The key to what happens in the body when you eat a lot of carbs lies in the body's own hormones. Insulin is one of the body's primary anabolic hormones and some will say it's the most powerful – yes, even more, powerful than testosterone. That may be, but insulin is like a double-edged sword – it can cut both ways. Despite its anabolic power, eat too many carbs throughout the day, especially simple carbs, and the result will be insulin spikes - which means fat gain. That's not the scenario we want! Ah, but what about anabolic power! Insulin controls how the cells in your body absorb and utilize nutrients, such as carbs and protein. It also has a strong role in the process of protein synthesis. When you eat carbs, they not only help the process of muscle growth, they also pull water into your muscles.