THE HOUSE OF CARBS - DIETING, CARBOHYDRATES & FOOD

Diet Article: Information relating to carbohydrates in the daily diet.

The American Food Pyramid recommends consuming more foods from the Grain Group than any other Food Group. And foods that reside in this group tend to be hefty in carbohydrate gram content.

Carbohydrates, along with dietary fat, are the primary energy sources of the body. When these two guys team with protein they supply essential nutrients for growth as well as to perform the vital functions of the body.

Simple Carbohydrate Foods, Fat Overload Equals Weight Gain

Americans are pretty stellar when it comes to fat in their daily diets; while dietary guidelines recommend that we limit fat consumption to 30% or less - and this is based on the standard 2,000 calorie daily diet (and many individuals require far less calories to support their healthy recommended weight), the majority of Americans consume close to 50% of fat for energy needs.

Many of the food sources for dietary fat come from the simple carbohydrate foods such as pastries, cookies, gooey candies, doughnuts, pies, cakes - all of which are not only rich in fat content, but rich in the most unhealthy types of fat - saturated and Trans fats.

When too many of the bad fats make-up the daily diet, it's very easy to consume too many calories and experience weight gain. In addition, the poorer sources of dietary fat can contribute in a significant way to clogged arteries which leads to heart disease, high cholesterol readings and blood pressure issues. A diet rich in saturated and Trans fats can also trigger certain forms of cancer as well as diabetes.

Keep in mind that these simple carbohydrates not only contribute to complex health issues, they are mined with caloric values along with the fat content. The more fat contained within a food, the more caloric values that it's going to contain. And when it comes to weight gain, it requires a lot of work just to lose one pound.

For example, let's view how many calories are burned per hour - the amount of energy expended for an individual who is about 140 pounds for one hour of activity. This data does not include the calories used by the body to perform its vital functions, only the energy values expended amid activity. And keep in mind that several elements influence the caloric burn - from height to age to muscle mass to gender. graphic purchased for commercial use at Diet Bites

Sitting Quietly: 10 calories
Walking: 180 for a normal pace and about 300 for a brisk pace
Running: 500 or more calories
Sawing Wood: about 400
Playing Tennis: About 250

Structure of Carbohydrates

The structure of carbohydrates are based on saccharides and the types of carbohydrates contained in food fall into three central groups:

- sugars
- starches
- cellulose

The starch and sugar groups are used for energy purposes by the body. Cellulose cannot be digested by the human body, so this group is tied to dietary fiber.

Energy Requirements

About one-half the energy from foods in your daily diet should be derived from carbohydrates, and more than one-half of these food choices should be in the form of whole grain foods.

These are the good carbs - or the complex carbs. Examples of foods containing complex carbohydrates are: beans, dried peas, lentils, certain vegetables and fruits, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, rice, wild rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and whole grain breads.

Keep your daily diet simple and based on complex carb choices; eliminate the fussy dressings, sauces, and other spreads that can end up spreading out our hips, thighs and abdomen. A simple weight loss plan is based upon the Food Groups with the foods remaining as close and true to their natural state as possible.

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