Why marathons can damage your gut with the leading expert in sports dietetics, Dr Ricardo Da Costa

Professor Ricardo Da Costa is a globally recognised leader in Sports Dietetics and Extremes Physiology at Monash University. He currently serves as Director of Research, Deputy Coordinator of the PhD Program, and Chair of the Industry Engagement Group within the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics & Food at Monash University. He leads a world-class hub for research, education, and consultancy, and directs the Monash University BASE Facility Nutrition & Exercise Clinic, which delivers cutting-edge testing and advisory services to athletes and athlete support practitioners, ranging from recreational amateurs to elite Olympic athletes.Dr Da Costa is internationally recognised as a leading expert on the impact of exercise on gut health, which is why we chat about Exercise-Induced Gastrointestinal Syndrome in Athletes. What we love about Dr Da Costa is that he is not 'just' a scientist and expert in the field; he is also an ex-elite endurance athlete. In this episode, Dr Da Costa presents the latest research and practical advice on managing gut issues in endurance and ultra-endurance events. We cover:What is the exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndromeFactors, symptoms and long-term consequences of exercise-induced gut damage Dietary strategies to protect the gut and practical recommendations for athletesPost-race recovery and gut repairKeep in mind that our discussion is around elite athletes and those who are pushing their bodies to extremes, not for someone participating in running and other endurance events for fun. Links:Profile: https://www.monash.edu/medicine/scs/researchers/ricardo-da-costaStudies:https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-025-02186-6https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijsnem/33/6/article-p305.xml