By: MuscleSports.net

Your body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose. Glucose, or blood sugar, is the main source of energy for your body's cells, tissues, and organs.

Carbohydrates provide the best and most readily available source of energy for your body during intense training or competition and are vital for keeping your muscles and mind operating at peak performance. Just as recovery and muscle repair are important, carbohydrate intake ensures that event fatigue does not set in. Training and post-exercise nutrition are essential for consistent performance, but to prevent and delay event fatigue carbohydrate replenishment is equally important. Carbohydrate loading helps endurance athletes to avoid "hitting the wall".

For the past two decades, research has confirmed that carbohydrates ingested during exercise can improve endurance performance. During activity lasting longer than 60 minutes glycogen levels begin to diminish and there is a progressive shift from muscle glycogen over to blood glucose as the body's primary fuel source. When muscle glycogen levels are low the consumption of carbohydrates serve to maintain proper levels of blood glucose and delay the onset of fatigue. In addition to this system, carbohydrate intake also exerts its benefits at higher intensities of exercise by delaying and/or preventing muscle glycogen depletion (otherwise known as glycogen sparing).

Depending on the chemical composition and the rate of digestion and absorption, carbohydrates differ in their ability to raise blood glucose level. Thus, foods containing the same quantity of carbohydrates can differ markedly in effects on raising the blood glucose level. The glycemic index (GI) concept was introduced as a means of classifying different sources of carbohydrates that are present in the diet. This method was assumed to apply to foods and drinks which primarily deliver available carbohydrates (available refers to completely digestible). Accordingly, low-GI carbohydrates are classified as those which are digested and absorbed slowly and which lead to a low glycemic response, whereas high-GI carbohydrates are rapidly digested and show a high glycemic response.

Carbohydrates FAQ Page

Athletes have been cautioned that eating carbohydrate foods in the hour before exercise may alter exercise metabolism by stimulating insulin production, which in turn increases the rate at which the muscles burn carbohydrate. As a result of this faster rate of carbohydrate oxidation, blood glucose levels may actually fall (a condition known as hypoglycemia) shortly after exercise begins. Many guidelines for athletes now recommend that endurance athletes choose low glycemic carbohydrate foods for their pre-event or pre-training meals. The low-glycemic food does not cause a high rise in insulin, so muscle burns more fat, preserves their stored sugar supply and can be exercised longer.

Bodybuilding Supplement Benefits

Pre-Workout

Intra-Workout

Improves Recovery

Average Usage: Usually 1 scoop 25-30 grams per serving. Use on traing days prior to and during training to sustain energy levles throughout training session. Use post training to increase protein uptake to help speed recovery.

Affordability: Ranges form low to medium-high, always buy carbohydrates that are quick digesting and have a very low glycemic number. Avoid product that have added sugars as they should not be you preferred carb choice. Look for reputable manufactures. Carbohydrate drinks are one of the most popular workout supplements available in the world today.

Tags: Supplements General Health Whole Foods