Lactic Acid and How It Impacts Exercise

When we exercise, many different things happen in our bodies. Some beneficial, some not. Exercise to gain strength, tone your body, or for weight loss all need to be done properly.

That’s why it is so important to follow guidelines before, during, and after exercising. Warming up, cooling down, and staying hydrated are all necessary to achieve the goals you set.

Muscle strains and other injuries can occur when you are not properly prepared. Lactic acid can also build up in your muscles, causing fatigue. While not always harmful, it can be avoided.

What is Lactic Acid?

Lactic acid, also known as lactate, happens when your body processes carbohydrates into energy without enough oxygen. It can build during over-exerting yourself during exercise. 

Lactic acid build-up is temporary but it can still cause muscle fatigue and perhaps soreness.  It happens during intense workouts or prolonged exercise without taking the necessary precautions.

While lactic acid build-up is not always serious, there can be more severe cases. Mild lactic acid will often start as muscle fatigue and then leads to stiff or sore muscles. But can lead to cramping, a tingling sensation, and even a burning sensation. 

More severe cases can cause dizziness, weakness, severe cramping or aching muscles, shortness of breath, and even vomiting. This is a sign you are overdoing it with the exercise. 

Preventing Lactic Acid

Even though lactic acid is not always a big problem, you can take a few measures to help prevent it from forming in the first place.

Warm Up

Before you exercise, you should always stretch and warm up your muscles. This helps prevent injury and allows you to get the most out of your training or exercise session. 

This helps you exercise propper and the oxygen can get in your muscles and allow you to be more flexible. It will also get your circulation moving and let your muscles know they are going to work.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of water will help you while working out. It can prevent the lactic acid from building up and keep you from getting dehydrated. We don’t always notice how much we have been sweating. 

Drinking ionized water can help you stay hydrated better and allow more oxygen into your body. When you work out, the pH level in your system and your muscles start to drop. 

Alkaline water will stop the lactic acid that comes when your pH levels drop and there is less oxygen in your body. Drink alkaline water before, during, and after your workouts, and in between, as well.

Watch Your Breathing

The reason muscles get sore and cramped is also that there is not enough oxygen in your body. You are asking them to work hard, so they need to be prepared. 

You should practice breathing exercises, even if you do it while stretching for your warm-up. Once you are aware of your breathing, it is much easier to control. It will help you stay focused and work out longer.

Rest 

Even pro athletes need a day off. Don’t overdo the workouts. If you do weights one day, do cardio the next, or intersperse them with yoga or stretching. Too much will have the opposite effect on what you are trying to achieve.

Your body needs time to break down the lactic acid so make sure you have a day where you don’t do any strenuous types of exercise. Make sure you drink plenty of water during all those days, on or off. 

Proper Hydration

Staying properly hydrated is vital for proper body functions, everything from blood to brains. But drinking tap water may not always be the best bet, depending on where you live. 

When you drink ionized alkaline water, you are increasing your chances of better health. Not just when you work out but all the time. There are plenty of ionizing machines to choose from, from tap attachments to larger units. 

You can have ionized water from one tap or an entire home system. There are even travel systems that you can easily carry with you. Increase your pH levels, and help hydrate with the best water possible.

It’s perfect for drinking, for cooking, for your pets, for your shower, and even your plants. When you choose a system from Life Ionizers, we test your water to help you find the system and filters that will make the biggest impact for you.

If you are already trying to increase your water intake, why not get the healthiest water available? It can help you with digestion problems, increase your pH levels, and may even help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol.

People find themselves sleeping better, processing their food better, and notice differences in their skin and overall health. Find the Life Ionizer system for your needs today.