If you thought that Thanksgiving table discussions about politics were fraught, try asking a room of nutritionists for their opinion on carbs. Some will argue that low is the way to go, while others swear by a high-carb diet for maximum energy. Don’t shoot the messenger on this one, but there’s some preliminary evidence that’s challenging the norm: “What If Muscle Glycogen Isn’t the Performance Limiter We Think It Is?” The article from Marathon Handbook highlights research where athletes on a strict low-carb diet (under 50 grams daily) performed similarly to those on a high-carb diet (around 380 grams daily) during time-to-exhaustion trials. The researchers found that consuming just 10 grams of carbohydrates per hour – far below the typical 60-120 gram recommendation – boosted performance for both groups by preventing exercise-induced hypoglycemia. Before you banish bagels forever, we should note the specific study referenced had only 10 participants, so it’s far from generally applicable. However, these findings do suggest a possibility that maintaining blood glucose levels plays a larger role alongside muscle glycogen stores than we thought. Speaking of blood sugar levels, you might be interested to read: “The Post-Meal Walk: Why 10 Minutes After Eating Can Improve Blood Sugar, Digestion, and Mood.” The article notes taking a stroll 20 to 60 minutes after finishing a meal allows your muscles to act like a sponge, soaking up glucose without a heavy insulin response. This 10-minute habit may significantly flatten your blood sugar curve and help you dodge the food coma without needing to break a sweat.

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