Best Carb Supplements For Digestion, Taste, And More

Carbohydrates are a main source of energy for the body, helping to fuel your organs and central nervous system. They’re also one of the three macronutrients that your body needs on a daily basis — the other two being protein and fat. Carbs are broken down into three different categories: starches, fibers, and sugars. Carbs are stored in both your muscles and liver, and are put to use when you are in a deficiency — a deficiency can lead to headaches and fatigue among other negative side effects. (1)(2)

When it comes to weight training, supplementing carbs can be extremely beneficial to your gains by potentially sustaining your energy and assisting in your recovery. Using carbs as a pre-workout or intra-workout supplement can help keep the glycogen that fuels your muscles available for immediate use, and it can help replenish lost glycogen when taking it after your workout. Like all supps, not every carb supplement is the same; in this article, we walk you through a few of the best carb supplements for digestion, taste, and price, among other deciding factors. (3)

Best Carb Supplements

• Best Overall Carb Supplement: Huge Supplements Formula XII
• Best Unflavored Carb Supplement: Transparent Labs Carb Powder
• Best Carb Supplement from Whole Foods: Swolverine Clean Carbs
• Best Carb Supplement for Digestion: Transparent Labs Carb Powder
• Best Tasting Carb Powder: Xwerks Motion
• Best Cheap Carb Powder: Post-Jym Fast Digesting Carb
• Best Non-Stim Carb Powder: Swolverine Clean Carbs
• Best Waxy Maize: NOW Sports Nutrition Waxy Maize
• Best HBCD Supplement: Redcon1 Cluster Bomb
• Best Bulk Carb Powder: Nutricost Maltodextrin

Best Overall Carb Supplement

When looking for a solid carb supplement, you’ll likely want a product that contains slow-release fuel for sustained energy — this supplement has 10,000mg of cluster dextrin, which may support long-lasting energy. 

Huge Supplements Formula XII

This intra- and post-workout supplement is designed for long-lasting energy to get you through grueling workouts, or to keep you satisfied after your workout is over. One study found that consuming carbs after an intense workout could rapidly recover glycogen stores in the body, which may improve your body’s ability to maintain muscle mass. Glycogen is stored energy from carbohydrates, and when we are low on glycogen, our body uses muscle stores to create energy (4).

With 10,000mg of cluster dextrin along with 5,000mg of creatine monohydrate, this formula should keep you feeling satiated throughout or after your workout (depending on when you take the supplement). Although the price tag is a bit higher at $2.16 per serving, the potent amount of cluster dextrin and creatine may make it worth it. Plus, it comes in two tasty flavors — Candy Apple and Tropical Blast.

Who Should Buy Huge Supplements Formula XII

• Customers who want a carb supplement that has an impressive amount of cluster dextrin, which may help you feel satiated for longer.
• Folks who are looking for a carb supplement that has added ingredients, such as creatine monohydrate, will like the formula here.
• Athletes looking for unique flavors in their carb supplement will be pleased to see Candy Apple and Tropical Blast flavors to choose from.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Huge Supplements XII

• Anyone on a strict macro diet will want to find a different carb supplement as the macros are not disclosed in this formula. 
• Folks who want an unflavored option — this only comes in two flavors. 
• Those on a budget will be able to find cheaper alternatives on this list. 

Huge Supplements Formula XII carb supplement has 10,000mg of cluster dextrin and an added bonus of 5,000mg of creatine monohydrate, which may help keep long-lasting energy stores fueling your body. 

Best Unflavored Carb Supplement

With no sugars or insulin-spiking fillers like corn maltodextrin, Transparent Labs Carb Powder contains clean complex carbs in an unflavored powder you can add to any drink. 

Transparent Labs Carb Powder

Containing Cluster Dextrin, Transparent Labs is packed with 25 grams of carbohydrates and only 100 calories. Its unflavored option is king compared to its competition as it is made of just pure carbs with zero added ingredients. While the other flavors Transparent Labs offers do contain additional ingredients like natural flavors, it’s truly one of the cleanest carb supplements out there.

It’s worth noting this only comes in an unflavored option, which may be great for those looking to stack their supplements. Plus, it allows you to throw this powder in virtually any smoothie, juice, coffee, or other beverage without altering the taste. At $1.50 per serving this is pretty reasonably priced, especially considering the quality. 

Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Carb Powder

• Athletes who want a product with minimal ingredients and zero additives will like that there are just carbs and nothing else in this blend.
• Anyone looking to add their carb powder to a flavored beverage without altering the taste. Since this is unflavored, it shouldn’t affect how your drink tastes. 
• Anyone worried about their blood sugar levels. Transparent Labs contains zero sugar, so those suffering from diabetes don’t have to worry about their insulin spiking.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs Carb Powder

• Athletes wanting to bulk who are looking for a carb supplement that contains more than 100 calories.
• Anyone who is drinking their carb supplement mixed in water will probably want to opt for one of the flavored options on this list. 
• Those on a strict budget can find cheaper alternatives throughout this list.

This unflavored powder contains clean ingredients and a high level of carbs with minimal calories, putting nothing extra in the way of you and your gains. 

Best Carb Supplement From Whole Foods

This pick is made with 100 percent real whole foods from complex carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes, yams, oats, and blueberries, which can help provide long-lasting energy to fuel your body for performance in the gym and to optimize your recovery. (5)

Swolverine Clean Carbs

Unlike some of its competitors, Clean Carbs avoids maltodextrin, which can potentially spike blood sugar, create more body fat, and lead to an energy crash. Swolverine focuses their formula on complex carbs from oats, yams, and sweet potatoes. These complex carbs are better for you than simple carbs and can help slow the absorption of sugars, which may also help remove cholesterol and slow digestion to keep you feeling full. Swolverine suggests you mix one scoop with 8oz of your beverage of choice on a daily basis. Or you can add a scoop to your oatmeal or smoothies. 

However, if you are an endurance athlete, it is suggested you take two to four scoops per day. Clean Carbs has 100 calories and includes 24g of carbs, as well as more vitamins and minerals (like vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, phosphorus, and calcium to name a few) than your average carb supplement. With 45 servings in one tub, this sub-$60 price tag seems fair considering the quality of ingredients in this formula. 

Who Should Buy Swolverine Clean Carbs

• Athletes who want a carb supplement that is made of strictly complex carbs will like this blend.
• Anyone looking for a carb supplement to contain additional vitamins and minerals.
• Folks who want to get their complex carbs from whole foods will want to consider this product.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Swolverine Clean Carbs

• Customers who aren’t looking for a sweet potato flavor. That’s the only flavor available from Swolverine.
• Anyone who is sensitive to artificial sweeteners — this product does contain Stevia.
• Those who are on a budget can still find cheaper options on this list. 

If you are looking for an easy way to get more whole foods added to your diet, Swolverine Clean Carbs may be the supplement for you. Its formula is built around complex carbs that can help slow down digestion and keep you feeling full for longer periods. 

Best Carb Supplement For Digestion

Transparent Labs Carb Powder is designed to be easily digested, so you can focus on your workout — its Cluster Dextrin can potentially absorb better than other forms of carb supplements.

Transparent Labs Carb Powder

Transparent Labs Strength Series Carb Powder Features 25 grams of Cluster Dextrin in every serving. Cluster Dextrin is a “novel highly branched, high-molecular-weight carbohydrate derived from amylopectin,” which simply put, means it can potentially be more rapidly absorbed into the intestines (rather than spike insulin levels and mess with your stomach). Cluster Dextrin also serves as an ideal source of sustained-released carbohydrates that can be easily digested.

Transparent Labs recommends using their Carb Powder immediately before training, which can help fuel your workouts and increase performance. This $40 tub contains 30 servings with 100 calories per serving, and comes in an unflavored option. (4)

Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Carb Powder

• Anyone who has a sensitive stomach. This powder’s Cluster Dextrin is designed to prevent upset stomachs.
• Athletes looking to avoid a sugar-loaded product will appreciate that this product does not contain any.
• If you’re looking for multiple flavors to choose from, Transparent Labs offers Blue Raspberry, Tropical Punch, and an unflavored option.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs Carb Powder

• Anyone looking for more of a quick energy boost — this product is designed around sustained energy by releasing carbohydrates throughout the day.
• Folks looking for a cost-effective carb supplement can find options that are less expensive than this one. 
• Those who prefer a flavored carb supplement may want to look elsewhere since this only comes in an unflavored option.

