Carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet. Carbohydrates provide fuel and energy for the body, the same way gasoline provides fuel for a car. If the body does not have an adequate amount of carbohydrates, it may cause a person to feel tired and weak. Eating a breakfast with carbohydrates will help provide the body with energy all day long. People who skip the carbohydrates for breakfast may find themselves sluggish and tired by mid-day. Carbohydrates come in a variety of foods-bread, milk, beans, cereal, pasta, potatoes, rice and cakes. Carbohydrates also come in several different forms including fiber, sugar and starches.
Although carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet, it is also believed that an excess amount of carbohydrates can increase blood cholesterol. A prolonged increase in blood cholesterol can lead to heart disease and diabetes. That leaves one unanswered question, how can a nutrient that provides our body with energy also elevate blood cholesterol?
Carbohydrates are processed by the body and changed to blood glucose. The blood glucose is absorbed into the blood stream and then used for energy, especially in the brain and nervous system. If there is extra blood glucose that is not used for energy, the body converts the glucose into triglycerides. The triglycerides (also known as fat) are then stored in the fatty tissues for a rainy day. Stored triglycerides are what causes weight gain and can increase cholesterol. Individuals with high triglycerides often have a high level of LDL (bad) and lower levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. Individuals with high levels of triglycerides are at risk for high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease.
The bottom line is carbohydrates aren’t all good or all bad. Some carbohydrates promote health while others increase the risk for high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease. Here are a few suggestions on how to add appropriate nutrient dense carbohydrates to the daily diet. Whole wheat bread, grains, brown rice, beans and whole wheat pasta are carbohydrates that also have vitamins and minerals. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables will also add nutrient dense carbohydrates to the diet. Foods such as white flour, white potatoes, cookies, cakes and sugars are carbohydrates that offer very little nutrition and should be avoided. Most experts agree that carbs are a part of a healthy diet.
For more information about carbohydrates and nutrition read the articles : The Truth about Carbs, Low Carb Diets Can Be Unhealthy and Types of Carbs and Nutrition.
