Why Eat Carbohydrates?


Eating a balanced meal helps to keep our bodies blood sugar level balanced. It is important to keep our meals and snacks well balanced with carbohydrate and protein enriched foods together in the same meal. When a meal only has carbohydrates it usually results in you becoming hungry sooner. Your glucose levels shoot up and then crash down afterwards. This can make you feel hungry, tired, and weak to name a few.

There are two types of Carbohydrates complex and simple. Complex consists of starchy foods like noodles, rice, bread, bagels and other grain products, legumes (beans, lentils, peas), and some vegetables such as corn and potatoes. Simple carbohydrates are found in fruits (fructose), most vegetables, milk (lactose), table sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, molasses and honey. Complex carbohydrates digest more slowly than simple carbohydrates making them our body?s most efficient energy source available.

Carbohydrates are converted to glucose to provide energy and Protein's primary role is to build and repair tissues, hormones, and enzymes. Protein also helps to sustain the energy provided by the carbohydrates.

So by eating meals with both protein and carbohydrate together you will not only stay full longer but glucose levels will stay more consistent and you will feel energized for a longer period of time. This is why I believe that all your meals should include a good balance of protein and complex carbohydrates.

It is important to understand how protein and carbohydrates interact with each other. Each food nutrient is broken down at different times. Carbohydrates are digested in about two hours. Proteins take longer to digest and when the two are combined or eaten together, protein slows down digestion of carbohydrates and energy from carbohydrates is released more slowly. Protein actually slows down the release of glucose from carbohydrates into the bloodstream. This keeps your body well balanced and prolongs your hunger.
 

The Basic Nutrition Chart
 

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