What exactly do carb & protein supplements do?

The carb and protein supplement industry is a big one for fitness buffs and beginners alike, and although recent research confirms that they do benefit athletes it may not be in exactly the ways we all expect. If you drink carb and protein supplements before or during your workout hoping for a boost in athletic performance you're probably not going to get it. Research shows that the supplements seem to have no affect on how well athletes work out, but instead helps how they feel after they're finished working out. In a new study the supplements appeared to reduce muscle damage from intense resistance training sessions, therefore allowing the athletes to feel better and workout intensely again sooner.

Who knows, maybe you already knew this? It makes sense, although I think supplements might help some people with actual performance if they use them for a pre-workout energy and calorie boost.