Well in this series i have decided to demystify the facts and falacies of nutrition in the simplest possible way. I believe it is good for people to know what they eat as it is critical for them to monitor their diets and of course to ward off that ''guilty'' feeling when one has a good meal! I hate dieticians! Well.. hate is too strong a word a word so i must say, i like them just a little...!
Back to business, i take this opportunity to present modern diet's enemy number 1...
Carbohydrates.
This terrible food substance was invented by God to give us the much needed energy for our daily functions. It was banished by latter day dieticians because of its fattening potential. I know a few miserable individuals on a high protein diets with much less than enough energy reserves to help an ant drag its leaf across the room.
This macro nutrient, (large volume nutrient) is composed mainly of carbon an water, hence the name, carbo from carbon, hydrate from hydration. It is classified in three groups, which are:
Monosaccharides
These are simple sugar carbs in probably the most basic form. These are examplified by glucose, fructose, galactose among other less important ones....
Glucose is probably the most critical one of these. It is the only form of sugar that is found in the blood and hence it is known as blood sugar to most people. When you hear people talking about blood sugar levels, that's the guy they use as reference.
It used directly by the body cells as a source of energy of which excess of it gets converted to fat... which is the source of the modern day obesity problems.
Fructose is a fruit sugar, which my non-rocket science tells me that probably that's where its name was derived from, fruit! When ingested, it is converted into glucose by a magical organ called the liver. We will take closer look at it this marvelous organ much later.
Galactose is milk sugar, found in mammary glands, and yes i mean boobies of mammals... animal
breasts...blonds included.....
Babies, for a while after birth dig this sugar. I guess it tastes better than just sucking a thumb in the womb!
Oligosaccharides.
The most common of these culprits is sucrose... blond name? Table sugar! These are not so simple sugars made up of a few monosaccharides. Sucrose is a combination of glucose and fructose.
Lactose the major component of milk is glucose combining with galactose.
In our beloved beers we usual talk of malt. This is derived from the sugar maltose found in cereals, the hops, the corns etc. Maltose is product glucose and glucose. Two glucoses!
Polysaccharides.
These are complicated long chains of sugars. There are in two forms, plant polysacchs (sounds cool hey) and animal polysacchs
There are two important plant polysacchs which are Starch and Cellulose. And i must say starch is probably the most known...celebrity...
Starch is made up of chains of glucose units. It is the food store for plants and is obtained almost all our plant food sources, that is maize, wheat, beans, potatoes etc; and of course, KFC, Nandos...(u will be surprised how many people consider these as sources of food!) Hello Julius... Revolutionary food sources...
It is our most essential source of dietary of carbs and in its most purest form, without all the refining thing, its extra healthy. This is what nutritionist commonly refer to as complex carbs!
The other (less important) plant polysacc is cellulose. We cant digest this thing! useless! Its forms the structural skeleton of plants and is what has become known as fiber! It is critical in aiding digestion but totally no nutritional value, except in grazers and browsers. (We developed the ability to digest that back in Zim when Bob was starving us...! Ask a Zimbabwean about maputi)
The animal polysacc is glycogen. It is found in muscles and liver and its main function is to store carbs on high alert in case the body needs them and the blood does not have enough glucose. It is converted to glucose when the need arises and vice versa glucose is converted to glycogen for storage when not needed through the control of some frisky hormones called insulin and glucagon. We shall talk about these chaps later on. Approximately 375g-475g of glycogen is stored in our bodies thus next time you visit the scales, consider this fact!
Simpletons like you and me need to eat in our daily food diets 40 to 50% of our total food in the form of carbs. Otherwise you are doomed to a miserable bundle of depressed weak energyless bones! Athletes and other fit people need at least 60%
And why are the Carbs so important....
The main critical role that you shall always put in mind is that the human engine was designed to be fueled by carbs! YOU WILL NEVER FUNCTION WITHOUT THESE!
Carbs are the primary source of fuel for the brain! WITHOUT THEM YOU ARE DORM. But im not suggesting that its the case with blondes, their low carbs diets super bodies...
Carbs helps the body conserve protein and therefore channel them to their more appropriate role of building the body and taking care of other essential functions. With little carbs, the body uses protein as an energy source and creates a lot of havoc as other systems are strained!
Carbs are primers for lipid metabolism. With little carbs, lipid metabolism is incomplete, leading to production of chemicals that make the body acidic, creating lots of havoc!
Thats go out thre and indulge on those carbs! Thats how it was meant to be...and make sure your gym membership is up to date...too! Coz god designed us to eat carbs and move! No slothing!
Next time we will be looking at proteins and fats. Enjoy...
P.S. If you disagree with my views, please, dont touch me on my studio, eeh...i mean my
blog!
Suggestions and comments are very welcome!
Salute!
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