Simplicity is the name of the game when it comes to Transparent Labs Carb Powder. Focused on Cluster Dextrin, this supplement is designed to give you the extra carbohydrates you are looking for without upsetting your stomach in the process.

Best Tasting Carb Powder

If you are looking for a supplement that has no sugars added and an objectively great flavor, you may want to consider one of these two flavored options from Xwerks Motion.

Xwerks Motion

Xwerks Motion contains zero grams of sugar, but that doesn’t stop it from being our top pick for taste. With Watermelon and Blue Raspberry flavors to choose from, you’ll be sipping on 25g of carbs, three grams of BCAAs, and electrolytes in the form of 34mg of sodium, 35mg of magnesium, and 80mg of calcium.

The big carb ingredient here is cluster dextrin, which can promote a steady rate of increased blood sugar levels over time for a potentially longer-lasting energy supply. This formula packs in high-quality supplements with great flavor choices all at the reasonable cost of $1.63 per serving.

Who Should Buy Xwerks Motion

• Anyone looking for a great-tasting supplement without any added sugar will like this formula. 
• Athletes who want a formula based around premium carb sources, like cluster dextrin. This product contains 25g of this easy-to-digest carb supplement.
• Folks who like Blue Raspberry or Watermelon flavors will love that these are the two delicious flavors to choose between.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Xwerks Motion

• Those who prefer a carb supplement from whole-food sources may want to look elsewhere as these carbs come from cluster dextrin.
• Anyone who prefers more flavor variety or an unflavored option will have to look elsewhere.
• At $1.63 per serving, this may be a bit out of the price range for some. This list contains several options that are less than $0.50 per serving. 

It’s sometimes difficult to find a supplement with a great taste that also contains premium ingredients and no added sugar. Xwerks made sure that they created a high-quality supplement with solid ingredients (including 25g of cluster dextrin) and two delicious flavor choices.

Best Cheap Carb Powder

For those who may be trying to avoid overpriced supplements, this is a cost-effective option that can still provide the high-quality ingredients you look for in a carb supplement.

Post-Jym Fast Digesting Carb

Replenishing muscle glycogen in your body as much as you can after a workout is essential when it comes to both muscle recovery and growth, which is the potential benefit of Post-Jym Fast Digesting carbs. One scoop of this supplement contains 30g of carbohydrates from dextrose, which is an ideal amount to potentially replenish that glycogen your body needs.

Post-Jym can help your body in achieving elevated insulin levels, which in turn, can help glucose, amino acids, and creatine be taken up by muscle cells to potentially increase growth. Dextrose may also be one of the fastest-absorbing carbs available on the market. For under $20, you’ll get a 30-serving tub, making this one of the least expensive options on our list. 

Who Should Buy Post-Jym Fast Digesting Carb

• Athletes who want a high number of carbs (30g) at a lower price. You’re only paying about $0.50 per serving here. 
• If you’re looking for a higher-calorie carb supplement option, this product contains 120 calories, which is above average. 
• If you’re looking for a fast-absorbing carb supplement, the dextrose here can be quickly absorbed, which is great for replenishing post-workout.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Post-Jym Fast Digesting Carb

• Anyone who is allergic to eggs, milk, peanuts, soy, or fish should steer clear of this product.
• Athletes looking to avoid products that are high in sugar may want to look elsewhere — this contains 58 percent of your daily sugar intake.
• Those who prefer to get their carbs from whole food sources full of fiber. 

If you are looking to get glycogen to your muscles as fast as you can after a workout, this is a good option to consider. The formula contains dextrose, which may be absorbed by your body faster than other carb supplements. Plus, the low price makes Post-Jym Fast Digesting Carb a bonafide steal.

Best Non-Stim Carb Powder

If you like to work out or up your carb intake in the evening, you probably want to find a high-quality ingredient list that doesn’t include any stimulants — Swolverine has you covered with their clean, stim-free label.

Swolverine Clean Carb

For those tracking their macros and using a carb supplement to round out their daily carbs at night, or for those who work out in the evening, this carb supp contains no stimulants to make sure you get a restful night’s sleep. This formula has 24g of whole-food complex carbohydrates sourced from yams, blueberries, oats, and sweet potatoes, making this a clean way to get an extra boost in your carbohydrate intake. One study found energy expenditure was significantly higher after a complex-carb meal than of its simple-carb counterpart (7). The addition of whole foods in this formula could mean more energy to expend, which may aid in energy increases without the need for stimulants. 

