Are Post-Workout Carbs Counterproductive?

In a recent article for BodyBuilding.com, nutrition and sports medicine expert Dr. Mauro Di Pasquale questions the widespread belief that consuming carbohydrates following a workout optimizes the immediate anabolic effects of exercise.

"The usual advice is that carbs, with some protein thrown in, are a necessary part of post exercise nutrition regardless of diet that you're following, including a low carb diet. However, that's not true. In fact the use of carbs post training can be counter productive and eliminating post training carbs can have added anabolic and fat burning effects."

Di Pasquale claims the intake of carbs after exercise actually blunts post exercise insulin sensitivity. So once muscle has loaded up on glycogen--something it does pretty quickly on carbs--insulin sensitivity drops.

Following a workout, Di Pasquale suggests keeping carbs low and taking in more protein along with some fat instead. This way, body fat is broken down and used as fuel rather than amino acids and glycogen.

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