How important carbohydrates are for strength, muscle growth, and performance.

Carbohydrates are the most efficient nutritional source for the body’s energy

requirements, because carbohydrates are more easily converted to glucose

than proteins and fats. Glucose is used by every cell in the body as fuel for

energy. Some of the glucose is carried around in your bloodstream to supply

your brain and other organs, but most of it is stored as glycogen in the liver and

skeletal muscle.

When blood sugar levels are low, this glycogen serves as a

reserve to replenish blood sugar to meet your body’s energy needs. Another

very important role of carbohydrates is their “protein-sparing” effect. Carbohydrates

protect your protein from being converted to glucose when blood

sugar and glycogen are low.

Your body burns more energy when you exercise, so its need for blood

glucose increases.Your body taps into the muscles’ glycogen reserves to meet

these energy demands, so it is critical that bodybuilders consume adequate

amounts of carbohydrates to support their energy demands.