Carbohydrates should be part of a daily diet, but there are two types of carbohydrates. Some are beneficial to the body, while others are easily stored as fat.
Significance
Carbohydrates are present in foods that contain starches and sugars, like bread, potatoes and rice.
Types
Refined carbohydrates turn into sugar when it is digested in the body, which will eventually be stored as fat. Complex carbohydrates fuel the body, providing more sustenance than refined carbohydrates.
Size
According to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, half of the average person's calories per day should be derived from carbohydrates, preferably complex carbohydrates.
Benefits
Complex carbohydrates, including oatmeal, bran, whole-wheat bread, buckwheat pasta and brown rice, provide long-lasting energy for the body because the carbohydrates cannot be broken down as easily.
Misconceptions
Some dieters avoid carbohydrates completely. Carbohydrates are necessary for human life, although eating only good carbohydrates is recommended.
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