We had a recent thread on sodium phosphate loading, but what about sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)?
I understand that it works differently, by 'buffering' lactic acid, and as such is only useful in short events. I thought I would try some before a 4km track event, and knocked 8 seconds off my PB.
Recommendations seem to indicate about 0.3g/kg body weight, 1 to 2 hours before the event. This equates to about 4.5 level teaspoons in my case (I think). I have never 'supplemented' before, but this sounded reasonably natural. I use baking soda to brush my teeth, and as an antacid (for indigestion), although here the rate is 1 teaspoon. I think the stomach naturally produces bicarb. to combat excess acid, so I see bicarb loading as just topping up my natural levels. I have some questions though:
1. How do you take the stuff? Mixing it into a drink of water is like drinking saline solution - it tastes disgusting. If I was to take it in a glass of fruit juice, would the acid negate some of the benefits?
2. What about the sodium level - can this cause problems when we are all meant to be following low-sodium diets?
3. Anybody had any side-effects? The common ones that you may get are stomach cramping and diarrhoea. I felt slightly sick for 30 minutes, but was fine by the race.
I understand that it works differently, by 'buffering' lactic acid, and as such is only useful in short events. I thought I would try some before a 4km track event, and knocked 8 seconds off my PB.
Recommendations seem to indicate about 0.3g/kg body weight, 1 to 2 hours before the event. This equates to about 4.5 level teaspoons in my case (I think). I have never 'supplemented' before, but this sounded reasonably natural. I use baking soda to brush my teeth, and as an antacid (for indigestion), although here the rate is 1 teaspoon. I think the stomach naturally produces bicarb. to combat excess acid, so I see bicarb loading as just topping up my natural levels. I have some questions though:
1. How do you take the stuff? Mixing it into a drink of water is like drinking saline solution - it tastes disgusting. If I was to take it in a glass of fruit juice, would the acid negate some of the benefits?
2. What about the sodium level - can this cause problems when we are all meant to be following low-sodium diets?
3. Anybody had any side-effects? The common ones that you may get are stomach cramping and diarrhoea. I felt slightly sick for 30 minutes, but was fine by the race.