Saturday, April 11, 2009

Different forms of carbohydrates


We often have a fear for carbohydrates because of the notion that they will make us gave weight. But carbohydrates are an important source of fuel for our body, especially for an active person. I don't want to concentrate on the technical side of this crucial food group, but carbohydrates are organic compounds that provide energy for our body. What's important to know is that we should eat complex carbs, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Limit consumption of white flour and other processed baked goods.

Here's a quite stat of some useful information about carbohydrates that might come in handy in the next trivial pursuit:

- One gram of carbohydrate provides four calories of energy.
- Our maximal carbohydrate storage is approximately 15 grams per kilogram of body weight or 15 grams per 2.2 pounds.
- Simple carbohydrates are found in fruits and dairy products.
- Complext carbohydrates take longer for the body to digest and include grain, legumes, and cereal.

Don't fear carbohydrates beacuse they are essential for the functioning of our body.

What's your favorite source of carboydrates? I don't think I can live without a slice of whole grain bread. :)

2 comments:

Meg said...

Oatmeal is definitely my favorite source of carbs!

Anonymous said...

the maximum muscle glycogen storage is around 400grams only (28Kg muscle x 14g glycogen per Kg muscle). you are stating here that a 70Kg male can hold up to 1050gram of muscle glycogen which I believe is wrong.