Supplements
The 10 Best Carbohydrate Supplements
Which are the best carbohydrate supplements?
Carbohydrate supplements provide your body with that extra boost of energy needed to fuel your workouts.
They’re also great for muscle recovery as they help aid absorption and actively restore glycogen.
In this article, we’ve researched all the carbohydrate supplements on the market and rounded up the best money can buy.
You’ll find everything from slow-digesting complex carbohydrate powders to stimulate your workout and fast-digesting simple carb powders to consume during and after your gym session.
So, without further ado, here’s a list of the 10 best carbohydrate supplements.
Top 10 Carbohydrate Supplements Compared
Our supplement lists are created by researching the best-reviewed products from the most reputable companies and web sources.
10. Jacked Factory – Carb Surge
Carb Surge by Jacked Factory is formulated to enhance athletic performance and help fuel your workouts.
Each tub contains 30 servings, all providing you with 22g of carbohydrates and 90 calories.
Jacked Factory suggests that using Carb Surge may support an anabolic environment by replenishing muscle glycogen, augmenting protein synthesis, and boosting ATP production.
The supplement is manufactured in the USA in a state-of-the-art cGMP facility and rigorously tested to ensure purity and potency.
Jacked Factory recommends mixing one serving with 16-320z of water, or your favorite beverage, within 20-30 minutes after your workout for best results.
9. Rich Piana 5% Nutrition – Real Carbs
Real Carbs by Rich Piana 5% Nutrition is designed to provide a high dose of complex carbohydrates after your workout.
Each tub contains 22 scoops/servings, all providing you with 20g of protein, 30g of carbohydrates, 7g of fat, and 250 calories.
The brand suggests that using a carbohydrate supplement after working out can help promote an ideal anabolic mass-building environment for muscle recovery.
The supplement is also high in B-vitamins, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin A, and selenium.
For best results, Rich Piana 5% Nutrition recommends mixing one serving with water, milk, smoothies, or other recovery supplements, after working out for best results.
8. BulkSupplements – Maltodextrin
BulkSupplements maltodextrin powder is designed to promote athletic endurance and energy production.
Each 2.2lb pouch contains 33 servings, all providing you with 28g of carbohydrates per serving.
The brand suggests that using a carbohydrate supplement may help supply energy for exercise and support normal digestion.
The carbohydrate powder is free from added sugar, soy, dairy, yeast, gluten, and artificial additives.
BulkSupplements recommends mixing one serving with water or juice and consuming before, during, or after exercise for best results.
7. NutraBio – Super Carb
NutraBio’s Super Carb is formulated to boost performance, replenish energy, and accelerate gains rapidly.
Each tub contains 30 scoops/servings, all providing you with 25g of carbohydrates and 100 calories.
Other ingredients include natural and artificial flavors and beta carotene.
The supplement is Non-GMO, vegetarian, and gluten-free.
NutraBio suggests that Super Carb may help provide long-lasting energy without gastric distress or spiking blood sugar and help to prevent cramping from intense training.
NutraBio recommends mixing one or two scoops with 12-16oz of water and consuming before, during, or after intense exercise for best results.
6. The Genius Brand – Genius Carb
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Genius Carb is designed to sustain energy and fuel intense workouts.
Each tub contains 30 scoops/servings, all providing you with 10g or Pea starch (Carb10) per serving.
The Genius Brand suggests that Genius Carb provides your muscles with quality nutrition that helps sustain your workouts and aids in the muscle building and recovery process.
The supplement is Non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, and non-allergenic.
For best results, the brand recommends mixing one serving with 16oz of water or juice and consuming before, during, and after exercise.
5. Cytosport – Cytocarb
Cytocarb is formulated to help maximize physiological training adaptation to improve strength and endurance.
Each tub contains 16 servings, all providing you with 52g of carbohydrates and 210 calories.
The brand state that Cytocarb contains complex carbohydrates that supply long chains of energy-supplying glucose to help athletes with specific needs and goals.
Cytocarb is tested for banned substances, NSF certified, and free from added sugars, flavors, colors, gluten, and soy.
Cytosport recommends mixing one serving into a beverage of your choice and consuming it after your workout for the best results.
4. Vitargo – Carbohydrate Powder
Vitargo’s carbohydrate powder is formulated to help aid endurance and recovery.
Each tub contains 20 scoops/servings, all providing you with 35g of carbohydrates and 140 calories.
The supplement is Non-GMO, made in the USA, and free from sugar and gluten.
Vitargo suggests that using a carbohydrate powder as part of your supplement stack may help to increase energy, stamina, and endurance while also increasing recovery time.
The brand recommends using their carbohydrate powder immediately after your workout and stacking it with protein to maximize glycogen recovery for the best results.
3. JYM – Post JYM
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Post JYM is formulated to replenish muscle glycogen stores as quickly as possible after an intense workout.
Each tub contains 30 scoops/servings, all providing you with 30g of carbohydrates and 120 calories.
