Nutrients, What Is It? Carbohydrates

Each of us enjoys food because of the taste, aroma and pleasure that eating delicious food gives us. But we hardly ask ourselves every day, "What does our food contain?" Our food is a combination of many and varied chemical substances. Some of them are useful for the functioning of organs and systems, others are vital for growth and development. These chemicals are known as nutrients. There are six main groups of nutrients contained in food:

- Carbohydrates
- Lipids (including fats and oils)
- Proteins
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Water

Recently, the term "organic" or "organic" has been used very often. Organic is food that is grown without or with minimal chemicals. But when nutritionists describe nutrients in food as organic, they mean that they contain carbon in their structure, which is a key element in living organisms.

Carbohydrates, fats and proteins are organic compounds, and minerals and water are inorganic. Both organic and inorganic nutrients are equally important for the existence of life.

Organic nutrients - carbohydrates, fats and proteins (proteins) are those that supply energy to the body. They are broken down by releasing energy that is necessary for the normal functioning of the body.

So drinking a multivitamin alone will not energize you for a morning run, but it will improve your metabolism and help break down other nutrients that give you energy. Organic nutrients are also called macronutrients. They are needed by our body in large quantities to ensure the normal course of cellular processes.

Alcohol is also a source of energy, but it is not a nutrient. This is because it is not necessary for the vital functions in the body. In fact, it was decided to treat alcohol as a drug and a poison at the same time.

Carbohydrates . They are the first source of energy for the body. As their name suggests, they consist of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. They are synthesized in plants in the process of photosynthesis. They are found in many different foods: rice, wheat, and other cereals, as well as in fruits and vegetables. Carbohydrates are also found in legumes - beans, lentils, peas, seeds, nuts, milk and dairy products. Fiber is also classified as a type of carbohydrate.

Carbohydrates are classified as simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates are also known as sugars - monosaccharides or disaccharides. Glucose, fructose and galactose are the monosaccharides that are most common in our menu.

Glucose is a preferred source of energy for the brain and the whole body, as it is easily degradable and releases energy quickly. Fructose or the so-called fruit sugar has a high sweetness. It is used as a substitute for sugar in many foods and beverages.

Lactose, maltose and sucrose are the disaccharides that are most prevalent in our diet. Lactose (milk sugar) is found in large quantities in human milk, which makes it sweet. Sucrose is one of the sweetest simple sugars. It is due to the sweet taste of honey, maple syrup, fruits and vegetables. Sugar as we know it is formed by refining sucrose in sugar beet and sugar cane.

Is it better to eat honey instead of refined sugar? Actually not. Both honey and refined sugar contain sucrose. Even 1 tablespoon of honey contains more calories (energy) than a tablespoon of sugar. An important fact about honey is that it contains certain types of bacteria that can cause intoxication in young children. Enzyme systems in adults and older children are sufficiently developed to handle the processing of honey, but children under 1 year of age should not be offered, honey.

Complex sugars, or polysaccharides, are long chains of linked glucose molecules. Fiber is actually a polysaccharide. The bonds in their molecules are extremely strong, our body cannot destroy them. Therefore, most fibers pass through the digestive system without being processed or assimilated, ie. they do not provide energy to our body. However, they have a number of benefits for our body.

We do not absorb fiber, but they are an important part of our diet. The benefits of fiber are many:

- Regular consumption of fiber reduces the risk of hemorrhoids, constipation and other intestinal problems, maintaining intestinal contents with a favorable consistency. Fiber stimulates the intestinal muscles and helps to empty them.
- They reduce the risk of diverticula (enlarged areas of the intestinal wall where food debris can be retained). They occur as a result of prolonged constipation and difficulty emptying the colon.
- May reduce the risk of heart disease. They suppress the absorption of cholesterol from food. And increase the levels of good cholesterol.
- Very often fiber is part of diets for weight loss. Foods rich in fiber are low in calories, but create a feeling of satiety. People who are on a high-fiber diet tend not to eat fatty foods and those high in sugar.
- May reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Fiber slows the release of glucose into the blood. This improves the regulation of insulin production and blood sugar levels.