Archive for the 'Carbohydrates' Category
Is this question ticking everyone’s mind? Let’s clear it right away.
No you don’t have to, it is essential for your body. Just control the intake. An average healthy diet should have half of your daily calories coming from carbohydrates.
The question actually is, are you eating the right carbs? Complex carbohydrates are better for your diet than others, for example a slice of bread is healthier than simple and refined carbohydrates such as candy, sodas and pastries. Complex carbohydrate sources such as wholegrain, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and grains have great amounts of nutrition including vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and fibre, all of which are vital to good health. Whereas simple and refined carbs like candy, sodas, pastries and other junk foods usually are poor sources of nutrients and sometimes we refer to these foods as having “empty calories.” This means the foods have lots of calories with little or no nutrition.
One gram of carbohydrate, whether is it is sugar or starch, contains four calories. For example if an average male needs 2,000 calories per day. This means that 1000 calories must c
ome from carbohydrates, so if 1 gm equals 4 calories then 250 gms of carbohydrates have to be consumed. Of those 250 grams, about 10 percent can come from added table sugar and sweeteners. That would be about 25 grams for a 2,000 calorie per day diet. That would equal about half of a candy bar, or less than one can of sugary soda. Unfortunately many people exceed that amount every day.
One slice of bread has about 12 gms of carbohydrates; one typical chocolate bar may have about 50 gms of carbohydrates, one serve of carbonated soft drink may have about 40 gms and a medium potato has about 35 gms of carbohydrates.
Weight gain and carbohydrates
Weight gain is caused by consuming too many calories, whether they are from carbohydrate, protein or fat. A diet high in good Read the rest of this entry »
The word “carbohydrate” means “carbon plus water.” Plants use sunlight (photosynthesis) to convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and oxygen.
Key Functions
- When body needs energy, it looks for carbohydrates.
- If you are not consuming enough carbohydrates, your body will look for other sources of energy, such as proteins found in muscle tissue. Proteins, however, are not efficient sources of energy for the body.
- Carbohydrates also protect your muscles and help regulate the amount of sugar circulating in your blood so that all the cells get the energy they need.
Food Sources
Carbohydrates come in two forms: simple and complex. Both are composed of units of sugar.
- Simple carbohydrates are sugars that give you instant energy and typically have no nutritional value. These include sweets, candy, and soda.
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