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In Japan, the "flavor of the month" isn't barbecue, or citrus, or licorice, it's...citrulline.
Sound strange? It's an amino acid found in large amounts in watermelon, and it's being touted as a performance enhancer to the Olympic athletes in Beijing, China. It widens blood vessels, allowing for improved circulation, as well as increasing levels of nitric oxide, as well as breaking down lactic acid, (which, as our readers have gently reminded me, is not the scary substance we once thought it to be).
L-Citrulline has long been available in supplement form, but the Japanese are seeing how far they can market it, putting it into sports drinks, sports bars and even gum.
But mainly, it's just another excuse to eat a huge, juicy slice of watermelon.
via [inventorspot]
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6-01-2008 @9:12PM Nancy Gail Ring said... Hi, I'm the artist from jellypress.com. I love the stories you find and your upbeat, smart commentary. Keep it coming! Nice to read a blog full of fun and useful info. Watermelon story intrigued me because I run every day. Glad to know something so delicious is also believed to boost a hard sprint! Thanks for the tip.
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6-01-2008 @6:09PM Berkana said... It has already been demonstrated and shown that lactic acid is not the reason one's muscles burn or feel sore after a work-out.
See this:
NY Times: Lactic Acid Is Not Muscles' Foe, It's Fuel
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/16/health/nutrition/16run.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
The myth was started over a century ago, and stuck because it seemed to make sense attributing soreness to the buildup of an acid. Unfortunately, it's just not true.
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6-01-2008 @6:39PM Ellen Slattery said... Berklana,
Thanks for your comment. Indeed, I did read that article - but despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, some people still believe that lactic acid contributes to burn and fatigue in muscles during a workout - hence why I wrote "one of the reasons," because I wanted to include both viewpoints.
And Nancy, thanks also for your comment and your kind words. I wrote this post shortly after a run, and I, too, was thrilled to find another natural food that might help my performance.
Peace,
Ellen
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6-01-2008 @8:22PM Christy said... Lactic acid IS NOT "one of the reasons" muscle burns (or is sore later). To add it to your article is not presenting "both viewpoints," it's presenting information that is proven to be false. Sloppy, and careless, reporting!
Christy
B.S. Exercise Science
Cooper Institute Certified Personal Trainer
American College of Sport Medicine Certified Personal Trainer
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6-01-2008 @8:22PM S. Melita said... Contrary to popular belief, this increased concentration of lactate does not directly cause acidosis, nor is it responsible for delayed onset muscle soreness. This is because lactate itself is not capable of releasing a proton, and secondly, the acidic form of lactate, lactic acid, cannot be formed under normal circumstances in human tissues. Analysis of the glycolytic pathway in humans indicates that there are not enough hydrogen ions present in the glycolytic intermediates to produce lactic or any other acid.
The acidosis that is associated with increases in lactate concentration during heavy exercise arises from a separate reaction. When ATP is hydrolysed, a hydrogen ion is released. ATP-derived hydrogen ions are primarily responsible for the decrease in pH. During intense exercise, aerobic metabolism cannot produce ATP quickly enough to supply the demands of the muscle. As a result, anaerobic metabolism becomes the dominant energy producing pathway as it can form ATP at high rates. Due to the large amounts of ATP being produced and hydrolysed in a short period of time, the buffering systems of the tissues are overcome, causing pH to fall and creating a state of acidosis, a natural process which facilitates the easier dissociation of Oxyhaemoglobin and allows easier transfer of oxygen from the blood. This may be one factor, among many, that contributes to the acute muscular discomfort experienced shortly after intense exercise.
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