The brand suggests that using a complex carbohydrate supplement immediately after workouts helps glucose, amino acids (BCAA’s), and creatine to be absorbed by the muscle cells and maximize growth.
JYM recommends mixing one serving of Post JYM with 16-24oz of water and consuming within 30 minutes after working out for best results.
2. EFX Sports – Karbolyn Fuel
Karbolyn Fuel by EFX Sports is formulated to maximize performance and speed up recovery.
Each tub contains 20 scoops/servings, all providing you with 50g of carbohydrates and 200 calories.
The supplement is sourced from potato, rice, and corn and helps load muscles with lasting energy and bigger pumps.
Karbolyn Fuel is sugar-free, gluten-free, stimulant-free, and certified by Informed-Sport for being 100% free from banned substances.
For best results, the brand suggests mixing one serving with 10-16oz of water and consuming either before, during, or after exercise.
1. NOW Sports – Carbo Gain
NOW Sports Carbo Gain is a complex carbohydrate powder designed to increase energy production.
Each tub contains approximately 57 servings, all providing you with 60g of carbohydrates and 240 calories.
The supplement is free from yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, hidden steroids, unlabeled allergens, nano-particle nutrients, artificial colors, and flavors.
Carbo Gain is a pure maltodextrin complex carbohydrate sourced from non-GMO corn.
NOW Sports recommends mixing one serving with 160z of water or juice and consuming before, during, or after exercise for best results.
Frequently Asked Questions About Carbohydrate Supplements
Q: What Are Carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are a combination of starch, sugars, and dietary fiber from plant foods and dairy products.
Complex carbohydrates are typically found in foods like bread, rice, potatoes, cereals, and pasta and are better suited to maintain consistent blood sugar levels than simple carbohydrates or simple sugars.
Once broken down in the digestive system, carbohydrates into glucose it’s absorbed by your bloodstream and used as your body’s primary source of energy.
Carbohydrates are essential for cognitive function as the brain needs glucose from carbohydrates for energy.
Carbohydrate supplements are formulated to provide instant energy and replenish glycogen in your muscles after intense exercise.
Q: What Are The Benefits of Carbohydrate Supplements?
Carbohydrate supplements offer a variety of benefits mainly geared toward athletic performance.
Generally, carbohydrates supplements provide your body with a boost of energy, as well as replenish glycogen, increase endurance, and help you maintain higher testosterone levels when used in conjunction with exercise.
Carbohydrate supplements are also believed to improve muscle recovery when taken in conjunction with a post-workout protein shake as carbohydrates help aid absorption.
Carb supplements can be taken before exercise, intra-workout, or when you’ve finished exercising, depending on the benefit, you’re looking to achieve.
Q: Do Carbohydrate Supplements Have Any Side Effects?
When taken correctly, carbohydrate supplements are generally well-tolerated and considered safe for most people to consume.
However, if over-consumed and misused, they may cause inflammation, increase blood glucose levels, and promote weight gain.
For peace of mind, consult with your doctor or health care provider before use and never consume more than the manufacturers recommended serving guidelines
If you experience any persistent side effects, stop taking the carbohydrate supplement immediately.
Q: How Do I Take Carbohydrate Supplements?
All of the carbohydrate supplements featured in this roundup come in powder form.
Consuming carbohydrate powder with other supplements like protein powder, intra-workouts, and BCAAs will help ensure better absorption of essential nutrients into your muscles.
Carbohydrate supplements can be taken at any point during the day. However, most manufacturers recommend consuming either pre-workout or post-workout for the best results, depending on your goals.
To start with, we suggest taking a smaller dose than what’s recommended by the manufacturer and slowly increase the dose as your body becomes more tolerant of the carbohydrate supplement.
Q: Which Carbohydrate Supplement Should I Choose?
When deciding on a carbohydrate supplement, it’s a good idea to choose one based on your goals.
If you’re looking to build lean muscle, choose one with a high glycemic index that you can use post-workout to spike your insulin.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for something to give you increased endurance and sustained energy, choose one with a low glycemic index.
Make sure to check the ingredients and choose a carbohydrate supplement free from as many artificial ingredients and preservatives as possible.
Choosing any of the supplements included in this will be a good choice, as they’re produced by well-regarded brands and offer the most bang for your buck.
Summary
Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed our list of the 10 best carbohydrate supplements.
If you’re interested in learning more about other beneficial supplements, check out our latest guides.
Here’s a quick recap of the 10 best carbohydrate supplements:
- NOW Sports – Carbo Gain
- EFX Sports – Karbolyn Fuel
- JYM – Post JYM
- Vitargo – Carbohydrate Powder
- CytoSport – CytoCarb
- The Genius Brand – Genius Carb
- NutraBio – Super Carb
- BulkSupplements – MaltoDextrin
- Rich Piana 5% Nutrition – Real Carbs
- Jacked Factory – Carb Surge
