Theory of Exercise Acidosis and Systemic Alkalization

by Robert Burns, Ph.D.

What happens when a person exercises?

While exercising muscles generate acids including lactic acid.
During sustained hard exercise, some of these acids may be metabolized by the body but excess acid starts to accumulate near its source; e.g., in the muscles.
As the concentration of acid increases, the pH drops in that area. This suppressed pH is called “exercise acidosis.”
As blood pH drops the red cells tend to stick together, forming Rouleaux chains, blood become more viscous, and blood pressure increases. Oxygen exchange decreases, negatively affecting the VO2 max.
Localized reduced blood pH triggers a gradual shutdown of transport mechanisms into and out of the affected muscle cells.
The acid sensors in the cells are triggered and send a pain message to the central nervous system. This is “the burn.” There is acid damage occurring in those cells at this point.
As the pH continues to drop, the blood may have to activate its emergency buffers of extracting calcium from the bones and/or catabolizing ammonia from muscle’s amino acids (muscle wasting) to maintain its pH at a safe level.
Reduced transport cuts off fuel (glycogen) supply and inhibits both calcium ion exchange and waste removal.
As a person uses up their body’s stores of glycogen, the brain functions begin to slow down (glycogen is the main fuel for the brain). Then the muscles tire very rapidly and stop functioning. This is sometimes called “bonking,” or “hitting the wall.”
Reducing one’s effort or stopping before one hits the wall may allow the body to catch up with fuel/waste removal cycle.
When a person hits the wall, muscles stop operating and may result in collapse. This can be a health issue, and you may also be severely dehydrated since even cellular water transport is inhibited. An intravenous injection may be required to replace the plasma liquid and glycogen.
As blood flow continues it gradually carries the waste and acid to the kidneys for removal. When the transport into cells is restored, a person can rehydrate, refuel and return to activity.
The recovery takes time. Delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) and inflammation may occur during the next day or two as the body restores the micro damage to muscles.

What does a systemic alkalizer do for the athlete?

Using an alkalizing supplement before and during exercise reduces or eliminates these acid effects and effectively moves the wall out and changes the burn. Systemic alkalizing agents:
- Maintain the blood at the homeostasis pH level for longer times.
- Eliminate the blood from activating its emergency buffers.
- Keep the individual red blood cells flowing and exchanging oxygen.
- Keep the transport of waste and fuel moving in and out of working muscle cells.
- Reduce cardio-respiratory stress while operating at higher power outputs.
- Reduce the intensity of the burn.
- Allow longer use of fat, lactate, and glycogen as fuel to give sustained aerobic performance.
- Allow muscles to generate more anaerobic power when called for.
- Reduce damage to cells and accelerate healing muscles, thus decreasing recovery time and DOMS.
In conclusion this is not electrolyte replacement but it is a buffer for the acid load in the body. The alkalizing agent is compatible with most fuel and electrolyte replacement supplements. By bringing our bodies back to acid-base homeostasis it allows a person to work harder and longer before reaching their limits. It represents a new health category called systemic alkalization...

Robert W. Burns, Ph.D.

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