mrbubl wrote:
> Michael Press wrote:
>> In article <[email protected]>,
>> mrbubl <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> Peter Cole wrote:
>>>> Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
>>>>>>> But do Cytomax and Accelerade, among others
>>>>>>> work as advertised, or is Gatorade just as good
>>>>>>> for replenishing body fluids and salts?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> used to cramp up BAD post ride and switched to Cytomax and that
>>>>>> elimated the cramp problem for me. Know of other people that had
>>>>>> enjoyed the same benefit. The nice thing is you can buy
>>>>>> individual size packets to try. I like cool citrus & tropical
>>>>>> punch not too keen on orange or apple. As always, YMMV.
>>>>> I'm in the same camp... drink enough Cytomax, zero cramping. I
>>>>> actually have to be careful on organized rides to not drink the
>>>>> usual watered-down lemonade or gatorade, since it means I'll be
>>>>> drinking less Cytomax and far more likely to cramp. I can't tell
>>>>> you how or why it works; I just know that, for me, it's the most
>>>>> amazing stuff I've come across for longer rides.
>>>> Interesting, but the Cytomax makers don't claim cramp avoidance, nor
>>>> does any of the medical literature indicate the possibility of
>>>> anti-cramping formulas. I know, I've researched it to death. I also
>>>> worked my way through most of a big (5lb?) tub of Cytomax -- no
>>>> different than Kool-aid, as far as I could find, but it was much
>>>> more expensive and tasted pretty crappy.
>>> My understanding is that Cytomax has a lactic acid buffering
>>> component that helps for during and post ride effect. In my case,
>>> after the ride I would back off on the fluids (my mistake) and was in
>>> a hydration deficit evidenced by urine color being concentrated
>>> rather than clear indicating proper hydration and playing catch up ball.
>>
>> Lactic acid accumulation during exercise is a complex matter; and I am
>> new to it. I know that lactic acid servers to buffer H+ in muscle
>> cells during anaerobic metabolism, and that it is transported out of
>> muscle cells. Can you tell me about lactic acid buffering?
>>
> From their web site:
>
> # Beats The BurnTM: Cytomax's patented alpha L-PolylactateTM buffers
> lactic acid production in your muscles, reducing the "burn" during
> intense training and minimizing post-exercise muscle soreness.
>
> # Steady Energy: Complex carbs stabilize blood sugar during exercise -
> no sugar crash
>
> # Cell Protection: antioxidants prevent exercise-induced free radical
> damage to muscle cells
>
> # Oxygen Delivery: succinates enhance oxygen delivery by up to 11%
> during exercise, reducing perceived exertion and minimizing muscle damage
>
> # Cellular Balance: Electrolytes ensure cellular nutrient balance is
> restored quickly after exercise
>
> # Low Osmoality: ensures fluid reaches your muscles quickly - as fast as
> water!
>
> # Natural Herbal "Lift": (in Tangy Orange, Go Grape and Peachy Keen
> flavors only) reduces your perceived effort so you can push harder
WHAT IS POLYLACTATE AND WHAT DOES IT DO?, by George Brooks, Ph.D.,
Professor of Exercise Physiology.
POLYLACTATE is a mixture of organic (mainly) and inorganic salts of
lactic acid. Thus, POLYLACTATE is not an acid, but it is a rapidly used
fuel the use of which helps to supply energy, maintain blood sugar
(glucose), and neutralize naturally produced acids in the body,
including lactic acid. The use of POLYLACTATE to supply energy rapidly
in exercise, to bolster blood sugar, and to neutralize (buffer) body
acids during exercise is explained in the following way.
Often in nature, success in any system depends on balance. For instance,
for crop growth there needs to be a balance of nutrient soil, sunlight
and water with excesses, or insufficient amounts of one component
producing a poor result. So it is that balance in human physiology
determines success of many metabolic processes. One critically important
process has to do with the balance of formation and removal
(utilization) of lactic acid in muscle during vigorous activity.
Recent research indicates that when muscles use blood sugar or stored
carbohydrate (glycogen), much of these carbohydrates are converted to
lactic acid. Lactic acid is a very strong organic acid. In physiological
systems, almost all the lactic acid formed dissociates to the extremely
useful lactate component (that represents 98.9%), and a hydrogen ion, or
proton that represents 1.1%. Usually in the body the production and
removal of lactic acid are in balance so that despite rapid production,
little accumulates. In the past scientists thought that during exercise
lactate was a dead-end metabolite which was produced because of
insufficient oxygen and caused fatigue. In contrast, we now know that
lactic acid is produced all the time in many cells and tissues, and in
muscle, even at rest when there is plenty of oxygen. Only when the
production outstrips removal does the acid part of the molecule linger
to cause burning, fatigue and sensations that make athletes want to quit
activity.
Why the body chooses to make lactic acid rapidly, and why the body uses
this metabolic intermediate as the most important blood borne
carbohydrate during exercise is an extremely complex, and revolutionary
concept. However, for our present purposes we need only realize that the
body needs and uses lactate, but the body suffers if hydrogen ions
accumulate and causes lactic acidosis. In the form of POLYLACTATE, we
then restore the balance of salt and acid by providing lactate
molecules, but without the 1.1% acid component.
Muscle can use carbohydrates faster than lipids, more energy is
available for a given oxygen supply, and muscles contract more
forcefully if carbohydrates are used as fuels. Moreover, by releasing
lactate during exercise, some muscle can fuel other muscles, including
the heart which consume and utilize lactate and protons from the blood.
Additionally, in the process of producing sugar for the body during
exercise, the major material taken from the blood by the liver is
lactate. In fact, the liver consumes two lactates and two acid protons
to make one sugar molecule.
With this new knowledge in hand, it then becomes obvious what to supply
the athlete during prolonged hard exercise and recovery; give the body
what it uses most rapidly, and give it something which will help remove
acid protons formed during exercise. Give the body a designer molecule,
the lactate without the acid proton, give the body POLYLACTATE.
CYTOMAX, the Fluid-Electrolyte Energy replacement drink contains mainly
the organic salt, POLYLACTATE, but also a small amount of inorganic
potassium and sodium salts of lactate. In this case lactate is used to
carry and replenish the salts lost in sweat during exercise as well as
to stimulate thirst insuring hydration. However, relative to energy use,
inorganic salt loss during exercise is slow. Therefore, should someone
try to replace energy during exercise by using an inorganic salt, such
as sodium, potassium, or calcium lactate, rapidly the lactate would be
removed leaving a large salt load with dehydration being the result.
Instead, with the completely organic POLYLACTATE in which amino acids
are used to carry the lactate molecules, the body is provided substances
all of which are useful during exercise and recovery.
In summary, for replacing fluid, electrolytes, and energy, and for
stimulating body glucose production and for buffering the effects of
acids produced during exercise,. consider using CYTOMAX which is blended
with all these processes in mind.
