What are Carbohydrates?
You must have heard people all around you talking about fats, proteins, sugars, carbohydrates and fiber. All these are nutrients which constitute your body and each plays a different role in keeping the body going and fit. An imbalance of any of these nutrients would mean an ill and tired body. Carbohydrates play the role of imparting energy and vitality to the body. The main reason behind this is that they break up inside the body to form sugar, which gives you energy. Carbohydrates break up faster than proteins or even fiber and hence are a quick source of energy. However the intake of carbohydrates needs to be regularized and too much intake can cause harm to the sugar levels in your body. Then with more sugar produced you can get overactive and restless and with less sugar produced, one can face easy fatigue and lethargy.
Carbohydrates can be simply classified into 2 categories, the Complex ones and the Simple ones. The complex carbohydrates are those which have high amounts of starch in them. Starchy foods like potatoes, sweet corn, turnips, oats, lentils, nuts, chickpeas, yams, whole meal pastas and brown rice are known to give your body the complex carbohydrates. Biscuits, white pastas, white rice, white flour and pizza are also known to have complex carbohydrates in them. The Simple carbohydrates are found in vegetables and fruits, in the form of sugar. Refined products like jams, chocolates, honey, soft drinks, processed sauces and pizzas have simple carbohydrates.
Complex carbohydrates are known to release sugars at a slower pace which is good for the body to control through insulin. Insulin hormone is released through the pancreas organ and when complex carbohydrates release sugar at slow and steady pace, this insulin can destroy the sugar which is not needed and control blood sugar levels in body. This is not the case with simple carbohydrates. They release sugars at faster rate and sometimes it becomes difficult for insulin released to control these sugars. Refined products are also known to release sugars at a faster pace and hence can be harmful for the body.
Carbohydrates are very much required to provide the body with energy. This energy is needed to run the day to day functions of the body and to keep the work going. Energy should be received through the starchy carbohydrates on a day to day basis and that would ensure balanced sugar levels as well.
People would suggest that carbohydrates make a person fat and he or she will put on weight if carbohydrates are consumed. Even though this is a true fact, the other half also suggests that carbohydrates may be eaten to impart energy. Now it is for you to decide on which carbohydrates to consume, the starchy ones, which give you energy and not much weight gain or the simple ones which give quick release of sugar. Depending upon your body type, decide on which category of carbohydrates to consume. Always you should pair carbohydrate foods with foods containing proteins and fiber. That will keep you healthy and fit.
