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Menthol might help endurance athletes in hot weather depending on how they use it

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Menthol might help endurance athletes in hot weather depending on how they use it
Photo by National Cancer Institute / Unsplash

Scientists looked at many trials to see if menthol helps people exercise in hot weather. They found that putting menthol in the mouth or eating it might give a small boost to how long someone can keep going. This effect was seen mostly in tests of long-lasting effort rather than quick bursts of speed.

Checking body temperature and heart rate showed only small changes. The study did not find big differences between using menthol and not using it at all. Most of the comparisons did not reach the level needed to say one way is definitely better.

Using menthol on the skin did not seem to help much. Experts say eating menthol could be worth trying for long races. Rinsing the mouth might help for short, fast tasks. People should watch their body closely when trying these methods in the heat.

The study notes that more research is needed. We cannot say for sure that menthol is the best choice yet. It seems the way you use the product matters a lot for how well it works.

What this means for you:
Eating or rinsing menthol might slightly help endurance in heat, but skin application is not very effective.
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