Are Carbs Good for Athletes?
Who hasn’t heard the myth, “Carbs are bad for you.” You should avoid carbs”. Really, is that myth true? Briefly, NO – you shouldn’t avoid carbs. There are “bad carbs” such as white sugar and white flour but there are many good carbs such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Avoiding carbs can mean avoiding the many nutrients carbs provide that our bodies need and that athletes need. Should athletes focus on carbs? Absolutely. For good athletic performance, an athlete needs carbs. During exercise, carbs provide the greatest source of energy in the form of glucose. Our bodies convert the carbs we eat to glucose. Glucose is the sugar in our blood that feeds our cells and glycogen is how we store carb energy in our muscles and liver. Eating carbs before a workout, before soccer, baseball or other sports game provides one with the energy needed for that event. Weight lifters – should those who are strength training eat carbs or protein before they work ou