Carbs, the simple and the complex - 11th November, 2021

Carbohydrates are bio-molecules containing Carbon(C), Hydrogen(H), and Oxygen (O).

In biochemistry, carbohydrates are synonymous with saccharides- a group of sugars, cellulose, and starch.

These saccharides are then divided into four groups: monosaccharides, Disaccharides, Oligosaccharides, and Polysaccharides.

These are the concepts we talk about when we speak of carbohydrates in nutrition.

Carbohydrates are then classified into two more subgroups Simple and Complex. Sugars (Monosaccharides and Disaccharides) are simple carbohydrates, and Glycogen, Starch, etc. (Polysaccharides) and Human Milk (oligosaccharides) are known as complex Carbohydrates.

We need these carbohydrates for a healthy gut, to maintain insulin levels, and give energy to our body.

Our body converts these sugars (simple carbs) obtained from eating food into glycogen (Complex Carbs) and our bodies use this as their energy source.

Carbohydrates ensure our survival but overeating them and even eating them from sources considered not nutritious causes problems to our fitness goals.

When we consume carbs, it is essential to know that fruits, vegetables, beans, cereals, eggs, dairy, etc., all contain carbs necessary for our well-being.

But just like a cup of water overflows when you put in tons of impurities, so does our body overflow when we eat carbs that are modified and filled with contaminants.

Carbs are very complex, much more than protein and fibre; it is our responsibility as athletes to determine our own dietary needs, and carbs are a sacred part of those needs!