How are carbohydrates and metabolism related? The relationship between the two may help you understand the important role that carbohydrates serve in our dietary needs. Having a better understanding of the relationship between the two will help you make better decisions when dieting for weight loss and reduction of body fat. This article will help you gain the insight that you need.
Carbohydrates, whether simple or complex will begin to breakdown almost immediately when food enters your mouth. As your mouth waters anticipating the food you are about to ingest, the saliva in your mouth will begin to dissolve the simple carbs. Amylase is an enzyme found in saliva which is necessary to breakdown complex carbohydrates. The amylase will begin to break the starchy carbs into glucose. This physiologic activity immediately begins to activate your metabolism.
As your food makes its way into the small intestine it encounters a greater amount of the enzyme amylase. Now the amylase will continue to breakdown the complex carbohydrates even further. Simple carbs (i.e. simple sugars) will enter the bloodstream. Remember that simple sugars are rapidly absorbed by the body. Once in the bloodstream the body will use them for immediate energy or store the simple carbs as glycogen until it is needed. If the body has a surplus of energy then the simple carbs will be converted into fat and stored for later use.
Are you beginning to see how carbohydrates and metabolism are related? When you feed your body carbs the digestive process raises your metabolism simply by activating your digestive process.
As mentioned the body will store carbs as glycogen when the body detects extra blood sugar in your system. This is triggered by our insulin levels. So when your body’s blood sugar is elevated insulin will be released to tell the body to store the additional sugar as glycogen. If your body does not produce enough insulin (as in diabetes) then your body will not effectively be able to lower your blood sugar. This is where medication comes into play.
Glucose is the body’s preferred macronutrient to use as a fuel source. Without glucose your muscles and organs would not function properly. It is suggested that at least half of your daily calories come from carbohydrates. Your source of carbs should come from foods such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. You should avoid consuming foods such as cakes, cookies, sweets and soda. Yes, these foods contain carbs but they are simple sugars and don’t offer much nutritional value.
