Carbohydrates are essential energy sources though some kind when eaten often and in large quantities actually increase risk for diabetes and coronary heart disease. It also may result into increase in your body weight. The digestive system handles all carbs in much the same way. Basically it breaks them down to glucose or any other simple sugar that can be absorbed into the body. When we eat carbohydrates, its digestion starts in the mouth using saliva. Saliva has enzymes called amylase which breaks down polymers of starch. By the time starch is getting to the stomach it has been broken down to glucose.



This glucose is then absorbed into the blood stream then the blood transports it to your body cells. Body cells absorb the glucose for the use of creating energy.

Carbohydrates can be found in rice, bread, fruits, and of course, sweets such as candies, chocolates, ice cream, and cakes. Yes, the best things in this world are usually high on carbohydrates. Carbohydrates however cannot be eliminated completely because they're an important source of glucose. Glucose or blood sugar is basically one of the things that keep our bodies functioning. If the glucose level in our bodies go past the safety line, our organs will be severely affected.

Fats have picked up a pretty poor reputation because they are associated with the cause of weight gain, but there is a level of fat that is essential for our survival. Between 20 and 35 percent of our calories should come from fat. The reason why we need this much fat is for our normal development and growth, for concentrated energy, for assistance in absorbing a number of vital vitamins including vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K and carotenoids, to provide cushioning for our vital organs, to maintain the membranes of our cells, and to provide stability, taste and consistency to many of the foods that we eat.

Simple carbohydrates are made up of one or two sugar molecules linked together. Some of simple carbohydrates include glucose, fructose [fruit sugar], sucrose [table sugar] and galactose; Simple sugars are used as ingredients in candy, ice cream, cookies and other sweets. Plus they occur naturally in fruits and very small amounts are found in vegetables. Simple carbohydrates are digested quickly. Examples include fruits, sugar, milk, honey, yoghurt, molasses, and fruit juice.

Your daily diet should be a balance of carbohydrate and protein. People eating a diet high in carbohydrates are less likely to accumulate body fat compared with those who follow a low carbohydrate/high-fat diet. The reasons for this observation are threefold: It could be due to the lower energy density of high carbohydrate diets, as carbohydrates have less calories weight for weight than fats.

Complex carbohydrates are usually referred to as starchy foods. Some examples of complex carbohydrates are stone ground whole meal bread, oats, beans and legumes. Additionally, some fruits and vegetables are considered complex carbohydrates as well. These types of carbohydrates are released slowly by the body to produce energy that is long lasting and are great for people who are dieting, or participants in some sort of sporting activities such as hiking, climbing, or running.