Carbohydrates are the smallest units of energy that we can metabolise in our body. Carbohydrates are used primarily in the manufacture of energy. In fact the brain can ONLY function on carbohydrate fuels. The brain itself fails if it has to rely on other fuels such as dietary fat. HOWEVER… too many carbohydrates consumed also creates havoc. Let’s explore the utilisation of carbohydrate in the body.

As soon as you eat food you begin the process of digestion and absorption whereby nutrients enter the blood stream. Typically the most abundant macronutrient absorbed in the early stages of digestion is carbohydrate. This process sets off a cascade of events. Initially insulin is secreted in response to the carbohydrate/sugar rise in your blood stream so that your muscles can access the carbohydrate fuel. In some cases this does not occur very efficiently and this is known as insulin resistance. The point is that your muscles must be able to use the carbohydrate as a fuel source. Finally in the absence of normal metabolism of carbohydrate fuel and it is not ‘burned’ within a short period of time or at least allocated for your use later for exercise, it will be used in storage as adipose tissue- FAT!

There are many confusing issues surrounding carbohydrates and in many circles you’ll here discussion about ‘Low Glycaemic Index’, ‘High Glycaemic Index’, Simple and Complex Carbohydrates etc. However to simplify it further an understanding of Good Choice and Poor Choice Carbohydrates is all you need to obtain optimal glucose/sugar/carbohydrate control. The most important thing to remember is that fruit and veggies are carbohydrates too…

Good Choice Carbs:

• Veggies