Science 180: Drop Carbs To Start Burning Twice As Much Fat

Sometimes, fitness facts can be hard to follow. They can become even more complicated when science finds something new. If you thought you had a handle on the whole carbohydrate and weight loss scenario, we’re here to tell you that you might not. That’s right, a new study from Ohio State University has just turned things on their head.

The study found that elite athletes who eat very few carbs burn twice as much fat during maximum exertion and prolonged exercise as high-carb athletes. When you consider that carb loading has dominated sports nutrition circles for some time, these results are interesting. “Clearly it’s not as straightforward as we used to think,” professor of human sciences Jeff Volek told the Ohio State University news team.

The research team, led by Volek, followed 20 ultra-endurance runners aged 21-45, who were all top performers in events of 31 miles or more. “Their peak fat burning and the amount of fat burned while running for three hours on a treadmill was dramatically higher than what the high-carb athletes were able to burn,” said Volek.

In most areas, the athletes were comparable. They were all in the same range when it came to, elite status, age, performance, training history and maximum oxygen capacity. The only difference was carbohydrate intake. The group was divided in two and the low-carb athletes ate a diet that was 10% carbs while the high-carb athletes ate a diet made up of 59% carbs.

The researchers then measured gas exchange to get an idea of maximum oxygen intake as well as fat and carb burning rates.

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On average, the low-carb athletes had a fat-burn rate that was 2.3 times higher than the high-carb athletes. Even Volek was mystified by these findings. “This shows that we have far underestimated how much fat humans can burn,” Volek says.

Volek believes this will change the entire paradigm of sports nutrition. Hard to argue with that even though these findings contradict other recent studies that say we should reduce fat and not carbs if we want to lose weight.

What do you think of this study? While it tested only ultra-endurance athletes, do you think it could have implications for your own diet?

Until we get definitive answers, continue to follow a whole, fresh, balanced diet like the one laid out in the BodyRock Meal Plan. More than just a menu guide, this plan includes a detailed nutrition guide and an added recipe book with over 70 offerings! Healthy eating never looked so easy!

Source: AskMen 

 

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