Does Lactic Acid affect the gastrointestinal system?

[cherinyc]

I just mentioned this on another thread, but I am not sure that anyone will ever see it, so....sorry for the duplicate, for those that see it twice.

I can't figure out how to search for info on what happens to me after I go on a strenuous ride.
Everytime I have been on one of those rides where, by the end I am dying to get off the bike - heavy exersion, something happens to my bowels afterwards. I am thinking there is something chemical going on, but I can't figure out the appropriate terminology to look it up on any website.

Basically...Saturday, go on hard bike ride. Sunday into early Monday, have to go to the bathroom many many times.

What's up with that? (I'm probably alone in this - just setting myself up for more embarassment)

[chickwhorips]

do you have ibs (irritable bowl syndrome)? (you actually don't have to answer that question, just something to think about)

i do and i sometimes have problems after i ride really hard. though i get really bad intestinal distress. such bad pain sometimes i can't move so i just lay on the floor by the bathroom.

just a thought for ya.

[Eden]

Could something in your sports drink be disagreeing with you? Maybe try changing brands for a while - one of the sugars (which one?- fructose?) can give some people GI problems.

[mimitabby]

before i got into the condition i am in, sometimes rides would stress me out and the same thing would happen.
think about it; if you push yourself too far your body goes into high stress mode; symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea. your body eliminates all that will hinder it in the short run (for a quick escape, shall we say)
We learned early on not to push me too hard or this would happen.

As i have gotten stronger, it happens less and less. So you are pushing too hard, ease up. It took me a while before I was comfy doing 40 mile rides
and at much lower speeds than you are riding.
I have also learned to not eat such rich foods; instead when i am doing a long ride;
i eat oatmeal for breakfast; lots of bananas, nothing real rich, lots of simple carbs including cookies and even candy; stuff i don't usually eat.

it's a big mistake to eat like you normally do and then get out and do a hard bike ride.

[mimitabby]

i re-read your post. what described is different. happens DURING the ride..
sorry.

[mosaic]

I doubt you are alone. I have known many people that have this problem with various sports. It would be hard to narrow down to one thing to reference, but exercise and the chemicals and/or hormones associated can have a harsh effect on your body. The real benefits or exercise is in the recovery.

If you are curious, start with epinephrine and it's effect on the system. If you really just want it to stop, experiment with food and times of eating. Try cooling down the intensity. I don't know if you are new to this or how good your fitness level is, but exercise causes blood to move away from the GI tract. It could be that the blood moving back in post workout is kick starting your GI tract. You might just be sneak attacking yourself, so to speak.

But, you did ask about lactic acid. Lactic acid is normal in the body. Exercise at high intensity causes spikes in lactate levels is more an indication of the buffering system not being able to keep up. This is an indication that you are doing anaerobic work as opposed to aerobic work, which is in a zone where the buffering system is working at similar rate to lactic acid release, so there is minimal build up.

Really, you probably eat more acidic foods on a regular basis and certainly your stomach acid is more acidic than the drop in acidity in your blood stream. Your blood stream just can not get significantly lower than pH 7 without killing you. So, the buffer system is always working, even if it needs time after the fact to catch up. You might try a more alkaline diet or supplementing with bicarbonate contains substances. Realistically, you might just being doing too hard, too long or having a bad reaction to your eating plan though.

somewhere in here I just confused myself, doh. I hope you will at least find some keywords to search.

[Kitsune06]

I would also second the IBS thing...

Awhile ago, strenuous biking (the 'chase,chase,chase' game w/hubby) combined with work/life/etc stress made for serious gastrointestinal problems. In addition to lots of bowel pain/problems (curled up in a ball in front of my computer or elsewhere) I also had (thanks to the stress) ulcers and had a hard time eating enough... and then problems absorbing enough... etc etc, long story short, I lost way too much weight and got sick way too often.
If you have ulcer/heartburn issues in addition, I'd almost second mimitabby's reccomendation of the avoision of rich foods, and try prilosec otc to see if the p-pump inhibitors in the medicine actually reduce the acid in both your stomach and (later on in digestion) the amt of abdominal pain you experience later.
Be careful to stay adequately hydrated- not just when riding, but all the time, too.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If you get lots of cramping and diarrhea after eating things like big salads with raw leafy stuff (lots of insoluable fiber), then IBS would be suspect.

[Kitsune06]

...but doesn't everybody?

[tulip]

First we give her asthma, now we've given her IBS!

Honey, you are not falling apart, trust me!

