The Only Diet Book You'll Ever Need by Cyndi Targosz

Author:Cyndi Targosz [Targosz, Cyndi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-59869-439-0
Publisher: F+W Media
Published: 2008-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

How Carbohydrates Are Used in the Body

All carbohydrates are broken down during digestion and converted to glucose (blood sugar), where they are then carried to body cells to be used for energy that the body needs. The pancreas then releases insulin to help move the glucose to the cells, where it is burned for energy. If there is more glucose than what the cells need, the remainder is stored in the muscles and liver as glycogen and reserved for later use. If the glycogen stores are full and there is still more glucose, it is then stored as fat. This is why some of the carbohydrate hype is valid for quick weight loss, but read on for the caveat.

Carbohydrates and Weight Reduction. Many people believe that eating carbohydrates is taboo when it comes to weight reducing. This is a total myth. Carbohydrates only become a problem with weight gain when too many and the wrong type are consumed or when preparation methods add excess amounts of fats, like covering pasta (a healthy complex carbohydrate choice) with excess amounts of cream sauce (a not-so-healthy higher-fat choice). Rice with butter, mashed potatoes with gravy, and a bagel with cream cheese are also similar examples of adding fat to a healthy complex carbohydrate food.

Complex carbohydrates are actually the food of choice when seeking to reduce body weight. These foods are highly nutritious, low in fat, and high in fiber. Just don’t eat too many of them.

Contribution of Carbohydrates to the Overall Diet. If carbohydrates contribute 55 percent of the total calories in the diet, and a person consumes a 2,000-calorie diet that would equate to 1,100 total calories from carbohydrates. Vegetables, fruits, and grains such as breads, pasta, rice, and cereals, are high in carbohydrates. Legumes (dried beans and peas) are excellent sources as well.

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