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What Are Carbs?
Those of us involved in the sport of bodybuilding, athletes in general, or anyone interested in burning bodyfat or losing weight has asked themselves (or others) what are carbs? The low-carb/no-carb diet craze continues. Before you decide to cut carbs out of your life for good it is important that you understand what carbohydrates are and what there function is. This article discusses what carbs are and outlines the function that they serve. Carbohydrates are an energy source for our bodies - in fact, they are the main energy source. Your body will use carbs immediately for energy depending on your needs or it will store the carbohydrates as fat to use later on. There are three types of carbohydrates in our systems. These are sugars, starches and fiber. Simple sugars are the smallest of sugar molecules. Glucose is a basic simple sugar and it is what the body uses daily for quick energy. Other simple sugars are fructose and galactose. These simple sugars can combine to form different combinations of sugars. These combinations include lactose (milk), sucrose (table sugar) and maltose (malt sugar). What's important to know about simple sugars is that they are easily digested and quickly absorbed by our bodies. They are a quick (and short-lived) source of energy. Complex carbohydrates are larger chains of simple sugars molecules. These types of carbs include: Starch - foods such as rice, wheat, corn, carrots, and potatoes are starchy foods. These are not as easily digested as simple sugars so they stay in our system longer to provide a longer energy source. Glycogen - this is the stored form of glucose found in animal protein sources (such as red meat). Cellulose - this is an important component of fiber. It aids in the structural component of plants. We are unable to digest cellulose. Starches and cellulose are important complex carbs. The foods listed above contain large amounts of starchy carbs. Foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, lettuce and other green, leafy vegetables do not contain starches but they are high in cellulose. Remember, we can't digest cellulose. This means that these types of vegetables contain fewew calories than starchy foods. What are carbs? To summarize carbohydrates are the main source of energy for our bodies found in a variety of foods. Complex and simple carbs are the most commonly known forms of this macronutrient. Simple carbs are digested quickly by our bodies and supply a quick and temporary source of energy. Complex carbs are digested more slowly and can supply us with a longer energy source. Diet and nutrition is an important part of an all around program to lose weight, burn bodyfat, and to improve your overall health. Don't try to figure it out all by yourself. What are carbs? Get the advice from an expert in the field of health, wellness and exercise. Take action! Click here now: What Are Carbs? Order No-Nonsense Muscle Building Now! Return To: Product Comparison Page |