Final answer:
Sodium bicarbonate enhances performance by acting as a buffer in the body, neutralizing acidic conditions that can lead to muscle fatigue during intense exercise and helping to maintain pH balance for improved endurance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory behind sodium bicarbonate enhancing performance revolves around its role as a buffer in the body. Sodium bicarbonate, commonly referred to as baking soda, can neutralize acids like lactic acid produced during intense exercise, thus helping to maintain pH balance in muscles and blood, delaying fatigue, and improving endurance. When sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) comes into contact with strong acids in the body, it forms carbonic acid (H2CO3), which is a weak acid, and salt (NaCl). This reaction helps to buffer the acidic conditions that result from high-intensity exercise. Moreover, the renal system controls bicarbonate levels in the blood, conserving the bicarbonate ions and passing them back into the blood, contributing to the body's overall acid-base balance, which is vital for muscle function and other metabolic processes.