Carb tip

Printed in: Men's Health Magazine (Oct. 03)

Eat Carbs for Energy

How can I enjoy a few carbohydrates without getting fat?
T.G. Brunswick, MA

The right time to eat carbs is just before or just after your
workouts.

Befo The carbs will be burned rather than stored. Says Jeff Volek,
Ph.D., R.D. An exercise and nutrition researcher at the University of
Connectiicult.

After: The carbs won't be converted into fat because they replenish
glycogen stores for the initial hour or two after exercise. Thanks to
an increase in insulin, they'll also enhance a process called protein
synthesis, whereby your body builds more muscle by making more protein
available.

High-intensity workouts demand more carbs than low-intensity endurance
exercise. If you lift wights for 15 minutes with little rest between
sets, you can have a couple hundred grams of carbs directly after your
workout. Just going for a ten minute walk? Keep the carbs low or
they'll have a great possibility of overflowing into fat.

end.