Complex Carbohydrates

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• Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are imperative for the grow and function of cells in the human body, as well as in most life forms. Named for its composure of the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, carbohydrates provide an important energy source for cells. When the numerous carbon-hydrogen bonds found in carbohydrates are broken down they form new more stable chemical bonds, like carbon-oxygen bonds. This process releases energy that cells can use or store for later. Once most carbohydrates are digested, they convert to a simple sugar called glucose. In the human body glucose is either used for current cellular activity, stored as a web of glucose molecules called glycogen that is slowly broken down for short-term energy, or made into fat …show more content…
On the other hand, complex carbohydrates, like starch, are formed when copious amounts of simple sugar molecules are joined together. Because of the complexity of its bonds, these polysaccharides must be processed before it can be released as energy. Therefore, complex carbohydrates should be used when long term energy is needed, like playing sports. But some carbohydrates cannot be digested. Certain complex carbohydrates, like chitin and cellulose, have a slightly different chemical bond that cannot be broken down in the human bond. Although it goes unused, these carbs play a vital role as they become fiber that helps scrape the walls of the digestive tract giving it a helpful cleaning of unwanted waste. To help consumers judge type of what carbohydrate they should be eating, scientists have developed the “glycemic index” which is a number assigned to a food based on the speed in which they increase the glucose levels in the blood. Foods with a low glycemic index steadily release glucose; while foods with a high glycemic index cause rapid blood sugar spike. Low glycemic index foods like yogurt, broccoli, and grapefruit are good for weight …show more content…
Athletes have used the technique of pair their diet with activities for ages. One prime example is “carbo-loading” in which athletes first spend a few days on a very low carbohydrate diet to deplete the glycogen stored in their muscles followed by a two of a super high carbohydrate diet so that the glycogen stored in their blood will give them the energy needed to endure the exhausting activities on their competition day. But it is also important for non-athlete to pair their diet with exercise. If a person has an excessive about of a carbohydrate, protein, or a lipid without enough physical activity to exhaust the appropriate amount of energy need to keep the balance, then they can easily because a victim of obesity. When carbohydrates are not needed for short turn use they are stored as fat. The process is only intensified in lipid due to their high amount of carbon-hydrogen bonds and strong ability to store energy for later, also in the form of fat. So without the proper amount level of activity, many of the molecules being digested will turn into fat cells that can build up over time and lead to a multitude of health related issues. But when the activity level matches or is above the amount of food being consumed, the energy will be burned instead of stored, reducing the amount of fat cell and providing a healthier

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