researchers came to the conclusion after analysing the performance of nine swimmers who consumed baking soda just an hour before an event as compared to those who did not takeit at all.
Swimmers who took the sodium bicarbonate knocked 1.5 seconds off their time for 200 metres -- a difference that may seem insignificant to recreational swimmers but is substantialat elite level, the researchers found.
"It is not dangerous, but it tastes appalling and can make you want to retch. It can make some people nauseous when it hits their stomach and a few suffer an upset stomach ordiarrhoea when they take it.
"There are always going to be ethical arguments, but if sports drinks and carbohydrate loading, both of which can enhance performance, are allowed, there should be no issue with sodium bicarbonate. If you are serious about exercise andcan stomach it, it may help," Folland said.
The study has been published in the latest edition ofthe 'International Journal of Sports Medicine'.
Researchers in Britain have found that "soda-doping", as it is known amongst professional sportsmen, raises sporting chance as the bicarbonate of soda has a significant effect onspeed and endurance.
According to them, sodium bicarbonate reduces acids thereby helping the body to deal with the acidic wastes which are produced during exercise, that tire people more quickly,the British media reported.
Lead researcher Jonathan Folland said: "Essentially sodium bicarbonate is an alkali substance that increases thepH of the blood.
"This actually seems to reduce and offset the acidity produced in the muscles during intense and anaerobic exercise that produce lactic acid most quickly, such as fast running or swimming." The researchers came to the conclusion after analysing the performance of nine swimmers who consumed baking soda just an hour before an event as compared to those who did not takeit at all.
Swimmers who took the sodium bicarbonate knocked 1.5 seconds off their time for 200 metres -- a difference that may seem insignificant to recreational swimmers but is substantialat elite level, the researchers found.
"It is not dangerous, but it tastes appalling and can make you want to retch. It can make some people nauseous when it hits their stomach and a few suffer an upset stomach ordiarrhoea when they take it.
"There are always going to be ethical arguments, but if sports drinks and carbohydrate loading, both of which can enhance performance, are allowed, there should be no issue with sodium bicarbonate. If you are serious about exercise andcan stomach it, it may help," Folland said.
The study has been published in the latest edition ofthe 'International Journal of Sports Medicine'.