Fruit or whole grain: know your breakfast carbs

Muscle & Fitness, August, 2008 by Jim Stoppani, Mark Thorpe

Which one of these foods is the perfect carb to have with your morning protein? It will help stop the catabolism that started during your nightlong fast and is in full swing by morning but will also give you long-lasting energy and won't compromise fat-burning.

A. A banana is the perfect morning carb because it contains fructose--which will immediately restock your liver's carb levels--and stops muscle breakdown. Because fructose goes to the liver first, it provides long-lasting energy. B. This whole-grain slow-digesting carb is a good breakfast carb because it provides long-lasting energy, but it's not perfect because it's too slow to stop muscle breakdown.

--Tabatha Elliott, PhD

JIM STOPPANI, PHD, AND MARK THORPE