Something that all athletes may relate to is the challenge of recovering from injuries. But Palo Alto High School junior and cross country runner, Paul Wang, is developing a cheaper, more accessible solution for athletes.
Sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, is used by athletes as a performance aid during high-intensity exercise. It helps reduce lactic acid buildup in the body during hard workouts, which can delay fatigue and allow athletes to maintain speed for longer periods.
Wang founded Bicarb.net after noticing the high cost of sodium bicarbonate supplementation. Many mass-produced products on the market typically range from $7 to $17 per serving, while Wang’s version sells for just $5 per bag and is mixed locally in Palo Alto.
“I saw that it was crazy expensive, and I knew I couldn’t afford it,” Wang said. “So I wanted to make something that was more affordable but still based on the same science.”
In a recent LinkedIn post, Wang explained the science behind the supplement and why he started the project.
“Most athletes never reach their ceiling,” he wrote. “They hit a wall, legs burning, pace dropping, and assume they just need to get fitter.”
He added that the issue is not always fitness, but physiology under high-intensity exercise.
“At max efforts, your muscles produce hydronium ions faster than your body can clear them. pH drops. Performance collapses,” he wrote. “Not because you’re not good enough, because your blood is too acidic to keep firing.”
Wang said that the supplement has been studied for decades and is widely recognized in sports science.
“The research has been there since the 1930s,” he wrote. “The ISSN (International Society Of Sports Nutrition) officially endorses it.”
However, consuming the supplement in raw form is known to cause stomach discomfort. Athletes often report nausea, bloating, or cramping, which can outweigh the benefits if not managed properly. To address this, Wang developed a hydrogel-based formula designed to pass through the stomach more smoothly before being absorbed.
Sophomore runner Jacob Guhr, one of Wang’s early testers, said the product has already had a noticeable impact on his performance. As a distance runner, he described the supplement as both effective and accessible compared to other options on the market.
“As a runner, I’m always trying to find ways to get faster and Bicarb.net was both the cheapest and best option,” Guhr said.
Guhr also added that Wang’s entrepreneurial mindset played a role in the product’s development, noting that Wang had always been trying new ways to make money.
The product has gained early traction, with Wang saying his first batch of 100 bags has already been sold out in less than a month.
Moving forward, Wang said he hopes his product can help make performance-enhancing tools more accessible and affordable for student athletes. Wang stated his goal is to share both the science and the opportunity with a wider audience.
“If you do hard things, this is worth knowing about,” Wang said.
