Carbohydrates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Carbohydrates - Essay Example Once the body consumes carbohydrates it turns them into sugar. The processed sugar is subsequently turned into energy that is used by our body cells, tissues, and organs. The sugar that is not used by these three elements is stored either in the muscles or liver of the person. Some carbohydrates are better for the body than others. Two types of carbohydrates are simple and complex carbohydrates. The difference between these two types of carbohydrates lies in the speed of digestion. Simple carbohydrates are digested slowly by the body, while complex carbohydrates are processed quickly. In scientific terms simple carbohydrates are monosaccharide and disaccharides, while complex carbohydrates are polysaccharides. When digested carbohydrates form glucose. Once the body receives the glucose it is then transported around the body through the blood stream to be converted in the cells into energy. â€Å"The pancreas gland in your abdomen secretes the hormone insulin, which controls the uptake of glucose by your cells† (Netdoctor, 2011). The excess sugar that is not used goes to the liver, muscles, or is converted into fat. Whenever the body needs extra energy a hormone called the glucagons gets secreted by the pancreas. This procedure converts glucagons back into glucose or sugar, which is then converted once again into energy for the body. According to the British Nutrition Foundation the average female receives 47.7% of their energy from carbohydrates, while men receive 48.5% (Netdoctor, 2011). Carbohydrates are present in a lot of the food we eat. Complex and simple carbohydrates are present in different types of food consumed by humans. The most common types of food that contain carbohydrates are whole grains, vegetable, fruits, vitamins, and sugared sodas. An extended list of food items that have either simple or complex carbohydrates is illustrated in the table below: It is important for humans to control their consumption