subject: What Are Carbohydrates? [print this page] What are carbohydrates? Carbohydrates, also called "carbs", are nutrients that are made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. These bio-molecules are used by your body for storage of nutrients and the transfer of energy in the body. The two forms of carbohydrates are simple sugars and starches, also called simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates.
It is often asked, what are carbohydrates and what foods are high in carbohydrates? Carbohydrates in the form of simple sugars are often found in regular, refined table sugar or candies, but are also found in foods like milk and fruits. The latter types of carbohydrates are more nutritious for you.
Other starches that answer the question, "what are carbohydrates", are foods like bread, rice, cereals, pasta, beans and potatoes. You may be surprised to learn that carbohydrates are what you eat almost at every meal. Most living things get their energy from carbohydrates.
One interesting fact is that carbohydrates digest in the body with less water required than most proteins do. The proper amount of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are required by the body for the immune system to stay strong. When asking what are carbohydrates the answer can get very technical but simply put carbohydrates are required by the body for normal everyday life.
It should be noted that 40-65% of dietary energy in a grown adult should come from carbohydrates, most of which should be starches. Only 10% of carbohydrate should come from simple sugars. Since the body requires a certain amount of carbohydrates to properly function, a lack of carbs may lead to fatigue, poor mental function and muscle cramps. Even though carbohydrates are important to have in our diet, the body is capable of produce energy from fat and proteins alone.
But when you ask, "what are carbohydrates?", you should know that the complex carbohydrates are broken down by your liver into simple carbohydrates (simple sugars) which can be readily absorbed into your bloodstream. Your pancreas releases a hormone called insulin, as your blood-sugar level rises, which helps your body process the simple sugars from the blood into your body's cells.
If you consume carbohydrates that are already simple sugars like candy, this process can happen rapidly, and the result is that you can feel hungry again soon. It happens slower when you eat whole-grain foods and other starches and you feel fuller, longer.
Your dinner might be a baked potato, half cup of broccoli, 1 half cup carrots, 1 peach and two oatmeal cookies. A meal like this will allow you to consume a healthy amount of carbohydrates and a portion of your daily carbohydrate needs.
Now you can answer the question, "What are carbohydrates"!
