Fat Burns In A Carbohydrate Flame: The Science Of Weight Loss

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The phrase “fat burns in a carbohydrate flame” means your body needs some carbs to effectively burn fat for energy. Carbohydrates help start the process, so without enough of them, fat breakdown slows down.

Glycolysis

  • Glycolysis breaks down glucose into energy creating certain intermediates along the way
  • Two intermediates in particular essential to something called the fat oxidation cycle (Krebs / TCA)
  • This cycle converts fat molecules into energy

Krebs cycle is a metabolic pathway. It’s really a series of reactions that occur in both plant and animal cells. The Krebs Cycle describes the last step of cellular respiration wherein glucose, with the help of oxygen from the lungs or bloodstream, is broken down into carbon dioxide and water.

Intermediates

  • The intermediates are Pyruvate and Oxaloacetate that initiate the fat oxidation cycle
  • Having sufficient glycogen content that is replenished through sufficient carbohydrate intake promotes long-term fat oxidation (fat loss)

In Practice

  • Long-term adherence to low or very-low carbohydrate diets exhausts intermediates associated with fat oxidation, slowing fat loss
  • Leads to slow/buffered fat metabolism
  • Carbohydrates should always be maximised for training volume and phase

Interested to know more about how you can more effectively burn fat? Reach out today, I’m happy to help.

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