Carbohydrates
Optimise your performance with our hard-hitting carb products. The most common source of energy for your body, they should make up between 55-75% of your dietary intake — super-important whatever your goals.
Whether you prefer carbohydrate powders, gels, energy bars or good old-fashioned instant oats, our range of fast- and slow-release carbs is sure to have something for you.
Find out more about the drinks, gels, bars, and snacks you need to keep training hard below.
Shop Carbohydrates at Myprotein
Carbohydrates are the body's primary fuel source, and getting them right matters whether you're training hard, competing, or just staying active. The carbohydrate range at Myprotein covers everything from fast-absorbing powders and intra-workout formulas to slow-release whole-food options like oats and cream of rice — giving you the flexibility to fuel exactly how and when you need to.
Every product is developed by Myprotein's expert nutritionists to deliver precise carbohydrate content in formats that actually work. Whether you're after a clean powder to mix into your pre-workout shake, a convenient on-the-go gel, or a high-carb whole-food base for your meals, there's a format here to match your routine.
Who Carbohydrates Are For
This range is built for anyone with a structured training programme who takes their nutrition as seriously as their workouts. Endurance athletes, strength trainers, and team sport players all use carbohydrate supplements to hit their daily intake targets — especially when whole-food sources alone aren't enough to cover the volume of training they're doing.
That said, you don't need to be an elite athlete to benefit from a reliable carbohydrate source. If you're in a muscle-building phase and struggling to eat enough, or simply want a convenient, easy-to-digest carb option around training, these products give you a straightforward way to top up your intake without overcomplicating your diet.
When to Use Carbohydrates
Timing your carbohydrate intake around training is where these products really come into their own. Fast-absorbing options like cyclic dextrin and maltodextrin work well intra-workout or immediately post-session, when your muscles are most receptive to glycogen replenishment. Carbohydrates contribute to the recovery of normal muscle function after highly intensive and/or long-lasting physical exercise leading to muscle fatigue and the depletion of glycogen stores in skeletal muscle.1
Slower-release carbohydrate sources — oats, cream of rice, and whole-food-based products — are better suited to meals earlier in the day or as a pre-workout base a couple of hours before training. Carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions, like THE Electrofuel, are designed specifically for use during prolonged exercise, where maintaining fuel and hydration together matters most.2
Carbohydrates Benefits
Fuel for High-Intensity Training
Carbohydrate solutions are formulated for performance during demanding sessions. For trained athletes doing high-intensity, long-duration exercise, carbohydrate solutions contribute to the improvement of physical performance.3 Having a reliable, fast-digesting carb source available means you're not leaving fuel on the table when it counts.
Muscle Glycogen Replenishment
Glycogen stored in skeletal muscle is the primary fuel for intense training. After hard sessions, carbohydrates play a direct role in restoring those depleted stores. Getting adequate carbohydrate in around your workouts is one of the most evidence-backed strategies in sports nutrition.1
Flexible Formats for Every Routine
From powders and gels to flapjacks, oatbakes, and pancake mixes, the range covers multiple formats so you can hit your carbohydrate targets in ways that fit your lifestyle. Whether you're prepping meals at home or fuelling on the move during a race or long training block, there's an option that works.
Hydration and Endurance Together
Carbohydrate-electrolyte products combine fuel with hydration support. Carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions enhance the absorption of water during physical exercise and contribute to the maintenance of endurance performance during prolonged exercise.2 For anyone doing extended training or competition, that combination is hard to replicate with standard food and drink alone.
Popular Picks
Origin Cream of Rice — A vegan-friendly breakfast built for carb-conscious training days, Origin Cream of Rice delivers 39g of complex carbs per serving in a smooth, easy-to-digest bowl.
Origin Intra-Workout — Built for training sessions that demand more, Origin Intra-Workout combines 30g of fast-absorbing cyclic dextrin with 9g of essential amino acids — including BCAAs at a 4:1:1 ratio — and magnesium, which contributes to a reduction in tiredness and fatigue.
Oat Protein Flapjack — With 20g of protein per bar and three flavours to choose from, the Oat Protein Flapjack is the no-fuss option for getting protein in when you're on the move.
FAQs
What are carbohydrates used for in sports nutrition?
