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Q&A : ADVICE FROM EXPERTS CONVERTING SUGAR INTO ENERGY, LACTIC ACID A MAJOR COMPONENT IN EXERCISE EQUATION.


What is lactic acid lactic acid, CH3CHOHCO2H, a colorless liquid organic acid. It is miscible with water or ethanol. Lactic acid is a fermentation product of lactose (milk sugar); it is present in sour milk, koumiss, leban, yogurt, and cottage cheese. ?

Lactic acid naturally builds up in the body when people exercise vigorously. Oxygen is used to convert sugar into energy. When you exercise to the point where you're out of breath, the oxygen level is depleted de·plete  
tr.v. de·plet·ed, de·plet·ing, de·pletes
To decrease the fullness of; use up or empty out.



[Latin d
 in the muscle tissues and sugar won't be metabolized completely. At that point, it can only break down to lactic acid.

What affect does lactic acid have on the muscles?

Lactic acid causes a cramping cramping

see cramp.
 pain, and it feels like it is affecting the entire muscle. For instance, when running, the calves calves 1  
n.
Plural of calf1.


calves
Noun

the plural of calf
 commonly will cramp. You know it is lactic acid pain if the pain is in both calves; when you stop running, the pain will go away in about 10 minutes. If it doesn't, you may have an injury and should consult your physician.

Do all people experience this pain?

Those who do a great amount of exercising, such as running or cycling, are likely to experience lactic acid buildup build·up also build-up  
n.
1. The act or process of amassing or increasing: a military buildup; a buildup of tension during the strike.

2.
.

Are there preventive measures?

The only thing someone can do is to train slowly and gradually. Also, do not exercise to exhaustion. Stretching, warming up and cooling down Cooling down is the term used to describe an easy, full-body exercise that will allow the body to slowly transition from an exercise mode to a non-exercise mode. Depending on the intensity of the exercise, cooling down can involve a slow jog or walk, or with lower intensities,  have no effect on the buildup of lactic acid.

When you are feeling pain while running, should you stop and walk?

Lactic acid is only an inconvenience; it really won't hurt you. It is important when running to push yourself a bit because that expands your oxygen limit, making your body more efficient in transporting oxygen to the muscles. The more oxygen there is to the muscles, the less lactic acid will build up, and that means less pain.
COPYRIGHT 1996 Daily News
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1996, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Title Annotation:L.A. LIFE
Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Date:Aug 12, 1996
Words:268
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