Quick tips:

Avoid products with a high glycemic index (glucose, maltodextrin, dextrin etc.), especially at the beginning of a race or a workout
Hydrate throughout longer workouts and during races. Account for high temperature. Drink pure water when you are experiencing GI problems. Avoid taking electrolytes for the time being until the problem is resolved.
Excessive salt intake worsens GI problems (and does not solve muscle cramps!)
Slow down until the problem is being resolved. Adjust your pace at high temperatures
Avoid products that contain preservatives
Consider using various carbohydrate sources (real food might be your answer)

GI problems are common in athletes

Numerous factors such as diet, stress, hydration, or effort intensity are responsible for GI problems during physical activity. Some of which are preventable. In rare instances, athletes experience pathological conditions that may require medical advice (irritable bowel disease, celiac disease). It may or may not make you feel better, but you are not alone if you experience any GI distress! According to research, approximately 50% of endurance athletes deal with some GI problems during competitions and training. It is essential to recognize the factors that affect the digestive system and plan accordingly to limit potential problems.

Why do we experience GI problems?

Prolonged physical activity creates unfavorable conditions for the digestive system. In response to exercise, our body shunts blood away from the digestive system and to the skeletomuscular system. As a result, our muscles can continue powering our efforts, but the GI system now has limited ability to process food and absorb nutrients. Efforts of higher intensity or longer duration further inhibit the GI system from being able to ingest nutrients and redistribute those calories into much-needed energy.

The best solution to address GI issues during efforts of high intensity is to pace yourself correctly. It is crucial to arrive at the starting line as fit as possible so that we can put forth our best effort. Peak fitness and proper pacing can go a long way in eliminating GI issues.

If we look at the potential digestive system problems (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) that can occur during training or racing, one common denominator binds all of these issues together. It is when the osmolality of our GI system becomes too high. High osmolality is responsible for most GI distress incidents related to ingesting food during exercise. Osmolality is determined by the concentration of active molecules (Na, K, Cl, glucose).

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High osmolality is created when there is high consumption of quickly released active molecules such as glucose, maltose, saccharose, maltodextrin, starch, or salt. High temperatures in the external environment and dehydration can worsen the condition (as these conditions increase the ratio of active molecules to water). Osmolality is recognized by osmoreceptors, which guard our body's homeostasis (internal order) to prevent rapid absorption of highly concentrated active molecules.

How to prevent GI problems?

Our body makes an effort to dissolve highly concentrated content by pulling water into our digestive system, leading to dehydration. As a result, there is now a high volume of food and water in the GI tract creating discomfort, sloshing, and all the other unpleasant events that follow. To prevent GI distress caused by high osmolality in our digestive system, we should consume natural sources of carbohydrates that are slowly released and limit eating the highly processed and quickly released sugars. Keep in mind that sodas, salt, and maltodextrin-rich products are heavily present at many races. Thus it is essential to select food at the aid station consciously! It is not uncommon to see athletes who regularly grab salt tabs and/or sugary drinks routinely experience GI problems. A quick drink of soda will deliver caffeine and sugar to your system and provide a quick energy kick. But the sugar-laden soda will inevitably lead to GI issues thanks to the concentrated shot of sugar being released quickly into the GI system.

In some cases, avoiding products rich in sugar and salt may not be sufficient to limit digestive system problems. Food additives and preservatives have been shown to trigger stomach pain and increased sensitivity. Avoiding preserved foods while running is a good idea anyway as some preservatives (sodium benzoate or sulfates), even though not considered toxic, may affect mitochondrial functions. We train to improve mitochondrial functions. There is nothing more counterproductive than voluntarily ingesting substances that undermine training effects!

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Fueling with real food, products rich in complex carbohydrates with a limited amount of sugar, frequently addresses many GI problems encountered by endurance athletes.

Spring Energy designs performance nutrition products having in mind GI distress as one of the leading problems in endurance sports nutrition. By using various sources of energy, lowering sugar content, including fat, and excluding preservatives, Spring has been able to help many athletes with GI problems and give them a chance to perform at their full potential on race day.

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To learn more about the benefits of real food fuel click here.

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Learn from Ph.D Rafal Nazarewicz on to fight back GI problems

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