# Does Sodium Bicarbonate Make You Faster? w/ Dr. Jason Siegler – The Science of Getting Faster Podcast Ep. 8 **URL:** \ **Category:** Science of Getting Faster Podcast\ **Created:** [November 2, 2022, 4:18pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/does-sodium-bicarbonate-make-you-faster-w-dr-jason-siegler-the-science-of-getting-faster-podcast-ep-8/77388 "2022-11-02T16:18:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MaxinePhilavong](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/maxinephilavong/32/115724_2.png) [@MaxinePhilavong](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/MaxinePhilavong)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 4:18pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/does-sodium-bicarbonate-make-you-faster-w-dr-jason-siegler-the-science-of-getting-faster-podcast-ep-8/77388/1 "2022-11-02T16:18:34Z")
The buffering capacity of Sodium Bicarbonate and Sodium Citrate has been well-studied for their potential to decrease the acidity of our blood during exercise, and ultimately attenuate fatigue. In a larger effort to reevaluate the hyperhydration strategies in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics, Dr. Siegler and colleagues aimed to uncover if buffering agents such as Sodium Bicarbonate and Sodium Citrate have the potential to enhance performance in ways that had not been previously studied. In this episode of the Science of Getting Faster Podcast, Dr. Siegler, a leader on the subject of buffering agents, joins us to discuss buffering agents and his study [The Hyperhydration Potential of Sodium Bicarbonate and Sodium Citrate](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34875625/#:~:text=the%20hyperhydration%20potential%20of%20sodium%20bicarbonate%20and%20sodium%20citrate). [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/original/3X/5/2/52873f2be18657d328a784da60d05ac6220397df.jpeg "Does Sodium Bicarbonate Make You Faster? w/ Dr. Jason Siegler–Science of Getting Faster Podcast Ep 8") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbzDEXPkoBI) Watch our latest Cycling Science Explained video now! ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/original/3X/b/0/b0b3c14aaa8039c40f653e26fb9a59c18f263e7c.jpeg "Does Cryotherapy Make You a Faster Cyclist? | Cycling Science Explained") [Does Cryotherapy Make You a Faster Cyclist? | Cycling Science Explained](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RIl4s2q-rs) TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE - (0:45) What is a buffer? - (3:05) How does our blood become more acidic during exercise? - (4:03) Can we train our buffering capacity? - (6:22) How do our bodies naturally buffer our blood? - (9:47) Can our nutrition impact the acidity of our blood and thus our buffering capacity? - (11:35) Currently, why do athletes supplement with buffering agents? - (14:30) At what intensity of exercise do buffering agents have the greatest impact? - (15:31)The side effects of buffering agents and how you can mitigate those side effects - (16:50) Why you might experience side effects and what those side effects are? - (18:50) Buffering agents for endurance events - (19:32) How long do buffering agents stay in your blood? - (21:10) How your supplementation regiment and method of delivery can impact GI symptoms - (25:21) Differences between Sodium Citrate and Sodium Bicarbonate - (26:25) Why this study is novel - (31:40) What is hyperhydration and why it is beneficial to endurance performance? - (34:08) Study protocol - (40:51) Supplementation and fluid regiment for both hyperhydration and buffering protocols - (47:20) The results! 🎉 - (55:25) What does Dr. Siegler want to explore next with regard to buffering agents? - (57:43) What are Dr. Siegler’s recommendations for supplementing with buffering agents? Subscribe to the Science of Getting Faster Podcast below! Spotify: [Spotify](https://trainerroad.cc/spotifysogf) iTunes: [‎Science of Getting Faster Podcast - Presented by TrainerRoad on Apple Podcasts](https://trainerroad.cc/itunessogf) #### TrainerRoad Podcast Network [Submit your Question to the Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast](https://www.trainerroad.com/podcast) [Subscribe to the Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast](https://www.trainerroad.com/podcast) [Subscribe to the Successful Athletes Podcast](https://www.trainerroad.com/successful-athletes-podcast) [Submit your story to the Successful Athletes Podcast](https://www.trainerroad.com/successful-athletes-podcast) [Subscribe to the Science of Getting Faster Podcast](https://www.trainerroad.com/sogf) [Submit a topic to the Science of Getting Faster Podcast](https://www.trainerroad.com/sogf) ---
