Carbs...Do We Need Them?Don't ask somebody, ask YOUR body
- Essentially Carbs
- What do carbohydrates do for you and your body besides satisfying your flavor cravings when you want a steaming plate of fresh pasta covered with vine-ripened tomato sauce? They are essential not only to your growth and well-being, but to your survival and that of every cell in your body. Maybe carbs taste so good to us because they are so essential. Carbohydrates encompass not only the bread, pasta and potatoes that are so commonly associated with the term; but also are components of fruits and vegetables as well. From the simple sugars like glucose and fructose, through the more complex sugars and up to the long chains of molecules that form the complex carbohydrates of the starchy foods, the energy and fiber that carbohydrates give the body are one of the most essential parts of the human diet.
- Carb Facts:
• Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of fuel and normally comprise
between 40-75% of a person’s calorie intake
• The body can store the energy of carbohydrates either in fat cells or
in the liver to have reserves of energy when you need them
• The enzymes in your body can break down all carbohydrates to glucose
which can be used by every cell in your body
• Carbohydrates are necessary for the function of every major body system; your
kidneys, your muscles (including the heart) and the central nervous system
(including the brain)
• Carbohydrates in the form of cellulose, aka fiber, ensure a well-maintained
digestive system
- Get Your Energy
- So why are these 114 calorie to the ounce little molecules so essential in all these ways? They are easily broken down by the body to release their energy to us for immediate use; either for ongoing function of everything from your hair growing to your heart beating; or for storage for later use like running from tigers or after errant(adventurous) children.
- The fact that the body stores these molecules as fat is both a blessing and a curse, especially during the holidays. But in many climates and throughout most of history this was essential to survival. In times of abundant or too abundant food a continual slow and controlled supply of carbohydrates in the form of multiple small meals per day can stave off that holiday weight.
Maintain Muscle Strength
Regular consumption of carbohydrates not only helps to keep your weight stable, but has numerous other benefits. When you have a consistent intake of carbs, your body uses those first before turning to its own protein to satisfy its energy needs. This ensures that you maintain muscle strength and high energy levels. Having even amounts of carbohydrates throughout the day also means you don’t end up with sugar high and lows. This is even more important for those with a susceptibility to diabetes, in addition to those that have the afternoon blahs. Carbohydrates are the calorie most commonly consumed, most efficiently used and most heartily enjoyed by most human bodies. So tonight, enjoy a nice big plate of pasta loaded with fresh tomatoes and olive oil, some warm bread to dip in the oil and a fresh crispy salad with some seasonal fruit, carb loading the right way! Mangia! Mangia!(Italian for “Eat! Eat!”) Oh yeah…and don’t forget to add some protein of course!