Carbohydrates are necessary for energy and they come basically in two forms: simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. They are found in natural food sources as well as in processed (or refined) foods. Carbohydrate supplements are also available and are mainly used by bodybuilders.
Both simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates can be healthy for you, but when it comes to choosing carbohydrates, unrefined and whole grains are the better choice. The process of refining food tends to be very unhealthy and therefore provides less nutritional benefit than the intake of unrefined foods.
Although it is easy to get carbohydrates through nutrition from a multitude of sources, some people choose to supplement their diet with carbohydrate powder. Carbohydrate supplements are mostly used by bodybuilders to increase energy and to increase insulin.
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Simple Carbohydrates Explained Simple carbohydrates are basically simple sugars and they are easy for your body to process. They are found naturally in fresh fruit, such as apples, bananas, berries, grapefruit, and pears. These fruits provide a great health benefit to everyone, but they al... more
Simple carbohydrates are basically simple sugars and they are easy for your body to process. They are found naturally in fresh fruit, such as apples, bananas, berries, grapefruit, and pears. These fruits provide a great health benefit to everyone, but they also provide an added bonus to anyone who is trying to lose weight. As a simple carbohydrate, you get a quick energy pick me up but without the cost of a lot of calories.
Refined foods, or processed foods, are also simple carbohydrates. However, these are not beneficial for weight loss. Rather, they can be a danger, especially if you need to regulate your blood glucose levels.
Processed foods that come in the form of simple carbohydrates are found in sweet things such as cakes and candy. However, they are also found in pastas and white breads. While these simple carbohydrates can be beneficial for energy and sustenance, they are not as advantageous for body building, weight loss, or general health as complex carbohydrates.
Complex carbohydrates are unlike simple carbohydrates in that they take longer for your body to process. They are found naturally in vegetables and also in foods that are rich in whole grains. When they enter your body, your liver goes to work breaking them down into simple carbohydrates and insulin.
Since complex carbohydrates take longer to process these types of foods are more satisfying. They fill you up for longer periods of times so they are a better choice for people who are trying to lose weight, maintain weight, or build muscle. Complex carbohydrates also help you maintain consistent energy levels for longer periods of time.
Many foods are made with whole grains that can be easily consumed instead of their simple carbohydrate partners. Multi-grain pastas, multi-grain breads, and brown rice are some viable options. By eating foods that have not been refined you gain additional vitamins and minerals as well.
Another reason to eat complex carbohydrates instead of simple carbohydrates is because of the dangers associated with the refining process. In order to refine certain foods and prolong their shelf life, they are stripped of valuable nutrients. Furthermore, these items are frequently bleached, also with the purpose of extending their shelf life, which is very toxic to the human body.
While it is easy enough to consume carbohydrates during the day, simple carbohydrates are not enough to sustain a body builder during a workout . Therefore, you may choose to use a complex carbohydrate supplement prior to working out. However, the best way to consume carbohydrates before a workout is to eat whole grains about an hour prior to your workout.
Simple carbohydrate supplements are powerful after a workout because of the boost of insulin it gives you. Simple carbohydrates go straight to work helping to repair muscle damage where complex carbohydrates would take too long. A banana or other piece of fruit is a great simple carbohydrate to consume after your workout.
If a bodybuilder uses carbohydrate supplements, it is important to recognize the difference between blend carb supplements and pure carb supplements. Blend carbohydrate supplements are frequently used by bodybuilders pre-workout because they contain a blend of fats and proteins along with carbohydrates. Pure carbohydrate supplements are best used after a bodybuilding workout as a simple carbohydrate insulin boost.
Carbohydrate supplements come as a powder and can be easily added to protein shakes or other drinks. You can also easily control how much carbohydrate supplement to take. You should get about 50% to 70% of your energy from carbohydrates, and only 10% of those should come from simple carbohydrates.
Since carbohydrates are the essence of energy for the body, they need to be consumed throughout the day. Simple carbohydrates such as fruit and complex carbohydrates such as vegetables and whole grains make a balanced choice of food sources. Carbohydrate supplements are also available for those who need them.
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