Respiration takes place in two different ways in cells: either aerobically or anaerobically. The amount of energy that is produced will then be distributed to a number of different needs throughout the body. What makes anaerobic respiration different is that it doesn’t need to have oxygen present for it to begin. There are certain advantages to anaerobic respiration that aerobic respiration cannot provide, but there are certain disadvantages that must also be considered.
Here is a look at some of the key points to consider when evaluating anaerobic respiration today.
What Are the Pros of Anaerobic Respiration?
1. Muscles can respire even when they don’t have oxygen available.
When you’re working out, the amount of oxygen the body needs to aerobically respire increases. Inevitably there won’t be enough oxygen available within the body for every muscle group to be able to have what it needs. Through the process of anaerobic respiration, the muscles can still get the energy it needs to continue working so that the body doesn’t just shut down.
2. It assists aerobic respiration.
A unique component of anaerobic respiration is the fact that it can metabolize pyruvic acid. This acid is used to regenerate the enzymes that the body needs for a process called glycolysis, which starts the respiration process in the first place. If oxygen becomes available, then the body can transition from anaerobic respiration to aerobic respiration, thus completing an energy cycle that can keep the body moving.
3. The body can adapt the energy more quickly.
Anaerobic respiration is an essential part of the human fight or flight reaction. The energy it produces is more readily absorbed when compared to aerobic energy, allowing the cells to start the respiration process for replenishment. This gives people bursts of energy when necessary to respond to any given situation so that reactions can be appropriate.
4. It can create a renewable source of energy.
Certain organisms that are 100% anaerobically inclined will produce gas as a byproduct of their respiration process. This happens most frequently when they are breaking down waste products of some sort. The gas that is produced is often combustible, which means it could potentially be harnessed to create a source of energy that is renewable.
5. People can raise their threshold levels for lactic acid.
With regular high-intensity exercise training sessions, it becomes possible to raise a personal threshold level for lactic acid. Although there are eventually caps on the threshold that exist, people are able to extend their ability to exercise by up to 50% with frequent high-intensity sessions.
6. Only a few minutes of anaerobic exercises are typically necessary to improve respiration rates.
Compared to aerobic exercises, it only takes about 50% of the time to use strength training for maximum benefit. Even resistance machines can help to create these exercises to build up threshold levels. When first getting started, this often means only a few minutes per day need to be dedicated to this process.
What Are the Cons of Anaerobic Respiration?
1. It produces lactic acid as a side effect.
Because there isn’t always oxygen involved in the respiration process, the amount of glucose that is broken down is reduced greatly. According to some estimates, anaerobic respiration only provides 5% of the energy potential from glucose that aerobic respiration is able to provide. Because every action as an equal and opposite reaction, a waste product is created and in this instance it is lactic acid. There is only so much lactic acid that can be stored, which means eventually the body shuts down because it just doesn’t have any room to leave waste products from energy production.
2. Too much of it can cause pain and cramping to occur.
Anaerobic respiration may help to allow muscles to receive the energy that they need, but too much of it causes pain and cramping within the muscle. This is because the lactic acid has built up so much that the muscle affected cannot properly contract any more. It requires rest periods where a person’s circulatory system can filter out the lactic acid for the muscle to recover and that can be a lengthy amount of time. Although stretching out muscles can help filter out some of the lactic acid, it won’t increase the muscle capacity.
3. It is a temporary process for many forms of life.
Although anaerobic respiration is a bit of evolution that may trace back as far as 3.5 billion years, the fact remains that for most forms of life, it is a temporary solution to a lack of oxygen problem. Some living microbes, such as yeast, thrive in oxygen-free environments because they are naturally geared toward the anaerobic process. For humans, without oxygen, eventually the body shuts down. It means this form of respiration is a temporary process that can only provide a limited benefit.
4. It does not provide endurance energy.
Anaerobic energy might be excellent for the fight or flight response, but it doesn’t have the power to endure. Once muscle groups reach their threshold of lactic acid, they stop functioning. That’s the feeling of fatigue that sets in rapidly. Even in well conditioned athletes, the maximum level of energy output from anaerobic respiration that can be produced is about 4 minutes worth of maximum effort.
5. Metabolism rates increase for calorie burning, but not for fat burning.
The problem with anaerobic respiration is where it tends to originate: within the body’s muscle fibers. The cells of the muscle are stimulated by this form of respiration, but it also requires energy for it to happen. This often results in muscle tissues being consumed by the body instead of fat tissues. There is no guarantee that the targeted muscle groups are going to see the consumption either, which means the toning process can become inconsistent without aerobic respiration added from time to time.
6. Working to muscle fatigue increases the chances of an injury.
Even with proper stretching and conditioning, working until the muscles refuse to contract creates more risk for strains, sprains, and tears to occur. People are often encouraged to push out “one more rep” to increase their threshold levels, but that extra rep might take the muscles beyond their capacity. Only listen to your body and you’ll be able to avoid this disadvantage.
The pros and cons of anaerobic respiration show that it is an essential component of life. 3.5 billion years of potential evolution have created a system where a person can max out their energy output for up to 4 minutes. It takes time to develop threshold levels, so be sure to include weight training with running or other forms of aerobic exercise for a maximum level of benefit.