8 Facts You must Know About Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are one of the essential nutrients our body needs in order to function normally. Like any other nutrient, carbohydrates too need to be included in your diet in specific quantity so as to reap its full benefits. And like anything else, too much or too little of it will do more harm than good. So before you get cautious about your intake of carbohydrates, you must know what it exactly is and how it works for your body. Listed below are 8 facts you must know about carbohydrates.
1. Carbohydrates are an essential nutrient. Their main function is to supply energy to the body.
2. Your body converts carbohydrates into glucose or sugar. This sugar is then used as energy by all your organs, cells and tissues. If any sugar goes unused, it is stored in the body as fat for later use.
3. Carbohydrates are of two types: simple and complex. While simple carbohydrates are easier to digest and the sugar or energy gets used more quickly, complex ones take more time to digest, thereby making the energy last longer. This differentiation is on the basis of their chemical structure.
4. Sources of simple carbohydrates are mostly natural foods like fruits, vegetables, milk and milk products. Complex carbohydrates come from whole wheat bread, rice, starchy vegetables, pasta, cereals, and so on.
