If you're currently trying to build muscle as effectively as possible, you may be wondering whether you should be using a high carb diet or a high fat diet.
Bodybuilder's have been manipulating around their diets for years; constantly trying to figure out what the best mix of macronutrients will be when it comes to packing on the lean body weight without adding too much excess fat gain.
It only makes sense that you'd want to minimize how much fat you gain when bulking, as this is going to determine how long you have to spend in diet mode after the bulking period is over.
That said, here is how high fat and high carbohydrate diets compare.
High Carbohydrate Diets
One of the big benefits of high carbohydrate diets is that they are going to be slightly easier to plan.
With low-carb, high-fat bulking diets, you're going to have to plan scheduled 'carb-up' periods, otherwise your weight lifting sessions will really start to falter.
Thus, consistently taking in carbs on a regular basis will always ensure that muscle glycogen levels are maxed out and you are getting the best workouts possible.
The second benefit to a high carbohydrate diet is that it tends to optimize both leptin and insulin, two hormones which are very anabolic in the body.
When insulin levels are low for instance, the body is not working as anabolically as it could be, thus maximum muscle gains may not be realized.
Finally, the last big benefit that higher carb diets have is that they often simply make you feel better.
While some people do do well on lower carb diets, for many, they experience a feeling commonly known as 'fuzzy headed' and start to feel constantly tired.
While low-carb diets can be great when dieting due to the hunger control they provide, when bulking, since you're taking in more calories than you need anyway, hunger never really enters in to the picture.
In fact, due to the fact that you'll be even less hungry when eating low carb and bulking, if this causes you to struggle to meet your calorie requirements then that will definitely hinder your gains.
High Fat Diets
Now, looking at high fat diets, we've already pointed out some of the drawbacks of them, but there are still some benefits.
The first benefit is decreased fat gain. While insulin is definitely going to be anabolic for muscle building, it's also anabolic for fat building. If insulin levels are too high at a time when excess nutrients are in the bloodstream than are needed, fat gain will result.
Since higher-fat diets have less impact on insulin levels, this then could translate to leaner weight gain for you.
The second benefit to higher fat bulking diets is that for those who suffer from blood sugar swings, it can make you feel better.
Since you are taking in so many calories when bulking, if you give the body a big batch of carbs, this can make you have a big high followed by a big low.
Some people don't have trouble with higher amounts of carbs taken in at once, while others do.
It's going to be up to you to determine which method works best for you individually.
So, when starting on a workout program to build muscle, consider the differences between the two diets. Some people do wonderfully on one, while others do not.
Source