**Author:** ![Sbstroeing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Sbstroeing](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Sbstroeing)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 1:29pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/does-sodium-bicarbonate-make-you-faster-w-dr-jason-siegler-the-science-of-getting-faster-podcast-ep-8/77388/2 "2023-02-27T13:29:09Z")
And now Maurten makes a Bicarbonate product. Going to have to go back and give this episode a listen. ---
**Author:** ![Brennus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/brennus/32/1318_2.png) [@Brennus](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Brennus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 5:26pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/does-sodium-bicarbonate-make-you-faster-w-dr-jason-siegler-the-science-of-getting-faster-podcast-ep-8/77388/3 "2023-02-27T17:26:35Z")
Interesting! As I have discussed on this forum before I’m a frequent user of sodium bicarb loading and greenleaf/sims hyper hydration strategies…and in fact during one of those threads we mused that sodium bicarb might not be providing a so much of a buffering benefit as it was just working to mimic the greenleaf/sims salt loading protocol. So interesting to see somebody take a more rigorous approach to answering that question! I used sodium loading previous to my state TT win last year. I used sodium bicarb loading previous to my (one and only) triathlon podium finish last year. So both strategies can be used by a joe schmoe athlete…now, how much did they help? I don’t know. There is a good chance both helped but in such an uncontrolled situation, who can say for sure? ---
**Author:** ![webdev511](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/webdev511/32/135558_2.png) [@webdev511](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/webdev511)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/does-sodium-bicarbonate-make-you-faster-w-dr-jason-siegler-the-science-of-getting-faster-podcast-ep-8/77388/4 "2023-02-27T21:10:24Z")
and now Maurten has a product that uses their hydro gel to help bypass the stomach and curtail GI impact, priced as one would expect from them. ---
**Author:** ![TooManyDogs](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/toomanydogs/32/98121_2.png) [@TooManyDogs](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/TooManyDogs)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 9:25pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/does-sodium-bicarbonate-make-you-faster-w-dr-jason-siegler-the-science-of-getting-faster-podcast-ep-8/77388/5 "2023-02-27T21:25:37Z")
Maurten’s pricing is really what made me look more into cheaper alternatives. I like their stuff but it’s just too expensive ---
**Author:** ![webdev511](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/webdev511/32/135558_2.png) [@webdev511](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/webdev511)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 10:09pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/does-sodium-bicarbonate-make-you-faster-w-dr-jason-siegler-the-science-of-getting-faster-podcast-ep-8/77388/6 "2023-02-27T22:09:01Z")
Wonder how to adjust this for something like Unbound since they were thinking 90 minutes was long 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Brennus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/brennus/32/1318_2.png) [@Brennus](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Brennus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 10:56pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/does-sodium-bicarbonate-make-you-faster-w-dr-jason-siegler-the-science-of-getting-faster-podcast-ep-8/77388/7 "2023-02-27T22:56:16Z")
Here is what I would do. I normally mix 1.3tbsp sodium bicarb in 8oz of water…3x. Every half hour I’ll drink one. Wait 1/2hr after the last dose and race. I would do the same thing for DK except I wouldn’t mix in the sodium bicarb. I’d just drink the water. Because nobody needs to buffer against lactate at DK. It’s a 200 mile race that’s going to take 10+ hours. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_87](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Tim\_87](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Tim_87)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2023, 8:55am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/does-sodium-bicarbonate-make-you-faster-w-dr-jason-siegler-the-science-of-getting-faster-podcast-ep-8/77388/8 "2023-02-28T08:55:23Z")
