Carbohydrates are basically sugar and starch. Apples, oranges, potatoes, grains, candy, bread, are all carbohydrates. Carbohydrates break down into glucose molecules. When used as energy, carbohydrate fuel becomes fuel for your muscles and brain. If your body does not have any use for the glucose, it is converted into glycogen and stored in the liver and muscles as an energy reserve. Your body can store about a half a day's supply of glycogen. If you body has more glucose than it can use as energy, or convert to glycogen for storage, the excess is converted to fat.
Carbohydrates are divided into these two categories:
Simple Carbohydrates & Complex Carbohydrates
Simple Carbohydrates . Basically blood sugar or glucose. Foods containing simple carbohydrates are sweet tasting, like cookies, fruit, sugar, honey, candy, cake, etc…
Simple Carbs are already very close to being in the digested form, so they pass into your bloodstream almost immediately.
Complex Carbohydrates . These are found in foods prepared with grains and vegetables. Even though both simple and complex carbs provide needed glucose, the complex carbs provide several nutritional advantages, such as additional vitamins, minerals, and fiber needed for good health and performance.
