Which dietary pattern emphasizes high and low carbohydrate days to influence body composition?

• A. Ketogenic diet
• B. Paleo diet
• C. Carbohydrate cycling
• D. Mediterranean diet

Answer: (C)

Carbohydrate cycling is a dietary pattern that intentionally alternates high-carbohydrate and low-carbohydrate days to influence how the body uses fuel and its body composition. On high-carb days, you refuel and support performance and glycogen stores for intense workouts. On low-carb days, you encourage greater fat oxidation, which can aid fat loss when paired with training. This approach is different from a ketogenic diet, which keeps carbs very low most days to stay in ketosis, from Paleo, which focuses on whole-food choices without a set high/low carb pattern, and from the Mediterranean pattern, which emphasizes overall eating patterns rather than scheduled carb cycling. So the pattern described—high and low carbohydrate days to influence body composition—is carbohydrate cycling.