What are the best Carbs Calories - any information on this?
(April 14, 2008)
Dietary Benefits of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates provide 4 calories per gram irrespective of the type. Carbohydrates are digested in the body and the big macro molecules are converted to glucose up on digestion. Insulin is released from the pancreas which helps the entry f glucose in every cell, to provide energy. Glucose is a preferred source of energy to all the cells and vital organs in the body like brain and heart. Carbohydrates can be of two types simple and complex.
The best form to choose from both for energy is complex carbohydrates. Although both simple and complex carbohydrates provides equal energy that is 4 calories per gram the latter also provides different nutrients and fiber to the diet, most of which are removed in the process of refining and polishing. Simple carbohydrates would help provide instant energy but will also cause insulin and glucose spike in the blood as they gets easily digested up on consumption. On the other hand complex carbohydrates take time to get digested in the body and releases glucose slowly in the blood. This in turn releases insulin slowly in the blood and does not cause any glucose or insulin spike. Besides fiber a component of complex carbohydrate is not digested in the body and provides different functions like lowers the blood cholesterol levels, helps in heart disease, diabetes and obesity.