This supplement also has an impressive list of micronutrients including vitamins A and C, potassium, folate, phosphorus, and calcium. The addition of vitamin C in this line-up may also benefit energy levels without needing to add any stimulants (8). Anyone who is watching their sugar intake should be cautious though, as this supplement does contain five grams of sugar per serving. Swolverine’s Clean Carb supplement comes in a Sweet Potato flavor and costs $1.11 per serving. 

Who Should Buy Swolverine Clean Carb

• Customers who want a carb supplement that has an impressive list of micronutrients added to it, such as vitamin C which may give you more energy.
• Folks who are looking for a carb supplement that comes from whole-food complex carb sources — the carbs here come from blueberries, yams, oats, and sweet potatoes. 
• Athletes who want to work out or consume their carb supp at night will be happy to see no addition of stimulants in this formula.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Swolverine Clean Carb

• Anyone who is actively avoiding sugar can find other carb supplements with less than five grams of sugar. 
• Those on a budget can find carb supplements for under $0.50 per serving on this list. 
• Folks who want a variety of flavor options or an unflavored supplement to choose from — although delicious, Sweet Potato is the only flavor option here.

Swolverine’s Clean Carb is packed with 24g of complex carbohydrates from whole-food sources, and it contains natural ingredients that may help sustain energy without the need for added stimulants. Priced at $1.11 per serving, you can reap the benefits of this carb supplement at a decent price point.

Best Waxy Maize

Waxy Maize is a tasteless corn starch that some people may want to choose over a normal carbohydrate supplement for its potentially slower absorption. Amylopectin — the main chemical in waxy maize — can help allow this product to be slowly absorbed by the body and easily taken in by muscle tissue. 

NOW Sports Nutrition Waxy Maize

NOW Waxy Maize is a complex starch derived from non-GMO corn that contains 90 percent amylopectin — a chemical that may help this carb supplement absorb slower over a longer period of time. Waxy Maize is a complex carbohydrate that can help support glycogen re-synthesis after a workout, allowing for sustained energy levels throughout the day.

This product is also free of gluten, soy, wheat, milk, fish, and egg. Priced at $37.99, each of the 62 servings in this tub consists of 37g of carbohydrates and 150 total calories. It is also an unflavored supplement, so you can mix it with any other supplements or any beverage of your choosing. 

Who Should Buy NOW Sports Nutrition Waxy Maize

• Customers looking for a slow-absorbing carb supplement that can be easily taken in by muscle tissue may prefer this type of complex carbohydrate. 
• Anyone who has food allergies will like the fact that this product is free of gluten, soy, and wheat among other common allergens.
• If you want the most servings possible for a very affordable price, this might be the product for you.

Who Shouldn’t Buy NOW Sports Nutrition Waxy Maize

• If you are looking for a tasty supplement, it’s important to note that this product is tasteless.
• Folks trying to keep their calories lower can find supps with fewer calories per serving. 
• For those looking for a powder that is considered fine, you may want to look elsewhere as this product is more “chalky” than your normal carb supplement.

Not everyone is going to see the same results from the same products. If you are looking for a change in the way you intake your carbs, waxy maize is slowly absorbed by the body to potentially boost sustained energy throughout the day. Plus, this product is much cheaper than many of the other options on this list. 

Best HBCD Supplement

HBCD (highly branched cyclic dextrin) supplements are designed to potentially allow you to exercise for longer periods of time before you start to feel fatigued. Redcon1 designed their HBCD to be taken during your workout. The ingredients are formulated so that they can help with quick absorption, offering more immediate results.

Redcon1 Cluster Bomb 

Intra-workout supps are a sometimes overlooked category of supplementation. Redcon1 Cluster Bomb is designed to be taken mid-workout, which may help you unlock new strength as you go. The 25g of Cluster Dextrin can help this supplement pass through the stomach quickly, allowing it to be absorbed by the body and available for energy while exercising.

For just under $45, you’ll get 30 servings of 100 calories and 25g of carbs — however, you will find additional artificial flavors and sweeteners here to help create the Strawberry Kiwi and Grape flavors. 

