What Are Carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates are very important as they are your body’s primary sources for energy. Carbohydrates are comprised of sugars, starches and cellulose. They are found in cereals, whole grains, breads, pastas, some vegetables, beans, candy, sodas, wines, beers and fruits.

Unrefined carbohydrates are low in calories and high in fiber. Carbohydrates contain about 4 calories per gram, whereas fat contains about 9 calories per gram.

Carbohydrates are broken down in the digestive tract and converted into glucose which will be ultimately used for energy. Glucose is used directly by your liver, muscles and brain. When your body does not receive enough glucose, your muscles will burn fat as a source of energy. Oppositely, when the liver, muscles cells and brain cannot store anymore glycogen, it is turned into fat.

Since carbohydrates are converted into glucose, the amount of carbohydrates consumed will affect blood sugar levels. Therefore, your blood sugar levels are important because your brain uses glucose from your blood. Blood sugar levels should not be neglected as they can provoke depression or down beat to people dieting.

There are two types of carbohydrates: simple and complex. Discerning between the two is crucial because their impact on your body differ significantly.

Simple carbohydrates, also called simple sugar are digested quickly and are perfect for quick energy. Simple carbohydrates include: fructose (fruit sugar), sucrose (table sugar) and lactose (milk sugar), as well as several other sugars. Although simple carbohydrates leave your body high for a short period of time, the energy evaporates quite quickly and will leave your body tiered afterwards. It is also very common to feel hungrier much faster after eating simple carbohydrates rather than complex carbohydrates.

Complex carbohydrates include fiber and starches. They can be found in vegetables, bread, rice, oatmeal, whole grains, peas and beans. Complex carbohydrates are digested at a slower rate than other food, so your body needs more time to release these carbohydrates into your blood as glucose. This help you feel fuller longer than simple carbohydrates. As a general rule, complex carbohydrates are much better for your body than simple carbohydrates.

Many weight loss programs call for avoiding all types of carbohydrates to lose weight faster. This is not a good idea as carbohydrates provide great amount of nutrients to the body and are necessary to sustain blood sugar. In general, carbohydrates are not a problem to lose weight as long as one selects the right type of carbohydrates. Highly processed foods should be avoided as they contain more simple carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are often lower in fat and provide essential nutrients like dietary fiber. Therefore, a diet of complex carbohydrates is preferable.

Sign up for our newsletter