The secret to boosting your workout might be in runners' poop

pulse

August 23, 2017 12:29 PM

It sounds gross, but a recovery-boosting probiotic supplement is in the works.

Jamaica's Usain Bolt (C) race to victory on the anchor leg ahead of Canada's Mobolade Ajomale (R) and Cuba's Jose Luis Gaspar to win their heat in the 4x100m relay at the IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London, on August 12, 2017

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 the digestive tracts of elite athletes can hold the key to boosting athletic performance, according to their presentation at the 254th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.

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.

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.

In the meantime, before these poop-based probiotics hit primetime, try these three ways to speed up your recovery after a hard workout.

Enhance Your Pulse News Experience!

Get rewards worth up to $20 when selected to participate in our exclusive focus group. Your input will help us to make informed decisions that align with your needs and preferences.

I've got feedback!

pulse