Carbohydrates

BY: Georgina, Jazlynn, Kai, Henry and Kate

What are Carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates are the sugars, starches and fibers found in fruits,

grains, vegetables and milk products. People
may think that carbohydrates are one of the most basic food groups, but
they are one of the most important food groups as well.
Carbohydrates are the bodies main source of energy or fuel. The reason they
are called carbohydrates is because
at chemical level they contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
Are there different
types of Carbohydrates?
Simple Carbohydrates
 Simple carbohydrates are simple sugars like
refined sugars.
 An example is like the white sugar you see in
a bowl or when you eat a lollipop.
 You can also find carbohydrates
in fruits and milk. It's also a
lot healthier to get your simple sugars from
these.
Complex Carbohydrates
 Complex carbohydrates are like
starches.
 An
example is grain products like breads,
pasta, rice and crackers.
 Some complex carbohydrates are
better than others. Refined grains such
as white flour and white rice
have been processed and have had
all the nutrients and fiber taken out.
How does carbohydrates affect your
body?
When you eat carbohydrates your body breaks them down into simple sugars,
Which are then absorbed into the bloodstream. As the sugar levels in your
body rises the pancreas releases a hormone called insulin. If you're
healthy carbohydrates are turned into glucose, which your body uses for
energy. When you eat or drink sugar sweetened things the process goes a lot
faster and you are more likely to feel hungry faster. When you eat whole-grain
food the process is slower, and you feel more satisfied and fuller.
What are the benefits & disadvantages
of carbohydrates?
Benefits
They
can reduce the chance of getting di
seases and diabetes.
It can take longer to digest
making you full for longer and gives
you prolonged energy,
increases mineral absorption and sti
mulates growth of
healthy intestinal bacteria.
Disadvantages
Food with added sugars take less
time to be digest meaning that
you will be hungry faster
and less satisfied.
Refined foods such as white bread
and white rice have less nutrients in it
such as vitamins, protein, minerals
and fiber.
What if we don’t consume enough
carbohydrates?
 In the absence of carbohydrates in the diet, your body will convert protein
(or other non-carbohydrate substances) into glucose, so it's not
just carbohydrates that can raise your blood sugar and insulin levels. If you
consume more calories than you burn from whatever source, you'll gain
weight.
 What happens if we
consume to much carbohydrates?
 Consuming to many carbs results to weight being added to the body's fat or
example if we have a big breakfast of cooked tomatoes buttery sausages and
bacon then we need to burn the energy from the breakfast so the carbs from
the breakfast doesn't get added to our current weight. Gaining too much
weight for those who are overweight can lead to other metabolic issues, heart
disease and diabetes.
Questions?