As a CrossFit participant I use a fair amount of chalk on my hands and on a pretty consistent basis. It makes it less painful to grip the chin up bar and helps keep your grip solid during heavy and sweaty barbell movements like dead lifts or power cleans. It can help prevent painful "tears" and "rips" to the calluses of the hands.
I was talking to my sister the other day, who is an avid rock climber. She was also talking about how beat up her hands can get after throwing herself at a rock all day, and how she uses chalk to combat the tearing and improve her grip.
As a Certified Nutrition Therapy Practitioner (CNTP), I am also always thinking about how foods and products that go in and on your body affect your physiology, your hormone production and balance, your detoxification systems, your brain function, your immune function...you get the picture...there's a lot going on in this ol' noggin of mine.
As you can imagine with this internal dialogue going on I am VERY selective about what I put in my body as well as on my body, and even what kind of products I use in my home eg. from what I use to clean my house to what type of pans I cook on to what I store my leftovers in.
So when I got to thinking about athletic chalk and how so many people are consistently using it every day, I realized it was time to put on my researcher hat and dig in.
First of all: Chalk is made from magnesium carbonate and is a condensed powder that can be applied liberally to a barbell or your hands. Chalk provides two main functions: It's a non-slip, moisture absorbing compounds decrease the risk of slippage due to sweating in your arms and hands. It also can create a less abrasive surface when applied to a bar or a rock face.
So when thinking about chalk from a health perspective the question I asked myself was: "Are chalks it really 100% magnesium carbonate or are there other compounds that could be harmful to skin, lungs, etc.?"
Most chalk claims to be 100% magnesium carbonate. However, when actually tested it turns out a lot of times there are harmful impurities present. For example some chalks have been shown to contain heavy metals (not bueno for absorbing through the skin!) and drying agents that can cause endocrine disruption. Not into that.
Luckily, there is one chalk that has a great rap as far as purity: FrictionLabs. FrictionLabs, being a group of long time rock climbers, has a serious passion for producing a superior chalk product. Their chalks are lab grade Magnesium Carbonate so it's chemically more pure than regular chalk..
So, of course, I had to try it, and for good measure I had my sister (the rock climber) try it as well.
I immediately noticed a better grip during pull-ups and dead lifts the first time I tried it. I also noticed that I needed less chalk; a huge pro for me as I hate having to go the bucket between every set.
My sister also had very positive reviews. She said it was smoother and she needed less of it. She also noticed a definite increase in gripping ability and she also believes it actually made her able to climb longer with less forearm fatigue.
As is the case with most things I'm aware of, the healthier option is also the better option. When it comes to athletic chalk, Friction Labs has it in the bag.
About the Author:
Clara Wisner is a Certified Nutrition Therapy Practitioner and Lifestyle Coach of rEvolutionary Lifestyle. She attended the Nutrition Therapy Institute in Denver, CO from 2012-2015. Clara Wiser is also a Certified Primal Expert, an Emotional Freedom Technique practitioner, and a Level 1 Voice Dialogue Facilitator.
Clara specializes in helping women ditch toxic habits and release the self-sabotaging beliefs that keep them from creating the health and happiness they desire with her unique coaching approach that addresses mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health.
Having a highly clinical education in nutrition, Clara blends this scientific knowledge of biology and physiology, with her deep and personal understanding of the emotional components of dietary and lifestyle change. By blending the clinical with the energetic, Clara creates customized nutrition and lifestyle programs that facilitate true mind-body transformation for her clients.
Read more about her clients' experiences and stories here.
Clara works with people one-on-one all over the world via phone and virtual sessions, and in her private coaching practice in Denver, CO. She also created and runs the 21 Day rEvolutionize Your Life Program and the Fire Up Your Metabolism Plan.
Clara is a world traveler and is working on a cookbook tentatively titled Global Superfoods: 10 Traditional Recipes for Modern Health. Clara organizes and runs the Denver Paleo Pop Up Events, helping to create a healthier, stronger, and more connected Denver paleo community. She currently lives in Denver with her husband and the paleo puggle, Ooli. In her free time she CrossFits, cooks, writes poetry, walks any dogs she can find, listens to A TON of podcasts, reads fantasy novels, and also love to read about biology, neurology, and marketing.