5 Reasons You SHOULD Eat Carbs Every Night
Written by Frank Rich on August 20, 2018
Have you ever heard the following statement:

Avoid eating carbs at night because they will be turned into and stored as body fat while you sleep?

I remember dating back to even my teenage years hearing this and seeing this followed by many people in and around my family. And even when I was just getting started on my own fitness journey I followed this advice.
And while yes, at first it did lead to me losing weight and getting leaner, which was really just a result of the caloric deficit I was putting myself in to, it ended up affecting other aspects of my life and had more of a negative impact overall.

That's the problem with the fitness and health industries nowadays, anyone can have a voice and put out information, it's up to US to make sure we are following those with proven track records and providing content based on the latest research and science.

And by you being here today that's exactly what you've decided to do!

So let's address of the topic of eating carbs and night and discuss 5 REASON WHY YOU SHOULD BE EATING CARBS EVERY SINGLE NIGHT! 

1. Greater Relaxation/Better Mood
We know that there is a direct relationship between the foods you eat and how you feel, and this is determined by 2 factors - the macronutrients consumed and the time of day. Eating carbs will increase serotonin levels in the body, which is known as the feel good chemical in the body. When serotonin is elevated in the morning or afternoon it can make you feel sleepy, calm, or even lethargic, which is result in you being unmotivated, sluggish, and unproductive. But when having higher carb meals in the evening, it will help lead you to relaxing and calming down from a busy and productive day, putting you in a more relaxed state before heading to bed.

2. Better Sleep
In addition to raising serotonin, carbs will also lower cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol will make you feel "alert" and should be at its higher levels in the morning, when you JUMP out of bed, then should naturally decline as the day progresses. But dealing with life's stresses and being active, especially if you train late in the evening, can keep cortisol levels elevated late into the night, leaving you feeling anxious and awake. The release of insulin when eating carbs will help reduce cortisol because insulin is an antagonist of cortisol. So if you are struggling falling asleep and you find your mind raising anxiously late into the night, enjoy some starchy carb foods before going to bed, but make sure to stay away from processed or refined sugars.

3. Better Use of Willpower
Studies have shown that we have a limited amount of willpower to use over the course of a day, no matter how motivated or strong mentally we are. So anytime we can avoid having to tap into that reserve is a good thing. Planning our macronutrients accordingly during the day, will leave us open to the option of enjoying more of foods we love and crave later at night. By prioritizing are day time meals with proteins and higher fats, we are left feeling more satiated and less likely to give into the temptation of eating more are lunch. This gives up the option and flexibility to enjoy those foods because we have planned our carb intake for the evening, which is a much better use of our own willpower.

4. Greater Metabolic Flexibility
Our bodies work the best and we feel the best when we are metabolically flexible, which means we have the ability to switch back and forth between burning carbs and fats as our primary energy source. For most people, following a traditional diet that has carbs throughout the day, they become insulin resistant and lose the ability to burn fat as fuel because the constant raise and spikes in insulin and blood glucose in the body. By avoiding carbs during the day, you maintain insulin sensitivity which means that when you do eat carbs they will not be stored as fat but rather used to replenish glycogen stores in the muscles and burned as energy.
5. More Energy in the Morning
The first 4 benefits are all going to lead to you having more energy and focus first thing in the morning. By being relaxed late in the evening and getting a good night's sleep, you are giving your body the rest and recovery it needs to be ready to get your day started. Then, avoiding carbs at breakfast, and sticking with a protein and fat enriched meal, you are improving cognitive function and overall focus and clarity. This will result in you being ready to get started in the important tasks for the day, and be much more productive.

Other than at night, the next most important times for you to eat your carbs are going to be during and after your training. (which is discussed and explained in the 3-Phase Metabolic Fueling System inside Massthetic Muscle). When you workout, your body uses up and burns the stored glycogen in the muscles, so replenishing these is crucial to recovery and muscle growth.

If you are looking to optimize health, performance, muscle definition and body composition, then pay close attention not just to the total macronutrients you are consuming for the day, but begin to master the principle of nutrient timing.

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About Author:
 
Frank Rich

Frank Rich is an online fitness entrepreneur, fitness author, certified trainer & nutrition coach, and bodybuilder. He has close to 2 decades of training experience himself, and has helped thousands of men around the world build muscle, lose fat, and transform their lives. Frank has dedicated himself to helping 100,000 men build what he defines as a MASSTHETIC PHYSIQUE. 
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