Late Night Carbs and Body Fat

Late Night Carbs and Body Fat

Carbs are the body’s preferred energy source, but could having them too late sabotage your efforts ?

Question: What’s your take on consuming carbs later in the day? Do you think it can increase body fat even if your total daily carb intake is not surpassed? --Hank M., via Facebook

The proposed reasoning being the evening group maintained a higher level of leptins. Leptin is a hormone that is synthesized by carbohydrates and is known to signal the brain on the body's current energy status, thus impacting a host of other hormones of significance to the study at hand: thyroid hormones (responsible for metabolism), testosterone (a key factor to muscle growth/maintenance).


Calories Count More

In the end, the timing of macronutrients takes a backseat to overall calories when it comes to fat-burning. People mistakenly believe curtailing carbohydrates intake at night leads to weight loss. However, the reason for the weight loss is mostly likely because of the overall reduction in total calories as a result of eliminating carbohydrates at specific times rather than some special physiological response unproven by science. In other words, as long as your daily carbohydrate intake is not surpassed – aim for about 2 grams per pound of bodyweight – you have nothing to worry about.

Kelechi Opara is a lifetime natural athlete with over 15 years experience in the fitness field. He's the creator of the iPhone/Android app Nutritionist, the revolutionary app that's transforming lives around the world. He's also an Optimum Nutrition athlete where he helps in the formulation of their supplements. In addition, he's an internationally published cover model and a former United States Marine.