And if you do try carb cycling, you will need to carefully track what you eat. It is not for everyone and while it may be beneficial for some health and fitness targets, hard evidence remains scant.

Instead of carb cycling daily, some prefer a weeklong approach. "This involves 3-4 days of higher carbohydrate consumption followed by 3-4 days of lower carbohydrate intake," Messer explains.

Finally, carb cycling is not recommended to anyone who may struggle with disordered eating. It is ,of course, well worth consulting a doctor or sports nutritionist for expert advice first.