All human body systems need carbohydrates for energy. The minimum recommended amount is 130 g each day. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, this recommendation is based on the average amount used by the brain, a...
Sugars are a type of carbohydrate that are quickly broken down and turned into glucose. Your cells use glucose as their primary energy source. Milk sugar is known as lactose and fruit sugar is known as fructose. These naturally occurring sugars...
A balanced diet full of nutrition is key to good health and proper weight. According to Family Doctor, foods that are high in sugar are also high in calories. Sugars are also known as having "empty calories," or calories with no nutritional...
Many diabetics adopt low-carbohydrate diets to help them manage their conditions. Foods high in carbohydrates can cause a spike in blood sugar soon after eating them, so it makes sense that a low-carb, low-sugar diet can help regulate blood sugar...
Carbohydrates are an essential part of healthful eating. Most carbohydrates -- starches, pectins, gums and sugars -- are derived from plants, stems, seeds and leaves. Carbohydrates such as corn contain natural sugar, which the body converts into...
If you are diabetic, your doctor will tell you to limit your intake of simple carbohydrates. The enzyme amylase digests simple carbohydrates for immediate use by your body as energy. This process causes a rapid rise in blood sugar levels, a...
Carb counting is a type of diet usually used by people who have diabetes to help control blood glucose (sugar). The goal of carb counting is to eat a limited amount of carbohydrates at each meal because carbohydrates are broken down into glucose...
Added sugars, such as those found in bakery products, are a nutritional source that your body does not need to survive and that can be harmful when consumed in excess. When you are pregnant, sugar can pose an additional concern because it can...
Each body needs carbohydrates to keep it going. Carbohydrates give you energy, and some people need more than others. The two types of carbohydrates are simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Sugar foods are simple carbohydrate foods....
The glycemic index is a numerical rating system that indicates how much a food or beverage raises your blood glucose level. High blood sugar levels trigger your body to release insulin that can promote fat storage. If peaches are part of your diet...
Retaining water can be uncomfortable and cause a bloated, heavy feeling, which is especially noticed in the stomach area, hands or feet. There are many different causes of water retention, including foods with a high sodium content, processed...
Carbohydrates are found in all plant-based foods, including beans, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits, grains and anything made with flour. Sugar is a simple form of carbohydrate. Most foods contain some sugar or carbohydrates. Almost all packaged,...
If you are having problems losing weight, if you are feeling moody and if you constantly feel the need for caffeine, you may have a problem balancing your blood sugar. Fortunately, not all blood sugar imbalances require drug treatments. By making...
If you have problems with weight gain, examine your diet. Carbohydrates can cause weight gain and other serious conditions such as diabetes and depression. Carbohydrates are essentially a form of sugar and are present in many foods. Although...
Your body converts carbohydrates into glucose for use as energy. Simple carbohydrates, such as sugar and foods made from refined white flour, are quickly converted into glucose and will cause a dramatic increase in glucose levels. Complex...
Popsicles come in a variety of sugar-free flavors. Sugar-free Popsicles help dieters satisfy cravings for a sweet treat with just a few calories. They are sweetened with artificial sweeteners and flavoring.
Sugars, starches and dietary fibers are components of carbohydrates. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, a sugar-free food is not necessarily carbohydrate-free. Carbohydrate- and sugar-free foods provide equal to or less than .5 g of each...
Carbohydrates are an important part of a healthy diet. They are the suppliers of glucose for your body, which is the only source of energy for your red blood cells. Trendy diets often label them as fattening, but consumed in the right amounts as...
If you're watching your carbohydrate intake, sugar-free products might seem like a good option. But just because something doesn't contain sugar doesn't mean it is free of other types of carbohydrates. Understanding the difference between the...
Sorbitol is a polyol, or sugar alcohol, that is used as a low-calorie sweetener. Sugar alcohols in general contain about half the calories found in sugar and other carbohydrates; they may have less of an impact on blood sugar. However, blood sugar...
Low-fat diets are a popular way to lose weight and be healthy. However, many people trying to avoid fat often overindulge in foods high in simple carbohydrates that are high in sugar. Diets foods that are low in fat can be processed and have many...
Sugar cookies contains lots of what their name implies: sugar. While they are fine for an occasional treat, they can increase your calorie count for the day significantly if you eat them by the handful.
Monosaccharide is the term for single sugar carbohydrate units that are chemically considered the simplest form of sugar. Monosaccharides, which are found in commonly eaten foods, can form the foundation of double sugar carbohydrates, known as...
Uterine fibroids are a very common phenomenon, occurring in up to half of all women over the age of 40, reports the Feminist Women's Health Center. These growths of uterine muscle tissue, while not malignant, may cause lower back and belly pain,...
With rates of being obese or overweight at all-time highs in America--nearly 70 percent of Americans fit one of these categories, according to the CDC--diet and exercise plans are becoming more popular than ever as people try to lose weight....
Carbohydrates consist of sugar molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and are present in many types of foods. Carbohydrates can be a risky topic when it comes to diets because some diets restrict them whereas others revolve around...
Stevia is a nonnutritive -- calorie-free and sugar-free -- sweetener that is 300 times sweeter than regular table sugar. It is extracted from the leaf of a plant called Stevia rebaudiana originating in South America and is sold as dried leaves or...
Caster sugar is sugar with extremely fine grains. It's diminutive size also helps its solubility. It can be used to make different desserts, such as cake and brownies as well as alcoholic beverages, according to the Caster Sugar website.
The body is a complex machine that needs energy for fuel, just like cars or airplanes. Energy for your body comes from food in the form of calories, and the calories from different foods provide energy in different ways. The three sources of...