Gastrointestinal Distress With Patrick Wilson, Ph.D.

In the show, we promised a list of some common sports foods/drinks and their glucose/fructose ratio. If you're looking for that, click HERE.

My guest today is Patrick Wilson, PhD and RD. He is Assistant Professor of exercise science in the Human Movement Sciences Department at Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, VA, where he also directs the Human Performance Laboratory. He earned a Ph.D. in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota, where he also received training in the areas of public health and epidemiology. He completed his post-doctoral research training at the Nebraska Athletic Performance Laboratory, specializing in sport nutrition applications for collegiate athletes. And, he is also credentialed as a registered dietitian. 

He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications covering a wide variety of sport nutrition-related topics. He has conducted both laboratory- and field-based research examining the effects of nutrition on endurance exercise performance, including the effects of carbohydrate composition on gastrointestinal distress and performance during prolonged running. His studies have included marathon runners, ultra-endurance runners, and Ironman competitors.

In this episode, we cover all the angles on gastrointestinal (GI) distress as it applies to ultra runners. You learn the major factors that influence GI distress and how to maximize your chances of keeping your GI tract happy.

In the wrap-up, he answers two key questions.

• What is the biggest mistake athletes make regarding food/drink intake and GI distress?

• What take-home recommendation would you give for athletes to reduce their chances of developing GI distress in ultra events?