What I did not really understand: What is going on with sodium citrate? Can I use it the same way as sodium bicarb? Same amout and same ingesting protocol and expect similar results? Or is there a different effect expected in comparison with sodium bicarb? Edit: ok, watched the results part again. If I understand correctly, Sodium citrate is almost expected to buffer as well as Sodium bicarb with less discomfort. ---
**Author:** ![Todd\_Palmer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/todd_palmer/32/7532_2.png) [@Todd\_Palmer](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Todd_Palmer)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 1:52pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/does-sodium-bicarbonate-make-you-faster-w-dr-jason-siegler-the-science-of-getting-faster-podcast-ep-8/77388/9 "2023-03-17T13:52:17Z")
I think you meant tsp rather than tbsp? Assuming you don’t weigh 312 kg 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Brennus](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/brennus/32/1318_2.png) [@Brennus](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Brennus)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 4:12pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/does-sodium-bicarbonate-make-you-faster-w-dr-jason-siegler-the-science-of-getting-faster-podcast-ep-8/77388/10 "2023-03-17T16:12:30Z")
good catch, @Todd_Palmer! 🤣 Yikes. Even when I was competing I never weighed that much. Maybe half that much. 😜 One time I put a tsp of sodium bicarb in my smoothie and mixed it up. Bad idea. It totally exploded. I still find specs of dried blueberry smoothie on the wall from time to time. Had to paint the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![Todd\_Palmer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/todd_palmer/32/7532_2.png) [@Todd\_Palmer](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Todd_Palmer)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 4:43pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/does-sodium-bicarbonate-make-you-faster-w-dr-jason-siegler-the-science-of-getting-faster-podcast-ep-8/77388/11 "2023-03-17T16:43:05Z")
I was imagining some poor soul following the recipe and exploding in the same way 😂 ---
**Author:** ![webdev511](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/webdev511/32/135558_2.png) [@webdev511](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/webdev511)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 8:43pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/does-sodium-bicarbonate-make-you-faster-w-dr-jason-siegler-the-science-of-getting-faster-podcast-ep-8/77388/14 "2023-03-20T20:43:58Z")
So is the xantham / alginate in there to thicken AND get the bicarb past the stomach without causing GI distress? > As well as preventing G.I. distress, the new product also doubles bicarb absorption rate, meaning the gains are still coming seven hours deep into the longest monument or world championship race. But what IS the marginal gain for the top 1% of endurance athletes and where with in a 4-6+ hour effort does the gain manifest? What kind of tactics need to be employed to maintain the gain? Finally when is the Saturday AM app going to have a bi-line for this under nectar? @Dr_Alex_Harrison (just kidding…or am I?) ---
**Author:** ![webdev511](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/webdev511/32/135558_2.png) [@webdev511](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/webdev511)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/does-sodium-bicarbonate-make-you-faster-w-dr-jason-siegler-the-science-of-getting-faster-podcast-ep-8/77388/16 "2023-03-20T21:04:33Z")
> [@redlude97](#): > > the instructions to down it without chewing I’m guessing the mix is to just slow absorption similar to capsules But couldn’t one just get a thicker capsule that can withstand the stomach that dissolves later and reduces the distress when straight baking soda is taken without the gelatin? I mean that’s what this is, using gelatin to delay absorption. Unless it’s like the secret ingredient in my dad’s famous “Secret Ingredient Soup” 🐼 ---
**Author:** ![webdev511](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/webdev511/32/135558_2.png) [@webdev511](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/webdev511)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/does-sodium-bicarbonate-make-you-faster-w-dr-jason-siegler-the-science-of-getting-faster-podcast-ep-8/77388/18 "2023-03-20T22:22:51Z")
> [@redlude97](#): > > Maybe the maurten jello is just easier to get down I have used their gels in my mix, and depending on how you’re feeling on the bike that can range from “okay” to “oh god it’s a big hot booger” 🤢 This looks like the carb gels but more…a lot more.