Importance of Carbohydrates

All the food we eat is eventually turned into glucose, which is sugar. This gives us our energy. Carbohydrates are important because they convert to sugar easier than protein or fat. Virtually every part of our body needs glucose to function properly. For example, our brain uses about two thirds of the glucose the body makes and the rest goes to feed the other cells.

Carbohydrates should make up a quarter to one third of each of your child's meals. When you kid eats complex carbohydrates like whole grains, vegetables, beans or simpler carbohydrates such as fruit, the body does exactly what it is designed to do: it is digest these food and gradually releases their potential energy. What's the more, all the nutrients that the body needs for digestion and metabolism, are present in those whole foods, and they also contain fiber, a less-digestible type of carbohydrates, which helps keep the digestive system running smoothly.

They also have the same ability to convert carbohydrates if, and that is the keyword, if, they are the type of carbohydrate that is easily digested. Cats are similar to dogs in the fact that they have the ability to utilize carbohydrates, but they need protein in the form of meat in order to satisfy their dietary requirements for energy as well as fiber.

The number of molecules linked together determines what we call it. When only a few of them are linked together it is called a sugar like sucrose (table sugar) or lactose (milk sugar). When there are many glucose molecules linked together, we call it starch and fiber, as you would find in potatoes, bread, corn, beans, fruits and vegetables.

Carbohydrates are synthesized within plants through the process of photosynthesis. There are simple carbohydrates (monosaccharides) and complex carbohydrates (disaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides). The name carbohydrate comes from the fact that they are carbon hydrates Cn(H2O)n. Carbohydrates function as a component of ATP for energy, essential components of DNA and RNA, and recently have been identified as recognition sites on cell surfaces

Carbohydrates come in simple forms such as sugars and in complex forms such as starches and fiber. The body breaks down most sugars and starches into glucose, a simple sugar that the body can use to feed its cells. Complex carbohydrates are derived from plants. Dietary intake of complex carbohydrates can lower blood cholesterol when they are substituted for saturated fat.

What are the functions of carbohydrates? Any person engaged in an intense and active lifestyle will greatly benefit from the kind of functions and advantages carbohydrates do to the body. Therefore, carbohydrate intake will rely heavily on the level of activity a person is engaged with. Keep in mind that any unused consumed carbohydrates will result to stored fats. So, you have to follow the minimum daily requirement of carbohydrates in the body so as not to facilitate in converting it to fats that will eventually pave way to weight gain.

Foods that are rich in simple carbohydrates are things like fruits, sweets and soft drinks. Complex carbohydrates are found in large quantities in foods like bread, pasta, rice, bran, potatoes, beans, et cetera. Ergo, the healthiest form of carbohydrate is - you guessed it - the complex carbohydrate.

There are two main sources of carbohydrates that you can take - complex and simple. The complex sources can be found in foods like rice, pasta, potato, and bread. The simple sources are taken from fruit, chocolate, candy, and others. These are simple sources should be taken in moderation but are certainly essential to your body functions.

Carbohydrates play an important role in maintaining fitness and strong body. If required amount of carbohydrates are not present in the body then the muscle mass of the body is used to produce energy while extensive fitness regime therefore maintaining correct level of carbohydrate is very important. There are two types of carbohydrates, fast digesting carbohydrates and slow digesting carbohydrates.

Nutrients are chemicals found in foods that are essential to human growth and function. There are six classes of nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water. All six have certain functions that target a different body part, and together, they ensure the state of our overall health.