An endurance athlete has been experiencing intestinal cramping and diarrhea and suspects that these symptoms are related to her pre-exercise meal. Which strategy should she try?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

By replacing some solid food with semi-solid or liquid food, the athlete can reduce the amount of food sitting in the intestines, which may be causing the cramping and diarrhea. This can help the body to digest food more quickly and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) distress during exercise. Increasing constipating foods like fat or eliminating food and fluid intake prior to exercise are not recommended as they can also cause GI distress. Adding a fructose-containing sports beverage may further exacerbate the issue as fructose has been known to cause GI distress in some athletes.

An Endurance Athlete Has Been Experiencing Intestinal Cramping and Diarrhea