Carbohydrates are essential for the body’s energy, but they can contribute to weight gain if consumed in excess. Complex carbohydrates, found in foods such as potatoes and rice, are recommended over simple carbohydrates like sugar. Fruits and milk are important sources of simple carbohydrates due to their nutrient content.
When a person hears the phrase high in carbohydrates, this usually means that a type of food is high in carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are found in plant-based foods and provide the necessary energy for the body. In fact, they represent the main source of energy that a person’s body converts from food sources. However, people often associate carbohydrates with unwanted weight gain or difficulty losing extra pounds. As such, many people try to avoid foods high in carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates are found in everything from vegetables and potatoes to breads and rice; they are also found in consumables such as soft drinks and candy. While carbohydrates are essential to the human body, they often get a bad rap because of what can happen when a person eats too many. Although the body uses carbohydrates for energy, some people eat too many. Some of what the body doesn’t use contributes to stored fat. This, however, is true of any food that contains calories, not just those that are high in carbohydrates.
Some people may have the wrong idea when it comes to avoiding carbohydrate-rich foods, as many experts agree that the majority of a person’s food intake should come in the form of carbohydrates. They often recommend eating complex carbohydrates, such as bran, oats, potatoes, rice, and root vegetables. These carbohydrates take longer to pass through the body than simple carbohydrates, such as honey, fruit, milk, and refined sugar. As such, eating foods high in complex carbohydrates allows a person to stay full longer and possibly eat fewer calories. By contrast, simple carbohydrates, such as sugar, are digested and used by the body very quickly, often leaving a person craving more food and more likely to overeat.
It’s important to note that people need carbohydrates for more than just feeling energetic. Carbohydrates contain glucose, which is critical for the brain, central nervous system, liver, and even muscles. Since people cannot get glucose from protein or fat, carbohydrate consumption is vital. Rather than avoiding foods that are high in carbohydrates, people may do better to avoid those that are high in calories and limit their intake of simple carbohydrates. However, when it comes to fruits and milk, they are important because of the other nutrients they contain; getting simple carbohydrates from these sources is much better than getting them from sodas, candy bars, cookies, and cakes.
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