What’s a Carbohydrate?
Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for both the muscles and the brain. They can be divided in two main groups: simple carbs (sugars) and complex carbs (starch).
Simple carbohydrates can be found in fruits, refined sugars, honey, and sweets in general. Our body is able to absorb them almost immediately and they end up being a great source of instant energy.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that simple sugars that come from fruits and natural sources have a great advantage over simple sugars that come from refined sources (refined sugar). Simple crabs from natural sources usually come with other important elements such as minerals, organic acids, vitamins (which play a key role in their absorption) and other metabolic functions.
Complex carbohydrates are found in cereals, breads, pasta, legumes and vegetables. Even fiber is a type of carbohydrate.
Complex carbohydrates are built by many molecules of sugars. When we consume these types of carbohydrates, our bodies gradually break these large chains down into simple carbs. The extra step in breaking down these large molecules allows the body to have better control of blood sugar level which at the end translates into having steady levels of energy.
After breaking the carbs down, our bodies metabolizes carbohydrates into glucose and glycogen. During any physical activity our muscles feed off the glucose that is found in our blood, and also off the glycogen that is stored in out liver and muscle tissue.
A diet rich in complex and simple carbohydrates will help refuel and replenish the levels of glycogen and glucose which are critical when we undertake any intense fitness activities such as the P90X workout or Insanity workout. We can achieve this by eating more fruits, vegetables, brown rice, potatoes, and yams.
