CARBOHYDRATES

Chapter 4

      CARBOHYDRATES

In the last chapter you have come across the word ‘carbohydrates’. What are these carbohydrates?

Fats, proteins and carbohydrates are the three important components of a human diet. Carbohydrates contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. We get carbohydrates when we eat fruits, vegetables, milk, honey and sugar. Our body converts the carbohydrates into glucose. Our cells use this glucose to distribute energy to all parts of our body. This glucose is the main source of energy to our brain cells and the red blood cells. Extra energy is converted into fat. This conversion uses 30% of energy. When our body wants more energy, this stored fat comes in use. It is immediately converted into energy.

We get most of our energy from the carbohydrates. One gram of carbohydrate gives us 4.2 kilocalories of energy. If our body does not receive enough energy from carbohydrates or fats, it will start breaking down the proteins in the body. Hence carbohydrates save proteins from being used.