Keto vs Carbs: Which Is Better for Athletes? | Nutritionist Explains | Myprotein

Does the keto diet improve or hurt athletic performance? Ketogenic diets are popular for fat loss and increasing fat burning, but cutting carbohydrates can have a major impact on how your body fuels exercise, particularly during intense training. In this video, expert nutritionist Dr Richie Kirwan breaks down the science behind ketogenic diets, fat adaptation, muscle glycogen, and whether going keto can improve or hinder your strength, endurance, and overall athletic performance. Key Facts: The ketogenic diet is a very low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet designed to increase the production of ketones. Carbohydrates are an important fuel source for high-intensity exercise, including sprinting, interval training, and demanding resistance training. Your body stores carbohydrates as glycogen in your muscles and liver, providing readily available energy during exercise. Following a ketogenic diet can increase your body's reliance on fat as a fuel source during exercise. Burning more fat during exercise doesn't automatically mean better athletic performance or greater overall body fat loss. Research suggests ketogenic diets can compromise performance during high-intensity exercise, particularly when carbohydrate availability is important. Some endurance athletes can adapt to using more fat during prolonged, lower-intensity exercise, although this doesn't necessarily improve race performance. Your ideal carbohydrate intake depends on your sport, training intensity, duration, and individual goals. FAQ: Q: Is the keto diet good for athletes? A: It depends on the sport and training demands. Keto may be compatible with some lower-intensity activities, but it can make high-intensity exercise more difficult by limiting carbohydrate availability. Q: Does keto improve endurance performance? A: Keto can increase fat oxidation during endurance exercise, but research hasn't consistently shown improvements in endurance performance compared with carbohydrate-supported diets. Q: Can you build muscle on a keto diet? A: Yes, muscle growth is possible with sufficient protein, calories, and resistance training. However, reduced carbohydrate availability may make it harder to maintain training volume or intensity for some people. Q: Why are carbohydrates important for exercise? A: Carbohydrates provide a readily available source of energy, particularly during high-intensity exercise when your muscles need to generate energy quickly. Q: Does burning more fat mean you're losing more body fat? A: Not necessarily. Using more fat as fuel during exercise doesn't automatically translate into greater long-term body fat loss. Overall energy balance remains important. Q: Should athletes avoid the ketogenic diet? A: Not every athlete needs a high-carbohydrate diet, but athletes regularly performing intense exercise should carefully consider how restricting carbohydrates might affect their training quality, recovery, and performance. #myprotein #wheyprotein #protein #nutrition ********************************* Myprotein is Rated Excellent on Trustpilot 🔔 Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MyproteinUK?sub_confirmation=1 📲 Download the Myprotein app: https://myprotein.onelink.me/IYeO/o2erh9hb The UK & Europe's Number 1 Online Sports Nutrition Brand, Myprotein.