Who Should Buy Redcon1 Cluster Bomb

• Athletes who are looking for that extra boost during their endurance workouts will like that they can sip this throughout their session.
• Anyone who wants a highly branched cyclic dextrin supplement, which may be more quickly absorbed by the body than other carb supplements. 
• If you’re looking for a flavored powder, this supp comes in Strawberry Kiwi and Grape. 

Who Shouldn’t Buy Redcon1 Cluster Bomb

• Those who use a pre-workout, may not want to use another supplement that gives them an energy boost intra-workout as well. 
• Anyone hoping for an unflavored supplement may not be interested in the Strawberry Kiwi and Grape flavors that are offered. 
• Folks looking to avoid artificial ingredients will want to steer clear of this pick. 

In a market of pre- and post-workout supplements, the intra-workout supplement can be overlooked. Cluster Bomb from Redcon1 may be quickly absorbed during your workout to potentially boost workout capacity through energy, hydration, and recovery.

Best Carb Powder To Buy In Bulk

If you are planning to buy in bulk and potentially save money, you should make sure the product you are buying is something that is actually going to help you enough for you to commit to finishing out your bulk purchase. With that being said, we believe this is the best bulk option when it comes to a high-quality and versatile carb supplement. 

Nutricost Maltodextrin

Nutricost Maltodextrin comes in three different purchasing options: two pounds, four pounds, and eight pounds. When purchasing the eight-pound option, you are getting 242 servings for $35.95, which comes out to $0.28 per ounce. Even the two-pound tub is only $0.47 per ounce, and comes with 60 servings. Nutricost Maltodextrin Powder is also very versatile. You can add it to your pre-workout, intra-workout, or post-workout drinks and shakes.

Made from tapioca, this maltodextrin powder is all-natural, gluten-free, and does not contain GMOs. Unlike dextrose (which is a simple sugar the body doesn’t have to break down), maltodextrin is a string of glucose molecules that has to be broken down by your body to be used. Because it’s made up of glucose molecules though, it may be broken down pretty quickly, similar to dextrose. Nutricost Maltodextrin 14g of carbs and 60 calories can be a solid way to get in those extra carbs and calories without dehydrating. (6)

Who Should Buy Nutricost Maltodextrin

• Athletes looking to bulk without necessarily adding more calories. This product only contains 60 calories. 
• Anyone who needs an all-natural product that is gluten-free will like this formula. 
• Folks who want a high-quality bulk-buy product for one of the cheapest rates you will find on the market.

Who Shouldn’t Buy Nutricost Maltodextrin

• You may want to consider other options if you are concerned about mixing, as this product may not mix as well as some others on the market. 
• Those who prefer a flavored carb supplement will want to look at another option.
• If you’re hoping for a carb supplement that comes from complex carbs you’ll want to check some other picks that are sourced from whole foods.

Maltodextrin is a popular option for gymgoers who are looking for a carb supplement that can be easily broken down. The ability to buy this product in such a large quantity for a relatively cheap price allows this product to stand out from its competition.

The Benefits of Carb Supplements

Contrary to what many people believe, carbohydrates do not make you gain weight outright. In fact, studies show that there is zero difference in body fat when low-carb and high-carb diets are matched in calories. They are the body’s main source of energy, as they can help fuel your organs, muscle groups, and central nervous system.

In the strength and conditioning world, using a powder to supplement carbs along with protein powder can potentially help you see that extra boost when it comes to building muscle while also providing an increase in energy. Since your body also needs glycogen for fuel, a carb supplement can help that glycogen remain ready, to replenish what you lose while exercising. Your body can also store extra carbs to be released when you are not getting enough in your diet.

Outside of fitness goals, if you are in a carb deficiency, you may experience headaches, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating among other symptoms, which could be another reason for taking a carb supplement. (1)(3)(7)

How We Chose the Best Carb Supplements

There’s a wide range of carbohydrate supplements available on the market today. When deciding which ones we thought were the best of the bunch, we considered the flavoring, pricing, amount of carbs per serving, digestion, and added ingredients to build out this list.

