Do you need carbs in your daily diet? You betcha! Carbs (carbohydrates) provide much of your bodies energy source. There are two kinds of carbs: simple and complex.

Simple carbs are those that have already been broken down in their simplest form - sugar. (dextrose et el.) Simple carbs can be found in soft drinks, candy and other snack foods. Since they are already broken down, simple carbs will be absorbed by your body almost immediately. Have you ever seen a young child just after consuming a candy bar and a soda? They are very often VERY hyperactive after such a snack - and it's obvious! Sometimes you will see an athlete eating or drinking a carb snack just before an event - this is because the energy supplied by the snack is quickly available - but quickly lost!

Complex carbs are found in almost everything you eat. Fruits and vegetables, nuts, cereals and grains. Complex carbs are slower to be absorbed by your body because they first need to be broken down into their simple form. This allows the nutrients in the complex carbs to be absorbed over a longer period of time and allow you to get through your day without feeling tired and drawn out.

Carbohydrates are an essential ingredient in everyones diet and should not be "played with" to harshly. A recent study has shown that people who go on low-carb diets such as the Atkins Diet, will lose weight faster, but will almost always gain it back once they begin to eat normally. They are also less able to maintain their pre-diet physical activity - or to increase it to the level they should be at. Because of the decrease of carbs in their daily diet, they are often tired, cranky and can't exercise up to expectations.

How many carbohydrates are necessary for the average person's diet? According to most experts, 60% of your daily calorie intake should come from carbs. Therefore, a person on a 2000 calorie/day diet should consume 300 grams of carbohydrates every day.