When it comes to diet, everyone has a different take on how we should eat. Some people think that high carb diets are best for leading a healthy lifestyle, while others think that high fat diets are superior. High carb diets consist of increasing your consumption of carbohydrates like grains, starches, barley, beans, and lowering the number of fats you eat. High fat diets prioritize fatty fishes, nuts, seeds, cheese, yogurt, and more while lowering your carb intake. With two very different diets it can be hard to choose which is the best for you.
Your body generates off of a power source called ATP. Every liver, bone, muscle, and brain cell requires this energy to function. When you exercise, your body depletes the ATP making you feel exhausted. Your body creates more ATP through glycogen stored in your muscles. Our muscles get glycogen from carbohydrates. Say you're doing a HIIT workout. HIIT workouts use up more ATP faster because you have short bursts of movements that require more energy! Eating a high-carb diet is a foolproof way to ensure that your muscles are fully stocked with glycogen so that you can perform at your best! This is why some athletes carb-load a few days before a big game or race.
Related: Carbohydrates: What They Are, and Why Athletes Need Them
The High-Fat Diet:
High-fat diets, like the ketogenic diet, are known to help people shed a few pounds and improve overall body composition. The ketogenic diet eliminates and lowers the amount of carbohydrates consumed. The diet helps stabilize glycogen levels in the body which helps improve blood sugar levels. A high-fat diet can also aid in hunger control. The increase in fatty foods and protein makes people feel more satisfied when they leave a meal. High-fat diets have also been linked to a decrease in chronic diseases, like heart disease and diabetes.
Related: Athlete's Guide to Eating Fats
Which Diet Should I Pick?
Choosing which diet is better is up to the individual. Everyone's physical needs are different and what may work for you might not work for others. It's important to consult a nutritionist when exploring different diets.
Both diets have their pros and cons. Try each diet out for yourself and see which one makes you feel the best!
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* Originally published on May 9, 2022, by Matthew Reichen
