Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Chicken soup and colds

Ok, a short tip - Chicken soup actually works in relieving the inflammation that chokes you up when you have a cold. It's reported to contain a mild anti-inflammatory.

Friday, February 24, 2006

But wait, there's more!

For the disbelievers, here's more on the role Lactic acid plays as fuel in our bodies. In short, as we exercise so the lactic levels rise simply because it's a top fuel for our fast-burning energy needs. I can recall all of those hideous ear-prick tests that measured lactate levels. Now I wonder why - what were they thinking?

Check out http://www.cytosport.com/science/lacticacid.html and this nice overview.

Lactic Acid and other cycling myths

Righto, we've probably all read this before - I can recall reading a bit last year - but here's a bit more on the subject of Lactic Acid and other cycling myths.

The authors present a wide-ranging review of research, including the conclusion that "the positive facets of lactate metabolism dispel the ‘lactic acid myth’. Lactate is shown to lower hydrogen ion concentrations rather than raise them, thereby retarding acidosis. Every aspect of lactate production is shown to be advantageous to cycling performance." Whilst that's a surprise in the sense that everyone historically blames lactic acid for that fall off in performance at or near maximum aerobic effort, it's not a surprise that we are blaming the wrong process or substance. That's almost inevitable. As we dig below the surface of past research we often find a new, better and more precise understanding is uncovered.

As well they state that "to minimise the effects of muscle fatigue, the efficacy of employing a combination of different high cycling cadences is evident". No surprises there, is there Lance?

From: The Science of Cycling: Physiology and Training – Part 1.
Authors: Faria, Parker and Faria
Source: Sports Medicine; 2005, Vol. 35 Issue 4, p285-312