Legs burning? Good!

‘Lactic acid’ isn’t to blame – in fact it’s doing you a whole host of good. Here’s what you need to know.

1 IT’S NOT LACTIC ACID

‘Lactic acid’ has been blamed for tired, painful legs for decades, but scientists increasingly think we’ve got it all wrong. First, they discovered lactic acid isn’t produced at all during exercise, next that ‘lactate’ (which is) isn’t a waste product that stings your poor muscles, but a nutrient they desperately want.

2 IT’S NOT HURTING YOU

Muscles working at intense levels do naturally become more acidic, which interferes with their ability to ‘fire’ and do their work. But lactate doesn’t cause this acidity, it alleviates it, serving as a fuel for the muscles, reducing acidity, delaying fatigue and preventing injury.

3 IT HELPS YOUR HEART

Walking produces lactate – and when you’ve more than your muscles need, it spills over into other parts of the body. Among its uses, lactate limits inflammation following injury, and during rest becomes a form of fuel for the healthy heart which actually improves its function.

4 IT FEEDS YOUR BRAIN

Lactate is your brain’s fuel of choice – preferred because it can be directly consumed, unlike glucose which has first to be converted – and studies reveal brain fuelling with lactate improves clarity of thought, long-term memory formation and neuron production.

5 IT DOESN’T STOP THERE

Raised levels of lactate from walking cause the body to adapt in ways very sciency (mitochondrial biogenesis and whole-body homeostasis), and very good (better circulation, metabolism, stress management, learning and resilience). Scientist George Brooks Ph.D, pioneer in the field, says “It’s a revolution. It’s like the VISA of the body – accepted by cells everywhere it goes.” That ache in your legs means a feast for body and mind.