Carbohydrates, Exercise, and Your Body

Carbohydrates, Exercise, and Your Body

Carbs or carbohydrates are a part of many of the foods we eat, but that being said, many people may not know exactly what they do, how important they are for your health and energy, and how crucial they are for your overall health, not to mention the fact that they are pretty important for exercising as well!

Carbs are of course a source of energy for the human body, and you often hear of exercise fanatics talking about carb loading, but where are they found and how do they work? What do they do? How do they benefit the human body? How are they used in reference to exercise? All of these questions have been asked a million times and we are here to answer them all. Keep on reading and find out everything you need to know about the simple things that are carbohydrates.

Carbs and Where They Are Found

Carbohydrates can actually be found in a number of different foods, but it’s not quite as simple as we first made it out to be. There are actually 2 types of carbs, those being simple and complex carbs. The simple carbohydrates are the ones found in sugars, candies, and baked goods, and they are the ones that give you short term energy. The complex carbs are those that are found in starchy foods such as whole grains, pasta, bread, potatoes, nuts, beans, and vegetables, and they are the type of carbs that give you long term energy. If you are eating carbs with the intention of working out, then the best choice is to eat complex carbs because they tend to be healthier and give you more energy for the long haul.




Carbohydrates are really important for the human body because they are the number one source of fuel that the body uses to keep itself going. The body will turn to carbohydrates as a fuel source before it decides to use protein and fat. Keep in mind the order of which the body chooses to use energy sources; first come carbs, then protein, then fat. To be clear, every gram of carbs that you take in will provide you with 4 calories, calories of course being another word for your energy or fuel. The body transforms the carbohydrates into glucose which is then used by the body for energy, and in fact, every cell in the human body uses glucose for energy.

On a side note, if you are on a diet and want to shed some pounds, mainly that pot belly and your love handles, then you might want to avoid eating too many carbs. If you are trying to lose weight, cut down on the carbs and the fat, and stick with the protein. The protein will give your body the energy it needs to keep going.

This is important to remember because if you don’t have protein in your system, then your body will actually start to eat its own muscles for energy, and that’s not what you want. You need to cut down on the fat intake and the carb intake while keeping your protein intake relatively high, that will ensure that your body uses your excess fat stores for energy while not using your muscles. This will lead to ripped and lean muscles with a low body fat count, and ultimately that beach body that you desire.

Categories: Diet, Fitness, Nutrition