ou'd think from the many diet fads and books today that carbohydrates are the root of all evil. That they can cause the body to store fat, leading to diabetes and heart disease. This is a half-truth. In reality, our bodies do need them. In this article, we are going to review the facts about carbohydrates and why they are getting the bad rep.
Carbohydrates are the main source of energy in the body. They provide a quick conversion to energy. Sports nutritionists say that between 50% and 70% of your calories should come from carbohydrates. There are two main types of carbs: complex and simple. All carbs are eventually broken down in the body into glucose, which is burned off by the body to produce energy.
The body stores carbohydrates in the liver as glycogen. When the glycogen storage is full, the excess carbohydrates are converted into fat tissue, which acts as the body's long-term, high-density reservoir of energy.
Choosing Carbs
The so-called complex carbohydrates consist of long-chained starch molecules found in grains, vegetables, beans, lentils, sweet potatoes, etc. These food sources also contain a lot of fiber and nutrients. This combination of fiber, nutrients, and the long starch molecules is what makes these complex carbohydrates good for you. Their nutrients promote good health and they are digested slowly, making you feel full for a while. They do not trigger a rapid rise in blood sugar.
The other type of carbs is the simple type which consists of single or double sugar molecules. They are found in fruits and in processed foods. These simple carbs found in processed food are the bad guys -- stay away from them. These are the sugars found in soft drinks, table sugar, maple syrup, candy, pastries, etc. These are devoid of fiber and nutrients and are absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream, causing a rapid rise in blood sugar and a corresponding spike in insulin levels.
Fruits are a different case and are considered good. The type of sugar they contain, fructose, does not cause a spike in insulin in the blood stream as other simple sugars do and in addition, they contain valuable fiber and nutrients.
In summary, eat complex, unrefined carbs and stay away from processed foods. Choose unpolished rice over polished rice or whole-wheat bread over white bread. Avoid foods like soft drinks, pancakes, yogurt, except the unsweetened variety. Despite being advertised as healthy, breakfast cereals are mostly processed sugars and should be avoided.
Jane loves to write on various topics such as health, fitness, and parenting. Check out one of her websites, http://www.decorativebathtowelssearch.com, where she talks about the various decorative bath towels available on the market.
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