Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are sugars, starches and cellulose

Carbohydrates are formed by the combination of an organic compound (organic in this sense means that it contains carbon) with water. This combination--an organic compound with water--yields a carbohydrate.

There are simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates.

Simple carbohydrates

Simple carbohydrates are single (one molecule of sugar) or double (two molecules of sugar joined together.)

For example, fruit sugar is fructose, and that is a single sugar. Blood sugar is glucose, and that is another single sugar.

On the other hand some sugars are joined together. Table sugar, which is also known as sucrose, is a double sugar. Another double sugar is lactose which is found in dairy products.

Complex carbohydrates

When three or more sugars are joined together they are called complex carbohydrates. One example of this is starch. Starch is found in potatoes and it is a complex carbohydrate. It is just sugar after sugar after sugar linked together in long chains.

Starch breaks down quickly in the blood stream. Therefore if you eat too many starches it is like eating too much pure sugar.

Cellulose is another type of complex carbohydrate. Although cellulose is composed of sugar similar to starch, it is joined in a way that humans cannot digest. Therefore it passes through the system and does not add calories to the body or contribute to weight gain.

Carbohydrates that cannot be digested are referred to as dietary fiber, but there are other types of dietary fiber as well.

Insulin and carbohydrates

The reason this is important is that sugar has some definite effects when you eat it. It causes insulin release from the pancreas. This is necessary for entry of blood sugar into the cells.

But insulin also causes storage of energy as fat. And when too much fat is stored the cells tend to have a hard time sensing the insulin and then sugar starts to build up in the blood. And this leads to all sorts of medical problems.

So you need to be aware of the foods that you are eating that contain carbohydrate in order to make the dietary choices that are going to keep you lean and healthy and strong.

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