Carbohydrates are the body's preferred fuel source during exercise, particularly high-intensity and endurance-based training. In sports nutrition, carbohydrate supplements are used to top up glycogen stores before, during, and after training — especially when whole-food intake alone doesn't cover the demands of a heavy training schedule. The range includes powders, gels, whole-food-based products, and electrolyte formulas to cover different needs.
What's the difference between fast and slow-release carbohydrates?
Fast-absorbing carbohydrates — like cyclic dextrin and maltodextrin — are digested and absorbed quickly, making them well-suited for use during or immediately after training. Slow-release options like oats and cream of rice provide a more gradual supply of carbohydrate energy, making them a better fit for meals earlier in the day or as a pre-workout base eaten a couple of hours before you train.
What's a good carbohydrate powder for during training?
Origin Intra-Workout is a strong choice for training sessions. It provides 30g of cyclic dextrin — a fast-absorbing carbohydrate source — alongside 9g of essential amino acids including a 4:1:1 ratio of BCAAs, making it a well-rounded intra-workout formula. For electrolyte-focused endurance sessions, THE Electrofuel is designed as a carbohydrate and electrolyte powder that contributes to endurance performance during prolonged exercise.2
What is a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution?
A carbohydrate-electrolyte solution combines carbohydrates with key electrolytes like sodium in a specific ratio designed for use during physical exercise. These formulas are built to deliver fuel and fluid simultaneously, which is particularly relevant for endurance sport. Carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions contribute to the maintenance of endurance performance during prolonged endurance exercise and enhance the absorption of water during physical exercise.2
Are there whole-food carbohydrate options available?
There's a wide selection of whole-food-based carbohydrate products across the range, including rolled oats, instant oats, cream of rice, protein oats, flapjacks, oatbakes, pancake mix, and mug cake mix. These are popular choices for meal-based carbohydrate intake, particularly around breakfast or as part of a pre-workout meal. Origin Cream of Rice, for example, provides 39g of complex carbohydrates per serving in an easy-to-prepare format.
Can I use carbohydrate supplements as part of a mass-gaining phase?
Carbohydrate supplements are commonly used during mass-gaining phases to increase total calorie and carbohydrate intake without having to eat significantly more whole food. Products like Impact Whey Mass Gainer and Clear Whey Mass Gainer combine carbohydrates with protein — and protein contributes to a growth in muscle mass.4 High-carb powders like 100% Maltodextrin Carbs can also be added to shakes or meals to increase carbohydrate density.
Who developed the carbohydrate products at Myprotein?
All carbohydrate products are developed by Myprotein's expert nutritionists, who formulate each product around the specific demands of active individuals and athletes. That means ingredients, ratios, and formats are chosen based on what the evidence supports — not trends.
How do I choose between a carbohydrate gel and a carbohydrate powder?
Gels like THE Energy Gel are designed for convenience during activity — they're compact, require no mixing, and deliver carbohydrates and electrolytes quickly in a format you can take mid-run or mid-ride. Powders offer more flexibility in terms of serving size and how you use them, making them a better fit for pre- or post-workout shakes at home or in the gym. The right choice depends on where and when you're fuelling.
Do carbohydrates contribute to brain function?
Carbohydrates contribute to the maintenance of normal brain function.5 The brain relies on glucose — derived from carbohydrates — as its primary fuel. Maintaining adequate carbohydrate intake across the day is a foundational part of any nutrition plan, regardless of training goals.
Are the carbohydrate products suitable for endurance athletes?
The range includes several products specifically well-suited to endurance training and competition. THE Electrofuel and THE Energy Gel are both formulated as carbohydrate-electrolyte products, and carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions contribute to the maintenance of endurance performance during prolonged endurance exercise.2 100% Maltodextrin Carbs and 100% Instant Oats also provide straightforward carbohydrate options for athletes with high-volume training demands.
1. Carbohydrates contribute to the recovery of normal muscle function (contraction) after highly intensive and/or long-lasting physical exercise leading to muscle fatigue and the depletion of glycogen stores in skeletal muscle.
2. Carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions contribute to the maintenance of endurance performance during prolonged endurance exercise. Carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions enhance the absorption of water during physical exercise.
3. Carbohydrate solutions contribute to the improvement of physical performance during a high-intensity and long-lasting physical exercise in trained adults.
4. Protein contributes to a growth in muscle mass.
5. Carbohydrates contribute to the maintenance of normal brain function.