Carbohydrates and Fats Are Important to a Healthy Diet

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Recommended: Importance of carbohydrates in our diet

It’s important for our bodies to receive and use certain nutrients. Among these nutrients are carbohydrates and fats .These two, carbon based, organic compounds are greatly utilized by our bodies and essential for overall health. In digestion our body performs a constant balancing act in an attempt to distribute these nutrients as needed throughout the body. Our bodies rely heavily on carbohydrates and fats for energy. Given that, it’s important to supply your body with the right amount of calories from these. Consumption of too many or too little overall calories, however, can be dangerous.” Both of these macro-nutrients are often misunderstood and avoided by dieters, when they don’t necessarily cause weight gain by themselves. Weight gain is often caused by eating too much of the wrong ones.”(DoctorOz.com, 2013) In avoiding or minimizing carbohydrates and fats excessively harm can be done.
What are Carbohydrates? Carbohydrate is Latin for hydrated (watered) carbon and is mostly found in plant based foods. Carbohydrates such as glucose are made through photosynthesis. In this process, plants containing chlorophyll use energy from the sun, to take in carbon dioxide and water through their roots. These plants release oxygen into the air while the remaining carbon and water stays in the plant as carbohydrates. Most carbohydrates are made up of some ratio of C6H12O6, (6 carbons and 6 waters). Carbohydrates can be broken up into two groups, simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates (mono- & disaccharides) consist of one or two sugars, while complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides) consist of more.
What are Fats? Fats are a type of lipid that dissolves in alcohol and other organic solvents but doesn’t dissolve in water. (Fat Basics,...

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...olesterol?: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hbc/
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Sizer, F. (2004). Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies. Thomson Wadsworth.
Staff, M. C. (2012, June 19). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from Healthy Lifestyle: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/weight-loss/in-depth/calories/art-20048065
Studios, A. R. (2014). Chem4kids. Retrieved from http://www.chem4kids.com/files/bio_lipids.html
Timothy C Crowe, P. i. (2004). Atkinsexposed.org. Retrieved from Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition: http://www.atkinsexposed.org/atkins/133/low_carb_diets:_potential_short_and_long-term_health_implications.htm

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