Carbohydrates - Properties And Importance

Author: Mark Velov Time for reading: ~2 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

In this article, learn more about Carbohydrates - Properties And Importance. How do carbohydrates affect metabolism and blood sugar?.

Carbohydrates are the most abundant organic compounds in living organisms. They contain mainly carbon, hydrogen and oxygen - they provide energy to the body. They are divided into two main types - complex / unrefined and simple / refined.

Complex carbohydrates consist of sugar molecules linked in long chains. Such are cellulose, starch, sugar. Cellulose is a carbohydrate whose chain is so chemically linked that it is impossible for human digestive enzymes to break it down. Starch and sugar break down, but slowly, releasing energy , vitamins , minerals and fiber over a longer period of time .

Simple carbohydrates are pure energy sources made up of two or more sugar chains. They have a low nutritional value for the body, but release faster and more energy when consumed by complex carbohydrates.

A healthy diet should include 40% to 60% carbohydrates, 2/3 of which are recommended to be complex . Eating more simple carbohydrates and sugars dramatically increases fat accumulation. The best and balanced sources of carbohydrates are fresh fruits and vegetables , nuts and whole grains .

Sugar and starch are rich sources of energy and because all saccharides are converted to glucose, they play a key role in the balance of blood sugar. A common mistake with new diets is to limit carbohydrates as much as possible - this leaves the body more exhausted, hungrier and with a disturbed blood sugar balance.

Carbohydrates are the preferred source of energy , but if they are not sufficiently available, the body begins to break down muscles . In addition to weakening the strength of the limbs, this process releases compounds in the body called ketones , which damage brain function.

Dietary fiber, a particularly popular part of healthy eating, is mainly hemicelluloses, pectin, cellulose and other carbohydrates. They are important for good digestion and prevent constipation. They provide the slow and gradual release of glucose in the blood and suppress appetite .

Systemic carbohydrate deficiency causes hypoglycemia, confusion, tremors, fever, exhaustion, muscle loss, muscle atrophy, and delirium. Ketonemia is also a derivative of it.

Ketonemia occurs with prolonged deprivation of carbohydrates, such as fasting or starvation for a better figure. At some point, the body begins to break down fatty acids and deaminate amino acids in search of energy, which leads to the accumulation of acetone, acetic acid and betaoxybutyric acid in the tissues of the liver and kidneys. The condition is directly related to Alzheimer's disease and some cancers.

Carbohydrates - Properties And Importance

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