Importance of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates at a Glance

Composition:

• Sugar
• Starches
• Fiber

Role:

• Provide Energy
- Starches provide energy longer than sugars
• Primes Body for Fat Intake

Recommended Intake:

• 45-65% of daily caloric intake
• 15 grams of carbohydrates per kilogram of body weight
• 4 calories per gram of carbohydrates

Sources:

• Any Starch, Fruit, or Vegetable

Carbohydrates are what all of us eat every day. They're in everything, from crackers to tomatoes. Basically, carbohydrates are sugar found in most all foods. It's super important because your body needs it to function. When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks it down into various nutrients, one of which is glucose. Then your body can use that glucose, or sugar, by turning it into energy.

There are two types of glucose. They are monosaccharides and polysaccharides. Mono, meaning one or singular, refers to one unit of sugar in monosaccharides. They are simple sugars which can be found in refined sugar like the kind you buy in the big flour sacks. Simple sugars can be found in normal table sugar and fruits and vegetables. Although you can get monosaccharides from white sugar, its better to eat vegetables and fruits because they also contain fiber and other vitamins.

Polysaccharides are the other type of glucose. Poly, meaning multiple or many, means that there are multiple units of sugar in a polysaccharide. They can be found in starches, which include rice, wheat and pasta. Polysaccharides are used by plants to store glucose for later use to be used as energy. Surely you've heard of the term "carbo-load" which is commonly used by athletes before a big event. This refers to the feast of carbohydrates that they consume, which are usually rich in complex sugars like polysaccharides. They choose complex sugars because they last far longer than simple sugars which are sometimes instantly used after being consumed.

The recommended daily caloric intake percentage of your daily caloric intake is 45-65%. This means that of all the calories you consume in a day, 45 to 65% of them should be from carbohydrates.

» Posted by Adam Pating »