Self Improvement 24 Pack Personal Use Ebook

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When it comes to weight loss we always hear about carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are always thought of as a major enemy to being overweight. What are carbohydrates actually? Carbohydrates are the body's main source of energy that comes from plant based food groups. Carbohydrates are used two ways in the body. Your body uses them right away for energy or they are stored by the body by converting them into fat to be used later at a later time.

There are three types of Carbohydrates; sugar, starch and fiber. All carbohydrates no matter how large or small are made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Lets take a look a sugar first.

Simple sugars are the tiniest units of sugar. It is simple sugar that the body uses for energy. The simple sugars are called Glucose or Monosaccharides/One Sugars. Glucose is the primary energy source in the body. This type of sugar comes when carbohydrates are digested and converted to a chemical that we can use for energy. Our bodies digestive system breaks down the sugar and starch into glucose using bile and enzymes. This form of energy gets absorbed through the small intestine into the bloodstream. There the hormone known as insulin which is excreted by the pancreas meets the glucose. Together they can enter the cells in the muscles and brains which serves as an energy source. It is because of glucose that we can lift a phone book or remember a name. This category includes Galactose, Fructose and Ribose. Galactose is found in milk, Fructose in fruits and vegetables and Ribose is the component in Ribonucleic Acid which is used for genetic transportation to cells in our body.

Now simple sugars can join to form combinations called Disaccharides or Two Sugars. This sugar category includes: Lactose, Sucrose, and Maltose. Lactose is also called milk sugar. It is a combination of glucose and galactose molecules. It is this sugar that some people don't digest properly thus resulting in a condition called Lactose Intolerance. Table Sugar or Sucrose is made up of Glucose and Fructose molecules. It is this combination we know as white sugar and use it in cooking and eating. Maltose which is malt sugar, is produced by a malting process of cereal or grains such as barley.

Simple sugars are easy to digest and are water soluble as is also Sucrose known as white table sugar. These types of sugars are easily absorbed thru the bloodstream via the small intestines.

This is where we come to complex carbohydrates. These are long chain combinations of simple sugars. The carbohydrates we refer to as starches are made up of complex carbohydrates (Polysaccharides). Complex carbohydrates include starch, glycogen and cellulose.

Starch is the energy form that is stored in plants, especially in the seeds and roots. Starch is comprised of many glucose molecules chained together. Starch is not water soluble and requires digestive enzymes called Amylases to break them apart. Some examples of starchy foods are rice, wheat, corn, carrots and potatoes.

Glycogen is the energy stored in animal muscle and liver. Although meat has no carbohydrates in it, glycogen affects the meats PH due to the amount in the animal at the time of its slaughter.

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