Facts about Carbohydrates
Each carbon atom that supports a hydroxyl group (except for the first and last) is optically active, allowing a number of different carbohydrates with the same basic structure.
Upon the intake of carbohydrates, the body breaks them down into simple sugars which are absorbed into the bloodstream.
Simple carbohydrates are more easily digested by the body than complex carbohydrates.
Just as in simple carbohydrates, some complex carbohydrate foods are better choices than others.
Simple carbohydrates (monosaccharides and disaccharides), also called simple sugars, are found in processed and refined sugars including table sugar, honey, and candy, and in fruits, vegetables, and milk products.
Carbohydrates are a class of biological molecules that contain primarily carbon (C) atoms flanked by hydrogen (H) atoms and hydroxyl (OH) groups (H-C-OH).
The general chemical formula for carbohydrates, C(H2O), gives the relative proportions of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a monosaccharide (the proportion of these atoms are 1:2:1).
The Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization jointly recommend that national dietary guidelines set a goal of 55-75 percent of total energy from carbohydrates (WHO/FAO 2003).
Complex carbohydrates are combinations of starch and fiber and include products such as bread, cereals, pasta, rice, and starchy vegetables like potatoes.
Based on evidence for the risk of heart disease and obesity, the Institute of Medicine recommends that American and Canadian adults get between 40-65 percent of dietary energy from carbohydrates (Food and Nutrition Board 2002).
Excessive carbohydrates and a high caloric intake can cause obesity; however, a diet deficient in carbohydrates also is not healthy.
Some carbohydrates are small with molecular weights of less than one hundred, whereas others are true macromolecules with molecular weights in the hundreds of thousands.
Carbohydrates are the sugars, starches and fibers found in fruits, grains, vegetables and milk products. ... The American Diabetes Association notes that carbohydrates are the body's main source of energy. They are called carbohydrates because, at the chemical level, they contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.Jul 14, 2017
Carbohydrates provide your body with energy. The simplest are sugars, like glucose, fructose, sucrose and lactose. Complex carbohydrates, like starch, are made up of lots of sugar molecules joined together. The 'identity tags' (antigens) on the surface of all cells are made from carbohydrates joined to proteins.
Carbohydrates are all about energy and are found in foods like fruits, vegetables, breads, pasta, and dairy products. Your body uses these foods to make glucose, which is your body's main energy source. Glucose is a type of sugar that can be used right away for energy or stored away to be used later.May 26, 2010
Providing nutrients for the good bacteria in our intestines that helps us digest our food; and. Protecting our muscles because carbohydrates are the first source of energy for our body, without it, protein from our muscles will be used meaning that our body will effectively eat its own muscles!
Hypoglycemia – Not enough carbs can mean low blood sugar, which can lead to hypoglycemia. ... If you don't have enough glucose (energy) from carbs to burn, your body will start burning fat, which is called ketosis. During this process, your body makes ketones for a fuel source.Sep 5, 2017
Negative Side Effects. If you eat too few carbs, you may experience some unpleasant side effects. According to Mayo Clinic, these may include dizziness, headaches, weakness, fatigue, nutrient deficiencies, nausea, diarrhea, mental fatigue and even bad breath.
Eating too many of the certain kinds of carbs has many bad effects on our bodies: We gain body fat because we overeat. We develop insulin resistance, elevated triglycerides, and other health problems. ... It eliminates food cravings and reduces our tendency to overeat.May 20, 2015