I received this text from someone last week after they read an article called "Why You Should Not Eat Overnight Oats in the Morning"
I won't lie, I skimmed the article to get the general idea of it. The author poo-pood on carbs in general, but especially in the morning. He then contradicted himself a bit as he started off telling you why you shouldn't have overnight oats, but then went on to list all the benefits of them.
With information out there like this, it's no wonder why people get confused and I get text like I did. And just so I'm clear, these types of questions don't frustrate me. It's a great question and its justified.
The truth is, carbs MIGHT be not the greatest choice for you in the morning. Hell, they may not be a good choice for you at all!
If you're sedentary and overweight, then yeah, carbs won't be the best choice for you as you will likely be insulin resistant (this will raise blood triglyceride levels and increase the likelihood of developing Type 2 Diabetes).
You could also have genetic abnormality where body doesn't produce amylase (the enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates).
Your body could simply respond poorly to carbohydrate consumption with a sharp rise in blood sugar levels followed by the dreaded "crash" effect where you become lethargic and sleepy.
However, demonizing a macronutrient is irresponsible and a lot of fitness professionals and nutritionist make a killing doing it. It creates unnecessary fear, anxiety, confusion, and a poor relationship with food for some.
Now, am I saying go smash as many carbs as you want? Not at all. All that I'm saying is this:
N=1
People respond differently to the same inputs. This could be training, this could be nutrition, it can even be how someone physiologically responds to reading this email (seriously).
If someone is making a claim that makes you feel anything other than educated, then raise an eyebrow and up your skepticism levels.
It's likely not as bad as they make it out to be. It may not be as glorious as they make it out to be either.
When in doubt, keep things simple. Eat lean proteins. Eat plants. Slow down when you eat. And occasionally enjoy the things that you enjoy that may not be the best for your short & long-term health.