Carbs Per Serving

Since this list is specific to carbohydrate supplements, we wanted to make sure we highlighted options that offer an ideal amount of carbs for a supplement. Based on a 2,000-calorie diet, about 45 to 65 percent of your daily calories should be from carbs. This means you should ingest between 225 to 325g of carbs daily, and all of these options are the ideal supplemental amount to help fill the gaps in your diet to reach that goal. (8)

Flavor

While there are unflavored options on this list for those who prefer them, we wanted to put what we thought were the carb supplements that didn’t make you regret your purchase after every sip. Everyone has different preferences when it comes to taste, but we believe the flavored options on this list are all objectively tasty. 

Price

We understand that not everyone has the same budget, and that price and results do not have a direct correlation. There are some expensive items on this list — though you can rest assured that all of these pricier picks are worth the extra cash for their high-quality ingredients and robust ingredient lists. However, we mainly tried to include affordable products. The reason being, if you’re looking to buy a carb supplement, chances are it’s not the only supplement you’re taking (or thinking about taking), so we don’t want you to spend all of your money in one place. 

Digestion

Nobody wants a product that will leave their stomach in knots, causing them to immediately regret their purchase. We picked carb supplements that have formulas designed around potentially easier digestion. We also made sure to point out products and ingredients — like Cluster Dextrin — that can be more easily absorbed by the body, offering a quicker release to your muscles.

Additional Ingredients

More ingredients don’t always mean more results, but we also understand that some products featuring added vitamins and minerals could potentially be beneficial for your body. For this list, we wanted to offer a mix of products that contain just pure carbs, as well as some that offer protein, and even vitamins and minerals — no matter if you’re looking for a minimal ingredient list or a robust ingredient list, we have a pick for you. 

We do not include any products with straight-up harmful ingredients. However, we have included a few products with artificial ingredients. Since some people may try to avoid these, we have pointed them out when they pop up on our list. 

How Much Do Carb Supplements Cost?

You can expect to spend anywhere between $15 to $80 on one tub of carbohydrate powder. But the cost you want to look at is actually the price per serving, which can range anywhere from around $0.30 to $2.15. We found the average price per serving to be about $1.21, and many of our picks fall right around this price. 

Best Overall Carb Supplement	Huge Supplements Formula XII	$64.95 $2.16 per serving
Best Unflavored Carb Supplement	Transparent Labs Carb Powder	$44.99 $1.50 per serving
Best Carb Supplement from Whole Foods	Swolverine Clean Carbs	$59.99 $1.33 per serving
Best Carb Supplement for Digestion	Transparent Labs Carb Powder	$44.99 $1.50 per serving
Best Tasting Carb Powder	Xwerks Motion	$49.00 $1.63 per serving
Best Cheap Carb Powder	Post-Jym Fast Digesting Carb	$14.74 $0.49 per serving
Best Non-Stim Carb Powder	Swolverine Clean Carb	$59.99 $1.33 per serving
Best Waxy Maize	NOW Sports Nutrition Waxy Maize	$28.34 $0.45 per serving
Best HBCD Supplement	Redcon1 Cluster Bomb	$44.99 $1.50 per serving
Best Bulk Carb Powder	Nutricost Maltodextrin	$17.95 $0.30 per serving

There are several basic picks that fall under $0.50 per serving, making carb supplements a relatively inexpensive and easy addition to your stack. Just because something is expensive does not mean it will offer the best results, and vice versa. You should decide what you are looking to gain from your purchase and which ingredients can be the most helpful before picking which brand to go with.

What to Consider Before Buying Carb Supplements

With such a variety of carb supplements to choose from, it’s important to consider your personal needs, budget, and flavor preferences before hitting the market. 

Personal Needs

One thing to consider when deciding which carb supplement to buy is if you are in a carbohydrate deficit. If you don’t get enough carbs in your diet, you may have headaches or have a difficult time concentrating or focusing during your workouts. If that is the case, you may want to look at one of the options on this list that offers the most carbs per serving, or pair that powder with more carbs from sweet potatoes and other whole foods. 

If you are taking a carb supplement to help meet your fitness goals, it’s important to incorporate the number of carbs you get from your diet into your calculations, so you can find a supplement that supplies the right number of carbs to meet your goals — whether they are pre-, intra-, or post-workout. 

