What Do Carbohydrates Do - Will it Make Me Fat?
Carbohydrates are your body's primary source of energy. Carbs are one of your body's best friends. Your system needs the complex carbs to sustain itself properly and your body needs to break down the carbs in order to transform them into glucose to fuel the cells in your body.
If you deprive your body of carbohydrates it will break down muscle and other tissue to produce glucose. This process is known as ketosis and in extreme cases it can be fatal for people who have diabetes or pregnant women. So it is unhealthy not to eat the right amount of carbs on a daily basis.
1. Not All Carbohydrates Are Created Equal - Carbohydrates are divided into simple and complex carbs. The biggest difference between these two types of carbs is the time it takes your body to digest them. Simple carbohydrates are digested quickly, whereas complex carbohydrates take longer to be digested. Simple carbs are mostly processed and therefore digested rapidly causing it to quickly turns into fat cells. Since complex carbs are digested at a much slower rate it helps to naturally boost your body's metabolism. Whenever your metabolism is running at peak efficiency, you have more sustainable energy that also processes and burns calories faster.
2. Count Calories To Lose Weight - Both complex and simple carbs supply glucose to fuel your body. The fuel can either be used immediately in order for your body can function properly, or if your cells don't require any more glycogen, it can be converted into fat. This is where the idea started that you should reduce your carb intake to lose weight. However, studies have shown that weight gain is a gradual process of regularly eating more calories than what the body requires. A pound of fat is equal to 3500 calories. It won't make a difference if these calories consist of carbs, proteins or fat. If you eat 3500 calories extra, you will have gained one pound of body fat.
The opposite is also true, if you want to lose a pound of fat, you will have to reduce your calorie intake by 3500 calories.
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Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Added: September 19, 2008
Going with the grain - Washington Times
Washington Times Going with the grain Washington Times, DC - For people wondering whatever happened to claims that carbs make them fat, Ms. Kagan says it was never the carbs in and of themselves that helped expand the ...