Importance of Carbohydrates
Based on our last few posts, there are two different types of nutrients that our bodies consume: macronutrients and micronutrients. Macro meaning big/large and micro meaning small or in lesser amounts (vitamins and minerals).
The following three nutrients are what our body needs in larger amounts (macros):
Carbohydrates
Protein
Fat
See below on how our bodily system views each macronutrient:
Carbohydrates: energy/fuel
Protein: building block/recovery
Fat: essential
Today we are going through carbohydrates. What are they? Why do we need them? Why do they get such a bad rep? Stay tuned for protein and fat in the coming weeks.
Our bodies primary and preferred source of energy are carbohydrates (carbs). In fact, maximizing our body functions requires about 45-60% of our total daily calories to come from carbs.
As we consume a food with carbohydrate (think pasta, breads, rice, crackers, fruit), our body breaks down these foods into their preferred sugar (think glucose, fructose, lactose, sucrose, etc).
Reply “LIST” to get emailed a free handout on a full list of carbohydrates!
As we digest our food, the broken down carbohydrate (glucose in this case) enters our bloodstream and provides fuel for the brain, nervous system and muscle activity.
Our brains cannot store energy (glucose) so it pulls from our blood stream meaning it is in need of a constant supply. This is a common myth we get from clients with fears of consuming smaller amounts of carbohydrates and them being stored as fat. Not true. Our bodies are constantly utilizing carbohydrates for fuel.
When there is a lack of carbs, your body actually:
Uses up energy in our muscle (glycogen)
Uses protein stored in muscles, tissues, organs
Now, there are some instances that our body is not producing (or not producing enough) other things in our system such as insulin that help to bring glucose into our cells. When this occurs, we have excess glucose in our bloodstream. Which over time (think years), can cause damage to other functions of our body (eyes, kidneys, etc).
Even during a case like this, our body still needs carbohydrates. It is the portion and type that matters.
There are 2 types of carbohydrates:
Simple
Complex
Reply “LIST” to get emailed a free handout on a full list of simple and complex carbohydrates!
Both are needed and both are warranted for certain bodily functions. Simple is simply put: pure carbohydrate broken down quickly in our body. Complex is simple complex: more added factors of proteins, fibers to the carbohydrate that slow the rate that it is digested and provide more nutritional value.
For an athlete, simple carbohydrates can be our best friend, dependent on our sport, as it provides immediate fuel to our brain and muscles during activity.
For someone with a diagnosis of Diabetes, complex carbohydrates can be the way to go because they slow the rate of digestion allowing the insulin that we do have (whether natural or supplemented) to work properly.
There is no right or wrong here. Just simple education. A big thing we focus on at Worley Nutrition Group is educating and empowering. There is so much misinformation out there and we see it all the time in our office. Education is power and hope you continue to take this in to account as you consume and fuel your body!