Carbs

CARBOHYDRATES supply energy to the body in the form of sugars and starches. They produce energy, heat and assist in the absorption of fat soluble vitamins and calcium. Protein, fat and carbohydrate combine to form calories which supply heat and energy. Carbohydrates come in two basic forms:

Simple carbs are one, two, or at most three units of sugar linked together in single molecules. Simple sugars are easily identified by their sweet taste. Found in cookies and sweets, as well as fruits, the body digests them extremely easily and quickly.

Complex carbs are hundreds or thousands of sugar units linked together in single molecules. Complex carbs, such as potatoes, are pleasant to the taste buds, but not sweet. Derived from starch, they are found in foods such as bread, noodles, rice and some vegetables, and are harder to digest.

Whether a carbohydrate is simple or complex, after digestion, it appears in the circulatory system in the simple form, as glucose, on its way to the cells where it is used for energy. To be transformed into simple sugars, complex carbs must be digested by the enzyme amylase.