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The Importance of Carbohydrates to Our Health

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Too much or too little of anything can be harmful to our bodies, so the idea of a no carb diet can actually hurt more than it can help. Our bodies use carbs to make glucose, which in turn gives us the energy that keeps our bodies running. We use this energy for our cells, tissues, and organs. There are two ways that our bodies use glucose. It can either be used immediately, or they can store it in our liver or muscles for a time when we need it. Our bodies break carbs down into simple sugars that get absorbed into the blood stream. As sugar levels in our bodies rise, the pancreas will release a hormone called insulin, which is needed to move sugar from the blood into the cells. When this process goes fast, you will feel hungry sooner, but when it goes slow, as with whole-grain food, you will stay full longer, and will provide energy for a longer period of time. Carbohydrates can be found in fruits, vegetables, breads, wheat, milk and milk products, and foods that contain added sugars. Healthier foods that are higher in carbohydrates are ones that provide dietary fiber and whole grains and those that don’t have added sugars. Soda and candy however, contain added sugars, so they add extra calories, they just don’t add many nutrients to your diet. There are two types of carbohydrates, complex and simple. Complex carbohydrates are made up of starch and dietary fiber. Starch has to be broken down through digestion before our bodies can use it as an energy source.

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