What are Carbohydrates?

As people become more aware of their nutrition in an effort to live happier, healthier lives, many often have the same question: what are carbohydrates? The short answer to that question is that they are the source of energy for our bodies that we get from the food we eat, but as most things involved with our health are, carbohydrates (also known as carbs) are far more complicated than that.

Whenever we eat foods that have a plant base (meats, fish, eggs and other protein sources are very low in or completely lack carbohydrates), our bodies begin turning the carbohydrates into fuel. While it is a healthy process generally, this can become an issue for some people's health because there are a variety of different kinds of carbohydrates, and each has a different effect on our bodies with some being more beneficial than others.

There are three main types of carbohydrates: starches, sugars, and fiber. Each of these is made up of either simple carbohydrates (simple sugars) or complex carbohydrates. When we eat them, our body immediately begins breaking down the carbohydrates to be used by the body. Simple carbs are broken down faster than complex ones, and the unused carbohydrates get stored as fat for later use.

In today's world, many people eat far more carbohydrates than they should thanks to the fact that many processed foods use plant-based fillers and sugars to flavor their food. When people consume more carbs than they need, it may result in weight gain, and the consumption of too many simple carbohydrates in particular can lead to high blood sugar and diabetes.

This may seem very confusing, but rest assured that once you master what carbohydrates are and how they play into your daily nutrition, you can get a better grasp on your health and maintain a healthy weight.

If you have questions about what are carbohydrates and how they factor into your individual health, your primary care provider or an experienced nutritionist will be able to provide you with the information needed to make healthy and educated eating decisions for you and your family and maintain a healthy carbohydrate diet.