Today is

By: Ikedi Ani-okoye.

Think about Carbohydrates

During a recent discussion with my father about low carb diets, he pointed to the butter on the table and said “is that a carbohydrate?” when I started to explain, he then pointed to the sugar and said “well, what about that?”

Unfortunately, you cannot just point to a food and label it a “carbohydrate” as each food is made up of protein, carbs and fats in varying degrees. Some foods are almost all carb, and some, like meat, eggs and fish have none. To make matters even more complicated, there are simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. For matters of nutrition, you should always pick the complex carbs which have a low glycemic index.

Carbohydrates for weight gain

Another common mistake for those trying to gain muscle size, power, and strength is eating insufficient carbohydrates. There are many trying to do a low-carbohydrate diet to gain size. As nice as that would be, it's rather difficult, if not impossible.

Granted, you can gain some size over a period of years on low carbohydrates, but many want results much quicker. Why carbohydrates are important. Carbohydrates are important if you want to build muscle mass and strength. They are the primary source of energy for activity, especially weight training.

Carbohydrates and Acne

There are low-carbohydrate and high-carbohydrate foods found in the average daily diet. Teenagers and adults who eat a high carbohydrate diet are more prone to acne and outbreaks. Teenagers and adults who eat a lower carbohydrate diet that limits the amount of refined sugars have significantly fewer acne problems and outbreaks.

High carbohydrate foods include candies, highly processed foods such as white bread, sugary cereals and fast foods. It is believed by scientists and nutritionists that the high carbohydrate foods trigger a sharp increase in insulin production that in turn triggers hormonal increases leading to oily skin and clogged pores.

CONCLUSION

Complex carbohydrates are slowly digested by the body and are found in whole grain products, vegetables and fruits, all of which contain fiber, which is associated with a feeling of fullness and good health. Carbohydrates are the body's basic form of energy and should be at the top of your daily eating plan. Eating a variety of complex carbohydrates containing an abundance of fiber every day will place you in a position for optimal health.