RIAN FARISA

Fun Food Facts #3:
WE LOVE OUR CARBS!

In this era of gym freaks, we all know that we want to reduce our fat or carbs to get that ideal shape like the advertisers want you to be. For the latter, we often mention about it when we eat too much rice, noodles, or popcorns. But do we really know what carbs is?

Let’s find out again together here with some of facts as provided by Science Kids!

• Carbohydrates are chemical compounds that are made up of oxygen, hydrogen and carbon.

• Carbohydrates can be divided into 4 chemical groupings; monosaccharides and disaccharides (simple carbohydrates often referred to as sugars), as well as oligosaccharides and polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates).

• Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy (calories) and are a key fuel source for exercise and sport.

• Carbs are easily digested and are broken down into glucose, which the body then uses to do its various tasks. Protein and fat on the other hand, are more difficult energy sources to digest and are needed to build tissues and cells in the body.

• Carbohydrates are where most of our daily energy intake should come from, but our bodies have a limit. Too many carbs and the body will covert the extra to fat.

• Most food items we consume contain carbohydrates. All fruit and vegetables, all breads, grains and cereal products are carbohydrates as well as sugars and sugary foods.

• Some foods have more carbohydrates in them than others, pasta, bread, rice, milk,potatoes, baked goods, fruits, vegetables, cereals, and popcorn are all high in carbohydrates.

• It is possible for humans to live healthy lives while eating very low levels of carbohydrates, because our bodies can convert proteins into carbohydrates.