Dietary Importance Of Carbohydrates

Dietary carbohydrates have by convention been given an energy value of 4 kcal g 17 kj g although where carbohydrates are expressed as monosaccharides the value of 3 75 kcal g 15 7 kj g is used.

Dietary importance of carbohydrates. The importance of carbohydrates lies in its role in energy production and provision of vitamins minerals and nutrients as well as fiber. What s most important is the type of carbohydrate you choose to eat because some sources are healthier than others the amount of carbohydrate in the diet high or low is less important than the type of carbohydrate in the diet for example healthy whole grains such as whole wheat bread rye barley and quinoa are better choices than highly refined. According to the u. Although carbohydrates are the only food constituents that directly increase blood glucose the main determinant of insulin secretion population studies suggest that the total amount of carbohydrate as a percentage of dietary energy is less important than the carbohydrate type for risk of chronic disease.

If your diet is deficient in carbohydrates then fat metabolism cannot proceed normally and the result is the formation of ketones which are acidic molecules formed by partially broken down fats. Complex carbohydrates are generally better for you than simple carbohydrates due to the fact that they contain dietary fibre and more nutrients. Sweeteners like sugar honey and syrup and foods with added sugars like candy soft drinks and cookies also contain carbohydrates. It is now clear however that a number of carbohydrates are only partly or not at all digested in the small intestine and are fermented in the.

Carbohydrates are the body s main source of energy. Carbs fuel the body. Department of agriculture usda dietary guidelines for americans 2005 the best carbohydrates are those that contain a lot of fiber like vegetables fruits and whole grains. Forty years ago carbohydrates cho were regarded as a simple energy source whereas they are now recognized as important food components.

The most important fact that people always ignore is the significance of carbohydrates in our metabolism. The fruit vegetables dairy and grain food groups all contain carbohydrates. But in reality they contribute to the 40 60 of the caloric value required by our body in a day. The human diet contains a wide range of cho the vast majority of which are of plant origin.