If you’re currently breezing through your workouts without a problem, then this advice probably does not apply to you. But if you’re suffering from abdominal discomfort, bloating, or gas during your sweat sessions, your diet might be to blame. Specifically, you could be consuming the wrong types of carbohydrates as you fuel up for your workouts.

Generally speaking, we like to remind our readers that all carbs are not bad. In fact, they make up a healthy and necessary part of your diet. But some people do appear to be sensitive to a certain type of carbohydrate, and these foods can trigger digestive discomfort at any time (but especially during exercise).

This group of carbohydrates is called FODMAPS, and stands for:

• Fermentable
• Oligosaccharides
• Disaccharides
• Monosaccharides and
• Polyols

But you don’t need to remember all of those big words. The idea is that certain carbohydrates, which ferment during the digestive process, can trigger uncomfortable gas and draw water into the digestive tract (which can trigger diarrhea).

Many people eat this group of carbohydrates without a problem, and in fact these foods are some of the healthy carbs that we frequently recommend. But since they do trigger problems for some people, especially during exercise, it’s worth taking a second look. If you suffer from pain or gas during your workouts, take a look back at your food journal to see if you’ve been fueling up by eating foods such as these:

• Wheat, spelt, rye, and barley
• Beans
• Dairy
• Foods that contain fructose
• Foods that contain sugar alcohols (xylitol, sorbitol, maltitol, and mannitol)

If you do notice that pattern, try switching up your pre-workout snacks. Try a banana with peanut butter, an orange with a handful of nuts, oatmeal, or coconut yogurt. Or, create your own FODMAPS-free snack. If you notice that the discomfort clears up, you could be one of the people who are sensitive to these foods.

If you have any other questions about your exercise routine or your eating plan, call us for a checkup and we’ll help you troubleshoot the situation.