Lactic acid is a by product of anaerobic glycolysis. Glycolysis is a metabolic process that converts stored muscle glycogen into glucose for energy. Whenever this breakdown takes place in an environment with little or no oxygen, then lactic acid has the potential to buildup.

The most common cause for lactic acid to build up is during intense or prolonged exercise. However, accumulation of lactic acid can be caused by other health related situations and conditions as well, such as:

• shock
• sepsis
• alcohol
• hypoxia
• seizures
• ischemia
• liver failure
• lung disease
• kidney failure
• liver problems
• hypoglycemia
• severe anemia
• respiratory failure
• metabolic diseases
• severe dehydration
• out of control diabetes
• congestive heart failure
• carbon monoxide poisoning
• cancer ~ leukemia, lymphoma
• severe infection ~ HIV, malaria, cholera

A standout of lactic acidosis concern is an adverse affect from metformin, frequently prescribed for Type 2 diabetes and PCOS. Albeit, it’s rare.

A couple of identified health related risks for metformin induced lactic acid buildup include:

• cardiac failure
• renal impairment
• pulmonary disease
• diabetic retinopathy
• diabetic ketoacidosis
• coronary heart disease
• excessive alcohol intake
• other acidosis conditions
• peripheral vascular disease
• B12, folate, iron deficiency
• high daily metformin dosage

An important precaution to guard against this life-threatening form of metformin caused lactic acidosis is to ensure you health care provider checks your electrolyte levels within a couple weeks after your initial dose.

Symptoms of lactic acid buildup are:

• thirst
• anorexia
• weakness
• abdominal pain
• nausea & vomiting
• altered level of consciousness
• hyperpnea ~ unusually deep & rapid breathing

Extreme exercise, for example participating in an ultra marathon, may cause just about all of these symptoms. Hopefully, those engaged in exercise beyond the norm know their limits and when to back off.

The primary treatment for lactic acidosis is via correction of the underlying health problem that caused its buildup. And if exercise is your instigator, then stop.

• Why Some People Die During Exercise
• Why You May Feel Out of Breath During Exercise
• Causes of Exercise Intolerance Fatigue Symptoms
• Endorphins: Natural Pain Killer for Survival of Severe Injury

Metabolism is a conglomeration of infinite chemical reactions taking place in your body’s cells that are continuously converting the food you eat into the energy that powers everything you do. This process began when your dad’s sperm fertilized your mom’s egg, and will continue until your last breath, or so.

Certain proteins control this chemical reaction of metabolism. And each chemical reaction is coordinated with all of your body’s functions in order to keep your cells healthy and working properly.

When you eat something, enzymes in your digestive system breaks down:

• fats into fatty acids
• carbohydrates into sugar
• proteins into amino acids

After this breakdown, these molecular compounds are absorbed into your blood for transportation to the cells. The site of energy metabolism.

Depending on the current needs of your body, this energy is released for immediate use or stored in body tissues, especially in the:

• liver
• muscles
• adipose tissue

The process of metabolism is a balancing of anabolism and catabolism, which are occurring in your body all the time. Anabolism is all about building and storing:

• maintaining body tissue
• supporting growth of new cells
• storing energy for use in the future

Catabolism is all about energy production required for all activity in the cells by breaking down large molecules, usually carbohydrates and fats, to release energy. This energy release provides:

• warmth
• fuels anabolism
• muscle contraction for movement

As these larger molecules are broken down, the released waste products are removed via your:

• skin
• lungs
• kidneys
• intestines

How your body controls the buildup and breakdown of metabolism is hormones released from:

• thyroid gland ~ produces & releases thyroxine, regulates speed of chemical reactions
• pancreas ~ secretes various hormones (insulin for one) which dictates which activity takes place

Metabolism is a complicated chemical process, however most think of it in terms weight gain, loss and calories burned. And the number of calories you burn is determined by:

• how much you move
• your basal metabolic rate
• your body’s amount of fat & muscle

So, if you want to increase, speed up or boost your metabolism the big 3 ways to do it are:

1. move more
2. less body fat/more muscle
3. increase your basal metabolism rate (BMR)

The first two shouldn’t need much explanation. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) deserves a bit of discussion.

Your BMR is a measure of the rate at which a your body “burns” calories while at rest. It can play a role in a tendency to gain weight. Lower basal metabolism bodies will tend to gain more body fat over time.

To a certain extent, your basal metabolic rate is inherited. And sometimes affected by health problems. But exercising more will not only burn more calories, the result of becoming more physically fit will increase your BMR as well. Since BMR is altered by body composition, the more muscle and less fat will almost always increase your BMR.

Best way for boosting or increasing your metabolism is to “get moving”!

• Healthy Living in Movement
• Four Key Components to Physical Health and Fitness
• The Cost of Living the Good Life is a Lifetime of Fitness
• How Much Time or How Long is Needed for Fitness and Exercise