Carbohydrates In Your Diet

Posted by tim on May 11th, 2007 at 01:46am

Carbohydrates are used by the body for energy and for high-intensity exercises; they are our body’s premium fuel; although our body also uses fats for fuel, they do not burn as efficiently. The body’s most efficient energy source is carbohydrates, which is why a diet that calls for restricted carbohydrate intake ultimately lowers an individual’s energy and performance levels.

The body stores carbohydrates as the main energy source and fat as a backup energy reserve. For low intensity, long duration exercises, an individual’s energy is derived from fat while for high intensity exercises, glycogen (carbohydrate) is used as the main fuel.

Since carbohydrates are the more efficient fuel source compared to fat, they are the limiting factor in athletic performance. Strenuous physical activity quickly uses up muscle glycogen for fuel and if you fail to replace it by eating high carbohydrate foods daily, the body’s glycogen stores quickly diminishes. In doing weight training and high intensity exercises, glycogen is the primary energy source of the body. This explains why your energy levels are low when you don’t eat enough carbohydrates.

Types of Carbohydrates

Eating the right type of carbohydrate is very important for our health. There are two basic types of carbohydrates - simple and complex carbohydrates which are further broken down into starchy and fibrous carbohydrates, refined and natural carbohydrates, high glycemic and low glycemic carbohydrates.

Just like proteins and fats, there are also types of carbohydrates that can either be beneficial or disadvantageous to health. Knowing the differences between the two and making the right choice and eating them in the right amounts at the right times is very important to achieving a healthy lifestyle.

Under Diet Tips