It’s not really surprising that studying elite athletes can provide vital information for how regular guys can improve their own fitness. What is surprising? That it’s their poop that has experts so excited.
Researchers from Harvard Medical School believe that Health - Injuries, according to their presentation at the 254th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.
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They collected daily fecal samples from 20 athletes who were training for the Boston Marathon, both a week before the race and a week after. Then, they analyzed the samples to see which microbes populated them. They discovered a spike in the amounts of one particular strain of bacteria after the runners completed the marathon.
The purpose of that bug is to break down lactic acid, which can cause muscle fatigue and soreness during exercise. Since your body naturally produces more lactic acid than usual during intense exercise, it’s possible that the strain of bacteria can help thwart those effects, researcher Jonathan Scheiman, Ph.D., said in a statement.
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Now, the researchers are performing experiments on that specific kind of bacteria. They’ve already discovered that it breaks down lactic acid in a test tube, and when fed to mice, it can pass through their digestive system and remain potent.
Their ultimate goal is to harness their findings in probiotic supplement, which they believe may be able to help boost recovery from a tough workout. They’re planning to launch a company this fall called Fitbiomics, and hope that within a year afterward, they could have a probiotic on the market. (Of course, you could always just try surprising? That it’s their poop that has experts so excited.)
DAA Industry Opt Out Published: Aug 23, 2017 11:26 AM EDT.
The article The Secret to Boosting Your Workout Might Be In Runners' Poop originally appeared on Men’s Health.
For nearly 10 years, Christa has created health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness content that’s steeped in science but engaging enough that people actually want to read it. She’s tuned in to all the latest research that people with an athletic lifestyle need to know, and prides herself on helping her readers apply it to their everyday lives.