Budget

Budget is typically a pretty big consideration for most people. The more expensive carb supplements will likely include clean, whole-food ingredients, and/or have quite robust ingredient lists. The less expensive products may have shorter ingredient lists, but that does not mean they can’t be just as effective. Decide how much you are willing to spend on a carb supplement, and no matter your budget, you can find a high-quality pick on this list to meet your needs. 

Flavor

Nobody wants a product that is chalky or makes them regret their purchase with each gulp. Weigh your options on flavor, and if there isn’t one you are particularly drawn to, try something unflavored that you can add to a protein shake or smoothie. 

Final Word

Carbohydrates are one of the most essential macronutrients that you need on a daily basis. They are your main source of energy, and carb supplements are a great option for anyone who is in a deficiency or is looking to replace what they burn while exercising. No matter what side of the spectrum you find yourself on, you likely will not regret your decision to add more carbs to your diet, and you may even see yourself finally reaching those goals you set in the gym. 

This list is full of great options for both beginner- and expert-level athletes looking to get that added boost of carbs throughout their day. Be sure to consider your budget, goals, and flavor preferences before hitting the market. After that, rest assured that this list can help you find the best option for you. 

FAQs

References

1. Holesh JE, Aslam S, Martin A. Physiology, Carbohydrates. [Updated 2021 Jul 26]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459280/
2. Ferretti F, Mariani M. Simple vs. Complex Carbohydrate Dietary Patterns and the Global Overweight and Obesity Pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Oct 4;14(10):1174. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14101174. PMID: 28976929; PMCID: PMC5664675.
3. Ivy JL. Regulation of muscle glycogen repletion, muscle protein synthesis and repair following exercise. J Sports Sci Med. 2004 Sep 1;3(3):131-8. PMID: 24482590; PMCID: PMC3905295.
4. Williams C, Rollo I. Carbohydrate Nutrition and Team Sport Performance. Sports Med. 2015 Nov;45 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S13-22. doi: 10.1007/s40279-015-0399-3. PMID: 26553494; PMCID: PMC4672015.
5. Campbell EK, Fidahusain M, Campbell Ii TM. Evaluation of an Eight-Week Whole-Food Plant-Based Lifestyle Modification Program. Nutrients. 2019 Sep 3;11(9):2068. doi: 10.3390/nu11092068. PMID: 31484341; PMCID: PMC6770132.
6. Furuyashiki T, Tanimoto H, Yokoyama Y, Kitaura Y, Kuriki T, Shimomura Y. Effects of ingesting highly branched cyclic dextrin during endurance exercise on rating of perceived exertion and blood components associated with energy metabolism. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2014;78(12):2117-9. doi: 10.1080/09168451.2014.943654. Epub 2014 Jul 31. PMID: 25080121.
7. Tardy AL, Pouteau E, Marquez D, Yilmaz C, Scholey A. Vitamins and Minerals for Energy, Fatigue and Cognition: A Narrative Review of the Biochemical and Clinical Evidence. Nutrients. 2020 Jan 16;12(1):228. doi: 10.3390/nu12010228. PMID: 31963141; PMCID: PMC7019700.
8. Barr SB, Wright JC. Postprandial energy expenditure in whole-food and processed-food meals: implications for daily energy expenditure. Food Nutr Res. 2010 Jul 2;54. doi: 10.3402/fnr.v54i0.5144. PMID: 20613890; PMCID: PMC2897733.
9. Hofman DL, van Buul VJ, Brouns FJ. Nutrition, Health, and Regulatory Aspects of Digestible Maltodextrins. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2016 Sep 9;56(12):2091-100. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2014.940415. PMID: 25674937; PMCID: PMC4940893.
10. Naderi A, de Oliveira EP, Ziegenfuss TN, Willems MT. Timing, Optimal Dose and Intake Duration of Dietary Supplements with Evidence-Based Use in Sports Nutrition. J Exerc Nutrition Biochem. 2016 Dec 31;20(4):1-12. doi: 10.20463/jenb.2016.0031. PMID: 28150472; PMCID: PMC5545206.
11. Ma Y, Olendzki B, Chiriboga D, Hebert JR, Li Y, Li W, Campbell M, Gendreau K, Ockene IS. Association between dietary carbohydrates and body weight. Am J Epidemiol. 2005 Feb 15;161(4):359-67. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwi051. PMID: 15692080; PMCID: PMC1199523.