Episode 85 - Are high carb diets a health concern for athletes? | Dr Nicola Guess

We’ve often talked about the benefits of carbohydrate for runners, cyclists and triathletes, but for many people there’s an underlying concern - does eating all those carbs increase the risk of developing diabetes or heart disease? It’s certainly a common message that’s pushed online in some circles, but is this really the case?

In this episode I speak to diabetes researcher and clinical dietitian Dr Nicola Guess from the University of Oxford, who has often been asked this exact question by concerned runners, cyclists and triathletes. We break down what science tells us about the underlying cause of diabetes, how carbohydrate, exercise and body composition fit into the picture, whether high carb diets are a risk factor for chronic disease in their own right, and whether the approach should be different based on the level of training and fitness, age, family history, and existing health conditions.

 

Podcast Guest:

• Dr Nicola Guess - University of Oxford and private practice clinical dietitian

 

Nicola's online presence:

• • Instagram: @dr.nicola.guess
  • Blog/Substack: drguess.substack.com

 

Diabetes risk calculators mentioned:

• AUSDRISK Calculator (Australia): https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/risk-calculator/
• Diabetes UK: https://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/start
• American Diabetes Association Risk Test: https://diabetes.org/diabetes-risk-test

 

Fuelin:

This episode is supported by Fuelin, the world's first training-based nutrition app. It syncs with your training plan (in TrainingPeaks, Final Surge, and TriDot or Run Dot) and creates a personalised nutrition plan, built around your training schedule and tailored to your goals. You’ll see adjustments in your fuelling both within and outside of training sessions, using a traffic light system to adjust your carb intake to fuel appropriately for your needs. 

To get 20% off your first month, go to https://www.fuelin.com/ and enter the code FE20 at checkout.

 

Fueling Endurance eBook:

At over 260 pages, the Fueling Endurance eBook contains answers to 49 of the most common nutrition questions that runners, cyclists and triathletes ask. Covering the first two years of the podcast, the eBook contains additional insights, tips, and quotes from experts and athletes. Every copy sold helps cover the cost of making the podcast. 

Purchase directly from https://fuelingendurance.com/ or search Fueling Endurance on Amazon for the Kindle version.