Did you have this problem prior to taking up cycling? Maybe things are just moving through better now, and after an adjustment period, will settle down.

But keep track of what you eat, your activities, and how it affects you. And see a doctor (again) if this keeps up.

[deidre]

I suffer from the same things that you mention but usually before and after I run (it's much worse the morning of a race). I am a biking newbie and don't ride for too long or too far yet so I have no idea if this will also be the case for me when biking.

I read something in Runner's World and online that might be informative. I have posted the link to the runner's world article and copied a couple of sections I found interesting (and you might as well). While this seems to be written regarding issues with nausea (and even undigested foods), I find that I have something that happens with my stomach and this causes me to spend a lot of time in the bathroom/porta potties before or after a run.
________________________________________________________________
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/...-1-3-2,00.html
Solution: Settle your stomach and mind.
Eat a light meal that is low in fat, protein, and fiber at least 2 hours before a race or hard workout. Also, practice relaxation techniques to reduce stress. If throwing up has become a conditioned response to hard races or a particular workout, give yourself a reward every time you finish a race or workout without getting sick. And always have positive mental images to recall if you're on the verge of becoming sick. Recall a cold, clear mountain stream, or something else refreshing.


Problem: Slow digestion
When we exercise, blood is shunted away from the stomach in order to supply the muscles and skin. As a result, your digestion slows. So, for example, if the sports drink you use during competition is too concentrated, it will not be absorbed and will either sit in your stomach or be expelled.

Solution: Reach for less-concentrated drinks.
Make sure your sports drink is at most 5 to 6 percent carbohydrate, and drink it on your long training runs. If you know a race is going to be offering a certain sports drink, practice with it beforehand. If you find that the carbohydrate concentration is too high for you, try drinking half water and half sports drink at each fluid station.

Problem: Anxiety
When we become nervous before a race, our sympathetic nervous system is triggered. This fight-or-flight mechanism is what prepares us for action. At the same time, the parasympathetic system, which directs digestion, is slowed. The bottom line: If your anxiety is too great, the undigested food in your stomach may want out.
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[Bruno28]

I sympathise -

I have Crohn's disease and have just started cycling. I'm experiencing the same problem but I put it down to the extra exercise jiggling things up, so to speak. I'm hoping it will settle down.

Loads of really great info for us newbies on these forums BTW!

[betagirl]

Hey Bruno, another crohnie here I'm doing pretty well overall, but if I push myself too hard my guts go haywire on me. I've been riding since I was diagnosed, and overall it makes me feel better. I get pretty bummed when I have a flareup and can't ride. Last season around this time I simply tanked, lost all my speed and stopped riding for like 6 months. It was bad. I'm hoping to avoid a repeat of that.

I was riding with my club today and my god I thought I was going to hurl. It was me and 2 guys, and they were pushing the pace to 25mph. I just kept falling off to keep my guts in check. So for me, I get the pukey feeling mostly when I'm anerobic.

[bikerbarb]

Bicycling magazine had an article this month on stomach upsets, you should look for it. Basically, it said that people shouldn't overdo the carbohydrates while riding--sports drinks or food carbs, but diagnosed this guy's problem as his system couldn't handle too much. I personally eat sparsely before and while riding or I feel really bloated and slow. I also stick to simple food, mostly fruit, don't do processed or junky food while riding. I feel much stronger and faster.
I was amazed on a week long 500 mile tour that some people would down big cafe breakfasts of pancakes and bacon and eggs, coffee, etc. and get on their bikes and ride. I would start w/a banana and eat another or half a cup of cereal and milk by 25 miles. Then they would repeat the process with lunch stops. I just can't do it, much as I love food.

[mimitabby]

Bicycling magazine had an article this month on stomach upsets, you should look for it. Basically, it said that people shouldn't overdo the carbohydrates while riding--sports drinks or food carbs, but diagnosed this guy's problem as his system couldn't handle too much. I personally eat sparsely before and while riding or I feel really bloated and slow. I also stick to simple food, mostly fruit, don't do processed or junky food while riding. I feel much stronger and faster.
I was amazed on a week long 500 mile tour that some people would down big cafe breakfasts of pancakes and bacon and eggs, coffee, etc. and get on their bikes and ride. I would start w/a banana and eat another or half a cup of cereal and milk by 25 miles. Then they would repeat the process with lunch stops. I just can't do it, much as I love food.

Yeah, Bikerbarb, I'm like you. Lots of little light meals. The big meals kind of make me green. if i can eat a big meal 2 hours or more before a ride, I will; but any closer and I cannot.