The Absolute Worst Times to Eat Carbs, According to Dietitians | Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

The best way to get a grip on this carb conundrum may be to recognize and avoid the worst kind of carbs for your body (the highly processed, sugary, refined carbs) and figure out the best and worst times to eat carbs for your health and lifestyle.

Here's how they identified the worst times to eat carbs, and for even more healthy tips, be sure to check out our list of 15 Underrated Weight Loss Tips That Actually Work.

The worst times to eat carbs will vary from person to person, so you have to evaluate your body and your lifestyle, says certified nutritionist Reda Elmardi, CEO of StrongChap.com.

If you don't exercise and also have a sedentary job, don't eat high carb meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner; cut carbs from one or two of those meals, he says.

"[Because] carb's main role in the body is energy and the body won't be using energy during rest, the carbs are generally stored as fat," says Clair.

"When you avoid eating carbs too close to bedtime, you're giving your body a chance to digest and you're also fasting overnight, which can benefit for your blood sugar and insulin sensitivity," he says.

You might opt to try a low carb diet such as the keto diet (a high-fat diet that's very low in carbs) which can help promote fat loss," he says.

When you are inactive, your body is in a low state of physical fitness or you have high levels of body fat, it's not a good time to consume carbohydrates.

"The body can better handle carbohydrates during and after physical activity, as well as when levels of fitness are high and body fat levels are lower, that is 15% or less for men and 20% or less for women," says Ryan Andrews, RD, CSCS, a principal nutritionist for Precision Nutrition.

"If you plan a higher carbohydrate intake at times when your body is better equipped to handle it, insulin will be under your control, and the body will function better," Andrews says.

"Aim to eat unprocessed carbs that are high in fiber no matter what time of day you're eating carbs," says Dr.

(Related: The Surprising Side Effects of Eating Oatmeal, According to Science.) Dairy, nuts, and seeds also provide you with some carbs (choose unsweetened dairy to avoid too much sugar).