Fodmaping For Bodybuilders: Get Your Gut Onside

(fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols)

Introduction

When it comes to bodybuilding, we want to maximise lean muscle growth, muscle size and muscle density. Alongside resistance-based training, this is achieved via the intake, digestion and absorption of sufficient macronutrients and micronutrients to help repair and build muscle tissue whilst providing energy for exercise and everyday life. This process therefore relies heavily on the function and condition of our gut to effectively breakdown, digest and absorb foods we consume. When problems begin to occur within the gut it can cause disruption of optimal nutrient absorption, affecting our overall progress with building quality dense muscle tissue. These problems normally come in the form of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a problem that currently affects 7-15% of the general population(1). IBS is a common issue that can cause a range of “functional symptoms” from within the gastrointestinal tract (GI), such as luminal distension (causing abdominal pain, visible bloating and visible distention), alteration in bowel movements (increase colon osmolality causing loose and more frequent stools) and an increase in gas production (affecting bloating and increasing flatulence)(2).

Gut Microbiome