Jason Momoa can't do the keto diet - he needs carbs to shred fat, according to his trainer

• Jason Momoa isn't on the keto or paleo diets because carbs are essential for working out hard, his trainer told Men's Journal.
• The actor mainly gets his carbs from fruit and vegetables, according to his trainer.
• Not eating enough carbs limits your physical performance, a nutritionist told Insider.

Jason Momoa loves red meat, but he isn't on the paleo or keto diet, according to this trainer.

Damian Viera told Men's Journal that because the actor trains hard, carbs are crucial for fueling his workouts - even when he's in a fat loss phase.

Viera said to cut body fat it's important to eat the right balance of macros, which include carbs, protein, and fat.

"Carbs are a very important part of the nutrition used for fuel," Viera said.

"Jason couldn't do something like a ketogenic diet, because he needs readily charged energy from carbs to be explosive."

Although carbs like bread and pasta contain energy to fuel workouts, Viera said Momoa mainly gets his carbs in the form of fruit and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, or kale.

"You can't train the way we do with fat for fuel; you need the carbs for explosive movements," Viera said.

The aim is to consume just the right amount of carbs to fuel workouts, but not too much more to avoid storing extra energy as fat.

Carbs are essential for peak physical performance

Dr. Mike Molloy, a nutrition coach who works with Olympians and CrossFit athletes, previously told Insider why low- carb diets aren't advisable for people who workout hard.

He said if you don't consume enough carbs, you may lose muscle and suffer from what's known as "exercise flu," which is where you finish a workout with head pain and an achy body.

Equally, your body won't be able to perform at the best of its ability, Molloy said.